Phantoms’ Nick Kenney gets honors

The Mahoning Valley forward was named NAHL player of the week.

BOARDMAN — Mahoning Valley Phantoms forward Nick Kenney was named the North American Hockey League’s North Division player of the week Monday.

Kenney, in his second year with the Phantoms, had his best weekend of the season, scoring three goals and adding three assists in a three-game series against Traverse City.

Kenney entered the weekend with one goal and three assists for the season.

Kenney, from Wixom, Mich., credited the chemistry of his new line with Jordy Trottier and Nick Shkreli for his big series. The line was assembled before Mahoning Valley’s series against Alpena Dec. 28-29.

“Our line really started clicking,” he said. “Last weekend was our first series together, so we were figuring each other out. Now we’ve got it and it’s going really well.”

Shkreli, who has eight goals and 14 assists this season, also had a strong weekend in Traverse City, scoring three goals with two assists to claim the Phantoms’ team lead in scoring with 22 points.

Also, Mahoning Valley’s Garrett Bartus was named honorable mention for the NAHL goalie of the week. He won his third straight start Saturday night against Traverse City.

Bartus (6-4-2) made 23 saves in a 5-3 win and was named honorable mention for the award for the second straight week.

The Phantoms play host to the Motor City Machine at the Chevrolet Centre Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m.

On-line auction

The Phantoms have started an online pre-auction of special edition Mario Lemieux Foundation game-worn jerseys.

Fans can bid early on the jerseys at MVPPhantoms.com by clicking on the “Bid on Special Edition Mario Lemieux Foundation Jerseys” button on the front page of the Web site.

The jerseys will be worn during the Phantoms’ Saturday game against Motor City.

Following the game, there will be a live auction for all 24 special edition jerseys plus two Mario Lemieux (No. 66) jerseys. The uniforms will also be autographed by the players wearing them prior to the auction.

Proceeds from the jersey auction will go to benefit the Foundation and its funding of cancer research.