Phantoms thankful to be hosts

By Greg Gulas

This weekend’s NAHL North Division Showcase games will be at the Chevrolet Centre and Ice Zone.

YOUNGSTOWN — The last time the Mahoning Valley Phantoms hosted the North Division Showcase, they won all four games and outscored their opponents by a 17-6 margin.

Last January, the Phantoms posted two wins each over the Marquette Rangers and Traverse City North Stars, which finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 2007-08 season.

Six months later, the Phantoms (13-4-2, 28 points) are in familiar territory, perched atop the division standings. However, they are tied by the upstart North Stars (13-3-2, 28 points) while the Rangers (9-10-4, 20 points) are eight points off the pace.

While the top five teams in the division are separated by just eight points, add this weekend’s third opponent, the Motor City Machine (4-17-0, 8 points) to the mix and anything can happen if you let your guard down.

Friday’s 7:15 p.m. game at the Chevy Centre against Traverse City is nearly sold out and will include a “Jump Start America Rally” hosted by Phantoms owner Bruce Zoldan.

Saturday’s game with Marquette will be played at the Ice Zone at 7:15 p.m. while Sunday’s game against Motor City will begin at 6 p.m. at the Chevrolet Centre.

“I have always maintained that the North Division has been the toughest, top-to-bottom in the entire North American Hockey League,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. “That seems to be the case once again this season.

“I am really pleased with our overall play but in my eyes, the encouraging thing is that we have yet to play our best hockey,” Mainhardt said. “Our goaltending has been excellent, the defense has been outstanding and our offense will win us many, many games.

“Down the stretch, we’re expecting big things from all three areas,” Mainhardt said.

The Phantoms have been on the road four of the last five Thanksgiving Days, so today is a change for the longtime members of the franchise.

Stefan Salituro, who hails from Willodale, Ontario, will be spending his second Thanksgiving in as many months in the Mahoning Valley.

Salituro (6-5-11, one game-winning goal) has played in 18 of the team’s 19 games thus far and is one of 12 Phantoms who have scored in double figures this season. He’s happy to be home for the holiday.

“My parents came down back in October to celebrate [Canada’s] Thanksgiving with me and while we had an excellent meal and spent some quality time together, it was pretty much a regular day,” Salituro said.

“My billet Family, Katie and Bill Wilson of Poland, also play host to Carl Nielson and Robert Harrison and they have been just great to us,” Salituro said. “We’re all looking forward to a super meal on Thanksgiving Day.”

The main focus for Mainhardt and staff at this weekend’s Showcase is to get everyone playing time but not to compromise their overall gameplan.

“We will have many scouts and coaches in attendance all three nights, so our main focus is to showcase the players, hoping to get them to the next level of play,” Mainhardt said. “That is important and remains our goal as an organization.”

Expected to attract plenty of attention is goalie Jordan Tibbett, already a two-time recipient and the reigning “Goalie of the Week” in the NAHL.

The Indianapolis native is 10-2 overall with one shutout, allowing just 1.89 goals per game. Last season, Tibbett was 11-9-1 in 21 games played.

“Our chemistry right now is ahead of where it was a season ago at this time and that has helped tremendously in our development,” Tibbett said. “The real key has been the fact that we remain focused all 60 minutes and keep trying to get better each and every shift with the division title a goal and the national championship our ultimate goal.

Newcomer Jordy Trottier has six goals, six assists and 12 points in 17 games. He’s likely to get a long look by both coaches and scouts this weekend.

The Bozeman, Mont., native has a team best three game-winning goals (he’s tied with Doug Clifford) and says he is having the time of his life right now.

“It’s hockey season so for me it doesn’t get any better than this,” Trottier said. “As for the team, I hate to say that we have a one or a two line because we’re solid from one through four. Our chemistry sure has come a long way since the beginning of season.”

“Not many junior teams can boast of the fact that 12 players are in double figures in scoring at this juncture of the season,” Trottier said. “It makes it easier for the team when everyone can and does contribute.”