Phantoms open inaugural USHL season vs. defending champs

staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Phantoms begin play in the United States Hockey League tonight, when they play host to the Indiana Ice at 7:15 at the Covelli Centre.

The Phantoms and Ice are part of the 14-team USHL. Bob Mainhardt will be behind the bench after spending the previous six seasons as the coach for the Mahoning Valley in the North American Hockey League. Mainhardt compiled a 208-115-25 record and led the old Phantoms to the playoffs five times.

Phantoms forwards Brett Gensler and Joe Zarbo are familiar names in the USHL as both played in the league last season — Gensler in Cedar Rapids, and Zarbo in Tri-City. Matthew Mahalak, the top pick in the USHL Futures Draft this spring, will be part of the goaltending tandem with veteran Jordan Tibbett.

Youngstown has plenty of size on the blue line, as their defensemen will average nearly 6-foot-4, including Czech Republic native Andrej Sustr who stands 6-6.

Last season, Indiana racked up 39 wins during the regular season (tied for the league high with Green Bay, and a team record), for a total of 80 points (39-19-2), then went on an impressive run to capture the first Clark Cup in the organization’s history.

Jeff Blashill, in his first year behind a USHL bench, had only four returning players to the team, but still raised the Cup after a stirring series with the Fargo Force.

Cab Morris and Casey DeSmith will be counted on to fill the void in the nets left by the departure of goaltender Brett Bennett, who appeared in a league-high 54 games and led the USHL with 35 wins (35-17-2).

Indiana’s four top scorers are gone, but veterans Shane Berschbach (20 goals, 24 assists) and Max Cook (18 goals, 24 assists) return to lead the offense after both registered more than 40 points last season.

Anthony Bitetto, Taylor Boldt, and Luke McManus return as well to anchor a defense that allowed a team record low 177 goals in 2008-09.

XInformation for this story was provided by the USHL.