Wild wins; Phantoms are idle

MASON CITY, Iowa — The Wenatchee Wild slipped past the Bismarck Bobcats on Saturday to end the Mahoning Valley Phantoms’ season.

The Wild clinched a berth in the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup Tournament championship game. Sunday, the Wild (3-1-0, six points in round-robin play) will play the two-time defending champion St. Louis Bandits (4-0-0, eight points).

The Phantoms finished the tournament 2-1-1, losing to the Wild in overtime (5-4) and the Bandits (5-2).

The Phantoms finish the 2008-09 season with an overall record of 44-21-7. They were 36-17-5 in the regular season and 8-4-2 in the postseason.

In qualifying for their fourth straight national tournament, the Phantoms won their second North Division playoff championship and became the first team in modern NAHL history to win a decisive Game Five on the road.