Phantoms Showcase features future’s best

College and pro scouts will converge on the Ice Zone.

BOARDMAN — NHL top draft picks Patrick Kane and Erik Johnson were once scouted at a Phantoms Hockey Showcase at the Ice Zone when they played Junior A hockey.

After a nearly two-year hiatus from hosting such an event, the NHL and NCAA stars of tomorrow will once again flock here this weekend for the 2008 Phantoms Hockey Showcase at the Ice Zone.

“It’s a great opportunity for the players and the scouts,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. “Any time you can get so many talented players in one place at one time for them to come out and watch, it’s a tremendous advantage. It’s a great motivation for the college scouts to come out, so we’ll have a really good turnout.”

Phantoms assistant coach Curtis Carr said, “There have been a lot of kids from the National Development program that have played here at the Ice Zone. There are kids all over the country playing in the college and pro ranks that have played in this showcase.”

The Phantoms play in the North American Hockey League’s North Division. Their division rivals will play each other. Eight teams from the Midget Major AAA ranks also will play.

Scouts from most NCAA Division I and Division III programs, along with a number of NHL scouts, are expected to attend.

“It’s a great opportunity for us, as scouts, to come and see a number of teams in one location — it is certainly convenient for us,” said Scott Robson, a scout and assistant coach for Quinnipiac University. “From a player’s perspective, it gives them an opportunity to showcase their talents to the best of their ability, while knowing that there are scouts in the stands that they are performing for.”

Fans watching the event will be privy to highly-skilled and up-tempo hockey games, showcasing some the best players in the world, looking to make that transition into the college and professional ranks.

“For fans it’s a chance to see some teams other than the hometown team that you might be rooting for,” Mainhardt says. “If you are a student of the game, you can really learn some things.

“It is an opportunity to have an enjoyable weekend for the family, spend a day at the rink, see some great hockey and just have a little fun,” Mainhardt said.

The high profile of the Showcase has even drawn the eye of North American Hockey League Commissioner Mark Frankenfeld, who will be attending the spectacle.

“Events like these are great because they bring the NAHL to the forefront of the hockey community,” Frankenfeld said. “From a league level, it’s important for us to support anything that helps raise the awareness of our league and our players, and the Phantoms Showcase is perfect example of that.

“Anytime you can get a group of top-level teams together under one roof, it’s going to attract more scouts — which ultimately benefits the players.”

The Showcase begins today when the Alpena Ice Diggers host the U.S. National Team at noon.

The Phantoms play 7:30 p.m. games today through Sunday and at 5 p.m. on Monday.