Friday, November 20, 2009
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
YOUNGSTOWN — After going 4-1 in a November homestand, the Youngstown Phantoms are on the road this weekend where life has treated them well in their first season in the United States Hockey League.
In six road games, the Phantoms have earned points in five of them, going 4-1-1. The Phantoms (8-5-1, ) are in fourth place in the USHL’s Eastern Division, just one point behind first-place Cedar Rapids, Green Bay and Chicago.
Today, the Phantoms will complete one of their longest journeys, traveling to Sioux Falls, S.D.
“It’s about a 19-hour bus ride,” Phantoms defenseman Ben Paulides said. “It’s one of our longest trips.”
Long trips means sleeping on the bus.
Defenseman Andrej Sustr says it’s not as bad as it sounds.
“When I played in Alaska [last season], we had a trip to Fairbanks and it took like 12 hours,” Sustr said. “It was a coach bus so it was worse. We have a bunk-bed bus so it’s [better] because everybody sleeps through the night.”
So how does the 6-foot-6 Sustr fit into a bus bunk bed?
“I got an extra large, it’s like the biggest bunk on the bus,” Sustr said. “They gave it to me and I’m glad.”
Since Oct. 30, the Phantoms are 6-1.
“This past homestand was better in every way,” said forward Brett Gensler, who leads the Phantoms with nine goals. “Our intensity was higher, we played more up-tempo and aggressive.”
The Phantoms will be tested on this trip as number-one goaltender Jordan Tibbett (4-3-0, 3.72 goals-against average) is sidelined with an arm injury. Matt Mahalak, 16, who spent the first week in November playing with the U.S. National Team at a tournament in the Czech Republic, most likely will play tonight in Sioux Falls and Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa.
“He’s done [pretty well] and he has a great future,” said Sustr of Mahalak (4-2-1, 3.96). “I hope Jordan gets better soon but Matt Mahalak is doing a pretty good job.”
Tonight’s game at 8:05 will be a test as the Stampede (9-1-4, 22 points) are in second place in the West Division and only have lost once.
“The rink is very small,” said forward Jefferson Dahl who played for Green Bay last season. “The areas around the goals are especially tight, so you can expect a lot of shots and [scoring] chances. We’re essentially going to be playing on a basketball court.”
The Stampede have a 7-1-3 record at home and are averaging 4.27 goals per game on their home ice.
After the game, the Phantoms will board their bus to travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to face the Musketeers (5-8-1, 11 points), the sixth-place team in the West Division.
They’ll return home to prepare for two games at the Covelli Centre on Thanksgiving weekend.
Seven power-play goals in their last four games has lifted the Phantoms’ man-advantage unit to third-best in the 14-team league. The Phantoms’ power-play unit has a 23.5 percent conversion rate.
Forward Taylor Holstrom’s three-point effort in last Saturday’s 7-6 overtime victory over Chicago has him in 15th place on the league’s scoring leaderboard. The second-year USHL player has five goals and 15 points in 14 games.
Last year with Omaha, Holstrom scored eight goals an 19 points in 55 games.