Phantoms’ Saad earns rookie of year honor

NAHL

BOARDMAN — Mahoning Valley Phantoms forward Brandon Saad has been named the North American Hockey League’s rookie of the year.

Saad, from Gibsonia, Pa., totaled 29 goals for 47 points in 47 regular season games with the Phantoms. He was also a team-best plus-21.

“Brandon is the most well-rounded prospect I’ve coached, or even seen,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. “He pretty much can do it all.

“He’s very dominant physically, does a very good job defensively, wins battles, and, for a big man, has unbelievable agility,” Mainhardt said.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Saad, 16, also was a member of the U.S. National Under-17 Team that earned a bronze medal at the 2009 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge held in Port Alberni, British Columbia, in December-January.

Saad was named to the tournament’s all-star team after finishing tied for the team lead in scoring (four goals, five assists).

“He’s very mature for a young man,” Mainhardt said. “He’s really dealt with all the attention he’s gotten very well. He’s just a part of the team.

“He’s a funny, regular 16-year-old,” Mainhardt said. “He’s a little more mature, but you can see the kid in him sometimes. He just loves playing the game and he fits in well. His teammates love him.”

Saad, a three-time winner of the Sherwood/NAHL North Division Player of the Week Award, was also named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team.

“Because of his size and physical stature, we joke that we need to check his birth certificate because he’s so young,” Mainhardt said. “He’s the youngest player on our team, but he looks like one of the older guys and he carries himself that way, too.”

Others named to the NAHL all-rookie league team were: forwards, Trent Frey, Springfield Jr. Blues, and Mike Voran, Wenatchee Wild; defensemen Brandon Burrell, Wenatchee Wild, and Tim Smith, Owatonna Express; and goaltender: David Bosner, Bismarck Bobcats.