Phantoms excited for Cup battle

By Tom Williams

Mahoning Valley and St. Louis will meet again in the NAHL’s Robertson Cup Championship in Iowa.

Following Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over the U.S. National Team to win the North Division playoff series, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms are excited to participate in the franchise’s fourth straight North American Hockey League Robertson Cup Championship.

Among the teams waiting them in this week’s tournament at Mason City, Iowa, will be a familiar nemesis — the South Division champion St. Louis Bandits.

“It’s really exciting to be here at Nationals again,” Phantoms assistant captain Carl Nielsen said. “It’s what we’ve worked for all year — coming to Mason City and bringing home a Robertson Cup.

“Everyone’s spirits are high and we’re ready to get this thing under way,” Nielsen said.

Also at the tournament are the Central Division champion Bismarck Bobcats, the West Division champion Wenatchee Wild and the host North Iowa Outlaws.

In 2006, the Phantoms earned their first Robertson Cup berth by serving as tournament host. The Phantoms finished fourth in that year’s five-team event.

The following year, the Phantoms won the North Division playoffs to advance to the event that was played in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Phantoms advanced to the championship game, losing to the Bandits, 8-4.

In 2008, the Bandits, who were then in the North Division, were tournament host and received an automatic bid. By defeating the Alpena IceDiggers in the division semifinal round, the Phantoms advanced to the division final. The opponent was the Bandits, which gave the Phantoms the division’s berth in the Robertson Cup.

Just as they did in 2007, the Bandits and Phantoms advanced to the final where the Bandits again prevailed, 5-2.

Jordan Tibbett, the Phantoms’ goaltender in eight of their 10 playoff games, said his team hasn’t reached its main goal.

“While we’re proud of the accomplishment,” Tibbett said, “we also realize that we haven’t won anything yet. We’re here to win a championship.”

The tournament, representing USA Hockey’s Tier II Junior A national championship, opens today with a round-robin format. Each team will play four games through Saturday.

The top two finishers in the preliminary round advance to Sunday’s championship contest.

The Phantoms open the tournament today at 4 p.m. against the Bobcats. On Sept. 20, the Phantoms defeated the Bobcats, 5-1, at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn.

Wednesday’s game at 8:30 p.m. will be against the host Outlaws.

The Phantoms’ other games will be Thursday at 4 p.m. against tournament newcomer Wenatchee and Friday at 4 p.m. against the Bandits. In the regular season, the Phantoms finished 2-2-0 against the Bandits.

Ten players from the 2008 national runner-up team are on the Phantoms.

“The guys that were here last year definitely feel like there’s some unfinished business,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said.

Mahoning Valley forward Brandon Saad said the veteran presence is making a difference.

“With those guys having the experience of last year, they’ve been really helpful for the younger guys,” the NAHL rookie of the year said. “[They are] telling us what we need to do and how we need to be prepared for a championship run; it’s helped us a lot.”

williams@vindy.com