Rested Phantoms look to stay in 1st

By John Kovach

The team is coming off an 11-day break and holds a 3-point lead in the North.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms will attempt to maintain their first-place lead in the North Division of the North American Hockey League when they play host to the Motor City Machine this weekend at the Chevrolet Centre.

The puck drops on Friday and Saturday at 7:15 p.m.

The Phantoms (22-9-3) lead the North Division with 47 points, ahead of Traverse City (20-12-4) and Alpena (20-12-4) with 44 points. They are followed by Marquette (18-17-5, 41), Team USA (17-11-2, 36) and Motor City (6-27-1, 13).

The Phantoms are coming off an 11-day break after losing 9-1 to Team USA on Jan. 11 at the Chevrolet Centre.

Two weekends ago, the Phantoms enjoyed a two-game sweep of Motor City by scores of 5-3 and 6-3, giving them a 7-1-0 record against the Machine.

Last weekend, six players participated in the second annual NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Bob Mainhardt, the Phantoms’ coach and general manager, coached Team North. He said the tournament was a great success for the Phantoms and the entire North Division.

“I thought our players represented the Phantoms organization very well,” Mainhardt said. “It was an honor to coach the North Division team; just a really great group of guys. I have no doubt that the tournament opened a lot of doors for everyone on our division’s roster.”

Team North went 1-2 at the three-day event, but Phantoms captain Johnny Meo, a first-time Top Prospects selection, said the tournament wasn’t just about wins and losses.

“It was a really cool experience,” the third-year forward said. “Usually you’re out there talking trash on the other guys in the North, but [at Top Prospects] we got to play with them and it was fun to get to know some of the best players in our division.

“On top of that, we got to play three games in front of a ton of scouts, and you can’t beat that,” Meo said.

Meo finished third in scoring for the North Division team with one goal and two assists, one point behind teammate Nick Shkreli (1-3-4) and Motor City Machine forward Ryan Misiak (2-2-4) who tied for first.

Mahoning Valley forward Jordy Trottier finished the tournament with two goals and one assist.

In the net, Phantoms goalie Jordan Tibbett played twice, including a relief role in the North’s 5-2 loss to the South Division on Tuesday. Tibbett finished the event with 36 saves.

Trottier leads the Phantoms in scoring with 27 points on 11 goals and 16 assists, followed by Shkreli (15 points on eight goals and 17 assists), Brandon Saad (22-8-22) and Doug Clifford (20-10-10).

Tibbett has a 15-4 record and 2.39 goals-against average while the other goalie, Garrett Bartus, is 7-5 with a 3.37 GGA.

kovach@vindy.com