Coach Mainhardt, six Phantoms selected

YOUNGSTOWN — Coach Bob Mainhardt and six of his players from the Mahoning Valley Phantoms have been selected for the North American Hockey League’s Top Prospects Tournament, Jan. 18-20 at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The event will feature all-star teams from the NAHL’s Central, North, South and West Divisions competing in a three-game, round-robin tournament. The U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-17 and Under-18 Teams will also play two games each over the three days.

Selected to play in the game from the Phantoms were forwards Johnny Meo, Brandon Saad and Jordy Trottier; defensemen Cullen Lundholm and Carl Nielson, and goaltender Jordan Tibbet.

Entering Monday’s game against the Alpena IceDiggers, Tibbet led the Phantoms with 20 points on 10 goals and 10 assists.

Saad led the Phantoms with 11 goals and had 18 points, and Lundholm led the team with 12 assists. Meo had four goals and seven assists through 25 games, while Nielson had two goals and six assists.

Tibbett sported a record of 14-3-0, allowing just 37 goals, a 2.14 goals against average. Tibbett had a .920 save percentage and one shutout.

Mainhardt led the Phantoms to an 18-7-2 record entering Monday’s game against the IceDiggers and first place in the North Division.