Phantoms test the (ice) water at Chevy

By John Kovach

The team will make its official downtown debut against the St. Louis Bandits this weekend.

YOUNGSTOWN — Area businessman Bruce Zoldan considers this weekend’s hockey games between the Mahoning Valley Phantoms and St. Louis Bandits at the Chevrolet Centre as the beginning of a test — to see if hockey can succeed on both amateur and semi-pro levels at the downtown arena.

The Phantoms will make their official debut at the Chevrolet Centre Friday night against the Bandits in a North American Hockey League game at 7:15 p.m.

The Bandits are two-time defending NAHL champions who defeated the Phantoms in last year’s national title game. The NAHL is an 18-and-under amateur league.

The two teams will return to the Chevrolet Centre Saturday to play another game at 7:15 p.m., following the Youngstown State hockey team’s debut at the downtown arena against John Carroll at 3 p.m., as part of a doubleheader.

YSU (10-3), coached by Rocky Russo, leads the College Hockey Mid-America league, a division of the American Collegiate Hockey Association based in Pittsburgh, Pa. John Carroll (2-8) also is in that league.

Zoldan is president of the Phantoms and owner of the B.J. Alan Company-Phantom Fireworks Company located in Youngstown. He is hoping area fans turn out in droves this weekend and throughout the season to support the six-year-old franchise that usually plays most of its home games at the Ice Zone in Boardman.

“I think it will be up to the fans of the community if the Phantoms get the support they need, and see if there is a future for hockey in Youngstown,” said Zoldan.

“If we see that the Phantoms are drawing fans, then I could come back to the Chevrolet Centre with a semi-pro team, not necessarily the SteelHounds, but maybe another similar team.”

In fact, “There could be a brother-sister arrangement between the Phantoms and the semi-pro team. They could complement and supplement each other [at the Chevrolet Centre].

“Those fans who come out and support the team, they will be at the top of the list for tickets.”

But he said the Phantoms first must attract enough fans to build up to a break-even point financially as the season progresses, just like the SteelHounds had to do.

“I am interested in becoming part of another similar-type pro team, and I am working on different levels. I still have to have a meeting with [SteelHounds’ owner] Herb Washington to see what his aspirations are. We both need to know if there is enough support to break even.”

Zoldan believes the SteelHounds were successful, and he also thinks that another semi-pro team can make it. But he hopes that the Phantoms can complement a semi-pro team and be part of any future hockey growth at the Chevrolet Centre.

“We have 21 regular-season games and hopefully playoff games [all at the Chevrolet Centre],” said Zoldan. “It’s definitely a major step forward and upwards for the Phantoms’ organization. We are playing in a premier arena and that obviously adds prestige to the team.

“And equally as important, once the fans see the level of hockey that we play, they also will be impressed.”

Zoldan said the team was not put together from scratch.

“This is a team of elite juniors,” he said. “We have the sons [Jordy Trottier and Kyle Verbeek] of NHL Hall of Famers [Monte Trottier and Pat Verbeek] on the team.

“You will see players that eventually will be in the NHL in a few short years.”

Zoldan estimates that a semi-pro team similar to the SteelHounds would have to draw 3,000 to 3,500 fans to break even, while the Phantoms would have to attract at least 2,000 fans.

“Erie, Pa., has a junior level team just like we do and they are drawing 3,500-4,000 fans. It is the same Junior A level but they play in the Ontario Hockey League,” pointed out Zoldan.

“It depends how well the Phantoms draw fans. That depends on the community and what they are willing to do and how much they love hockey.

“If the Phantoms succeed, we could work together with another semi-pro team in the same arena. I will see some indication by how well the Phantoms can draw fans. If they could begin drawing 2,000 fans by January and February, that could indicate they could be viable.”

Zoldan said the Phantoms also are developing young hockey players at the Ice Zone with their youth leagues for all ages, which he hopes will increase general hockey interest in the area. And that they also want to promote high school and YSU hockey and include them in future Chevrolet Centre events.

“We are teaching hockey [at the Ice Zone] and hopefully that will help hockey expand. The younger teams can come in and play at the Chevrolet Centre before the Phantoms’ games,” said Zoldan, who is eager to help the downtown arena and area to succeed, and is seeking partners toward those objectives.

“We want the Chevrolet Centre to succeed, and supporting hockey and [the Mahoning Valley] Thunder are very important to its survival,” said Zoldan. “The Thunder and the Phantoms are working together on ticket packages with a flex plan. We all have to work together as a team to help each other.”

kovach@vindy.com