Hockey team’s roster is finalized

June 17, 2010 at 12:08a.m.

By TOM WILLIAMS

BOARDMAN

Forward John Fritsche of Parma, the Youngstown Phantoms’ top draft pick in the recent USHL entry draft, is one of the 12 players the Phantoms added to their 2010-11 roster when tryout camp closed Wednesday at the Ice Zone.

“They are a hockey-rich family out of Cleveland,” Phantoms coach Curtis Carr said of Fritsche’s family.

His father, Jack, coached the Cleveland team when the Mahoning Valley Phantoms were in the NAHL and now coaches the NAHL’s Alpena Ice Diggers.

Fritsche’s cousin, Dan, is a former Columbus Blue Jacket who also has played for the NHL’s New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild.

“His Dad played pro over in Europe,” Carr said. “There are great hockey bloodlines with Johnny.”

In 2009-10, Fritsche played for his father’s Ice Diggers.

After tryout camp ended with a Wednesday morning scrimmage, Carr finalized the team by adding a goaltender (Matthew O’Connor, Burlington Cougars, Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League), five defensemen and eight forwards.

The other new forwards are Quinn Smith (Avon Farms Old Prep), J.T. Stenglein (Maksym Hockey Empire), Mike Ambrosia (Delbarton High School), Ricky DeRosa (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U18 AAA), Teemu Tiitinen (Dallas Stars U18 AAA), Tyler Rehm (Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U18 AAA) and Ryan Belonger (St. Louis Bandits, NAHL).

Joining the defense are Justin Stevens (Burlington Cougars, Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League), Jordan Young (Wenatchee Wild, NAHL), Chris Bradley (Buffalo Regals U18 AAA), Brandon Russo (Salisbury Prep) and Nilan Nagy (Traverse City North Stars, NAHL).

Carr called O’Connor and Stevens “pleasant surprises as they made it through the six-day camp to make the team.”

Returning Phantoms are: forwards Adam Berkle, Jiri Sekac, Andrew Lamont, Stuart Higgins, Dylan Margonari, Cody Strang and Ty Loney; defensemen Scott Mayfield, Ben Paulides and Dan Senkbeil; and goalie Jordan Tibbett.

Connor replaces Matt Mahalak who will play for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. Also not returning is Rich Young, one of the USHL’s most penalized players who was released and is trying to earn a spot with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars.

Carr said the Phantoms have the rights to East Palestine’s J.T. Miller who again will play for the U.S. National Team and could be a Phantom a year from now.

“We’re pretty excited about the overall skill that we have,” Carr said.

The Phantoms will return for training camp Aug. 23.