Sustr’s play earns award

The soon-to-be 19-year-old was named USHL defensive player of the week.

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — No matter how wild things get on the ice, Phantoms defenseman Andrej Sustr says he never forgets to speak English, his second language.

“Not at all,” said Sustr, even when he’s frustrated. “I never speak Czech.”

Ben Paulides, Sustr’s defensive partner, isn’t so sure.

“If he makes a bad play, you’ll hear him ... I don’t even know what he’s saying but he’ll say something that I imagine is inappropriate [in some language],” Paulides said. “Most of the time, he doesn’t get too angry at himself, he keeps his cool.

“He never really slips into Czech much unless we ask him to,” Paulides said.

In his second season playing in North America, the 18-year-old Sustr (he turns 19 on Nov. 29) is playing well for the Phantoms (8-5-1) in their first season in the United States Hockey League.

Sustr has played so well that he was named the league’s defensive player of the week for Nov. 9-15.

“He’s coming along great,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. “He’s getting more and more comfortable and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Andrej yet.

“He’s becoming a physical presence and a very good defensive defenseman, coupled with the fact that we think he has the ability to generate a lot on the offensive end.”

Sustr, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound defenseman, recorded two assists and compiled a plus-5 rating as the Phantoms won two of three contests last week.

He assisted on the game-winning goal in the 3-2 victory on Nov. 11 against Green Bay. He collected an assist in last Friday’s 4-3 loss to Green Bay, extending his point streak to three games.

In Saturday’s 7-6 win over Chicago, he had a plus-2 rating, his fourth straight game with an even-or-better plus/minus.

Sustr is tied for second among all league defenseman with nine assists.

“I’m getting a lot of ice time, so I’m getting a chance to get better each shift, each game,” said Sustr, who suited up last season for the Tier II North American Hockey League’s Kenai River (Alaska) Brown Bears. “There are a lot of skilled players in this league and I feel like I’ve adjusted to the speed at this level.”

Paulides said the biggest difference in Sustr’s play that he’s noticed over the past five weeks is his confidence.

“He played in a higher league than all the rest of our rookies,” Paulides said. “I think since he’s played in that higher league, he’s adjusted quicker than the rest of us — his vision on the ice, his passing ability.

“His stick definitely got a lot better poking pucks away,” Paulides said.

Sustr, who has been speaking English as a language since he was in elementary school, said he was surprised by the honor “because I didn’t have too many points.

“I didn’t expect it at all because we didn’t have that good of a game on Saturday night,” Sustr said. “We were kind of tired.

“It kind of surprised me, but I was really glad to get the award,” Sustr said. “It’s a big honor from the league.”

Paulides said his teammates were happy that another Phantom has a league honor.

“Just like when Taylor Holstrom was named offensive player of the week, there was overall excitement,” Paulides said. “Whenever somebody from our team [earns an honor], it’s [a credit to] the whole team.

“He doesn’t do it without the rest of us and I couldn’t do it without him.

It’s definitely a good feeling for everybody.”

williams@vindy.com