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Phantoms are anxious to get on the ice, finally
Photo
Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt during a recent practice at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
Youngstown visits Chicago for exhibition games tonight and Saturday.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN — For most of the five seasons that Bob Mainhardt was the coach for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms of the North American Hockey League, he had a pretty good idea of what to expect as the season neared.
This summer has been very different as Mainhardt is now the coach of Youngstown Phantoms, an expansion team in the United States Hockey League. Comparing the USHL to the NAHL is similar to comparing a Triple A baseball team (Columbus Clippers) to a Double A squad (Akron Aeros).
As the new Phantoms prepare to open their five-game preseason, Mainhardt agrees he’s a bit like a child on Christmas morning anxious to see what’s under the ribbons and wrapping paper.
“I’ve used the analogy,” Mainhardt said. “The closer we get though, it’s kind of like I don’t know if I’ve been naughty or nice. I want to make sure that all the presents I’m hoping for are there.
“It’s exciting — guys are working hard,” Mainhardt said. “But until you play a game, you really don’t know what you have.”
Tonight in Chicago, the Phantoms will make their debut with the first of two exhibition games against the Chicago Steel.
The team will return to Youngstown following Saturday night’s game to prepare for the USHL Fall Classic that will be played Sept. 24-26 in Sioux City, Iowa.
About exhibition games, Mainhardt said, “You always have surprises. Sometimes it’s players who haven’t looked so good in practice sessions who will step up and look better in a game.
“And vice versa, sometimes,” said Mainhardt of players who have excelled. “Sometimes when you drop the puck, they disappear. But I’m very optimistic about this group.”
Mainhardt said winning is important but not the only priority in the preseason games where each team can skate 20 players plus two goalies. Regulation limits are 20 players including the goalies.
“It gives us a chance to see a few more guys in game situations,” Mainhardt said.
The coach agrees that a win or two “would be nice for the folks back home to get the W and it would be a nice way to start things off.
“As much as you’d like to win and it is very important that we’re intelligent and treat these games [as a way] to learn more about our team and where guys are going to shake out,” Mainhardt said.
Center Brian Dowd, a USHL veteran, said the team is ready for the challenge.
“This is the fourth week we’ve been practicing so we definitely are ready to play,” said Dowd, who played for the Steel two seasons ago.” Everybody’s champing at the bit to get out there and us what we’ve learned in practice.
“I think we’re going to go in and there and open a lot of eyes this weekend,” Dowd said. “We’re not going to be a team to be taken lightly.”
With forward Ryan Jasinsky away attending the Washington Capitals’ rookie camp, Mainhardt will take 24 players to Chicago. Defenseman Luke Eibler has been placed on injured reserve and won’t play, so Mainhardt will have one healthy scratch for each game.
The same format will be used for the Fall Classic, then the Phantoms will have to drop two players from the roster.
“This way, we get five actual games to really make that decision,” Mainhardt said.
williams@vindy.com
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