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Phantoms defender Bradley returns home
By TOM WILLIAMS
BOARDMAN
When Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Chris Bradley visits the Canfield Fair, he can be excused if he passes the food stands selling barbecue chicken and Asian rice.
It’s fallout from when Bradley, a senior at Ursuline High School, spent 11 days earlier this month in Slovakia with the USA Under-18 Select hockey team participating in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Bradley is one of the new Phantoms for the 2010-11 season in training camp at the Ice Zone. He spent much of his summer trying out for the national team and then playing in Piestany, Slovakia, from Aug. 7-14 where Team USA finished runner-up to Canada.
Asked how the food was for his first trip to Europe, Bradley said the food was “a little bit different” so the players ended up having “chicken and rice about every night.
“I love chicken and rice, but it can get a little old,” Bradley said.
Phantoms coach Curtis Carr said, “We are extremely happy for Chris to have an opportunity to represent his country in such a high level event and even more thrilled that he helped his team [finish second].”
Bradley said the time change didn’t affect him much. He estimated the flights from Washington, D.C., to Frankfurt, Germany, and then Vienna, Austria, took about nine hours.
“The rough part was when they played the same movies over and over,” Bradley said.
A two-hour bus ride followed to Piestany for a couple days of practice plus a scrimmage against the Slovakian team.
Bradley said the highlight of his European trip was an overtime win in the tournament semifinals against Sweden.
“That gave us a chance to celebrate” advancing to the final, said Bradley, adding that USA had not finished so well in the tournament since 2006.
“We haven’t been as strong,” Bradley said.
Eight teams participated in the tournament and USA posted three victories, no regulation losses, the overtime win over Sweden and the overtime loss to Canada. The top two teams from two divisions advanced to the semifinal round.
“We did everything very well, but just could not find the back of the net,” said Bradley of the 1-0 loss to the Canadians.
Much of the USA squad was made up of players who, like Bradley, will be playing in the USHL for the first time.
The Phantoms acquired Bradley in the 2010 Entry Draft in the 16th round with the 227th overall pick.
“We expect him to contribute immediately to our blue line this season,” said Jason Koehler, Phantoms director of player personnel. “He should be one of the most sought after young uncommitted defensemen in the USHL heading into the Fall Classic in Sioux City in late September.”
Bradley qualified for the Select team by excelling at a select camp in July in Rochester, N.Y.
”I knew I had to play well there to make the team because it’s my first year getting on the map with scouts,” Bradley said.
His style emphasizes preventing goals.
“I think of myself as more of a defensive defenseman with good puck movement and vision up ice,” Bradley said.
The one downside to the tournament was that only the champion team received medals.
“Our team received a silver plaque,” Bradley said.
Last season, Bradley played midget hockey with the AAA Buffalo Regals. His host family parents are Mike and Johnna Lewis of Boardman.
The Phantoms’ second week of workouts begin today at the Ice Zone.