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Phantoms’ Mahalak is top scholar
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NET PLAY: Youngstown Phantoms goalie Mike Mahalak and defenseman Dan Senkbeil try to keep Team USA’s Travis Boyd (93) from scoring during Monday’s game at the Covelli Centre.
Special to the Vindicator
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Matt Mahalak was named co-recipient of the United States Hockey League Scholar-Athlete Award.
Mahalak and Anthony Hamburg of the Omaha Lancers share the prize. Since its inception in 2007, the USHL Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes players for their success at school and on the ice.
Players are nominated by their coaches, teachers, and academic counselors based on their grade-point-average, coursework, and overall school participation.
“Matt was a very dedicated person both on and off the ice this season,” said Phantoms coach and general manager Curtis Carr.
“We are very proud of his accomplishments and we know he’ll be successful in whatever endeavor he applies himself. He is a tremendously detailed and organized individual and that led him to be a top-notch performer in Youngstown — at the rink and in the classroom.”
Mahalak completed his first USHL season after being the first overall selection in the 2009 USHL Futures Draft last May.
He posted nine victories and earned points in 12 of 31 appearances for the Phantoms. The goaltender won in his USHL debut, making 25 saves in a 5-4 victory at Des Moines Oct. 10, part of a stretch of four triumphs in his first seven league starts.
He turned aside a season high 44 saves in a 3-2 loss to Cedar Rapids on Jan. 23, one day after celebrating his 17th birthday.
Off the ice, Mahalak has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while finishing up his final semester at Ursuline High School.
He is a full year ahead in his coursework, and will earn a high school diploma this spring. Prior to playing in the USHL, the Monroe, Mich., native attended Culver Military Academy in Indiana for two years.
“I owe a lot to [Culver] for teaching me the time management skills and work ethic I needed to keep up with my classes during the season,” said Mahalak. “It’s not easy to switch schools but if you communicate with your teachers and put in the hard work, you can balance the academic and athletic sides.”
The Phantoms are preparing for the 2010-11 season. The league’s expansion draft, futures draft and entry draft — set for May 17, 18 and 19, respectively — will greatly shape Youngstown’s roster.