Czinder, Holstrom named all-stars

The two Phantom forwards were chosen for the USHL’s annual talent showcase.

YOUNGSTOWN — Two members of the Youngstown Phantoms have been selected to play in the United State Hockey League all-star game in Indianapolis on Jan. 26.

Forwards Taylor Holstrom and Nick Czinder are among the 42 USHL players who have been chosen to participate in the annual talent showcase, which will pit the East Division All-Stars (Team CCM) against the best of the West Division (Team Reebok) at 7 p.m.

“As one of the USHL’s premiere events, the all-star game is a much-anticipated event not only for our fans, but the hundreds of NHL and college scouts who regularly recruit our young stars,” said USHL commissioner Skip Prince.

Holstrom, a second-year USHL veteran from Yorba Linda, Calif., leads the Phantoms in scoring with 23 points (eight goals, team-best 15 assists) and has played in all 31 games while running up a plus-11 plus-minus rating that paces Youngstown at the halfway point of its inaugural season. The 5-foot-9 speedster has already surpassed his 2008-09 scoring statistics, when he accrued 19 points in 55 games with the Omaha Lancers.

“Taylor’s a guy who has competed hard every day since he got here and has definitely earned it,” said Phantoms coach/general manager Bob Mainhardt.

“We knew we were getting an all-around player who would lead by example with his work ethic and competitiveness, and he’s delivered on all that, but I don’t think we knew how gifted he was offensively. That’s been a welcome surprise.”

The 6-foot-6 Czinder, named the Phantoms’ top pro prospect by NHL.com in October, has racked up nine goals, the fourth-best total on the team, plus five assists and a plus-10 rating that is second only to Holstrom. The native of West Bloomfield, Mich., led the USHL in shooting percentage for much of the season’s first three months and is now third in that category, connecting on 25.7 percent of his shots.

“People around this league recognize Nick’s potential,” said Mainhardt. “There are times when he’s been truly dominant. He has enough natural ability to play this game for as long as he wants to.”

The all-star teams are determined by a vote from league coaches and general managers along with input from NHL Central Scouting.