Phantoms to face defending champs

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms return to the Covelli Centre this weekend for their first home games of the USHL season.

Awaiting them will be a strong challenge in the defending Clark Cup champions — the Green Bay Gamblers.

The Phantoms (3-1-0, 6 points) will play host to the Gamblers (1-1-1, 3 points) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday at 5 p.m., the Phantoms will play the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2-0-0, 4 points).

A 3-1 start has the Phantoms in second place in the Eastern Conference and excited to play for their hometown fans.

“I like the fact that we have played good, solid hockey for the past four games and we want our guys to be excited to play on our home ice,” Coach Curtis Carr said.

Carr is not concerned with his players playing with too much confidence in front their fans for the first time.

“Hockey is an emotional game,” Carr said. “We want our guys to play with emotion as long as it does not cross the line and turn into taking bad penalties.”

Last month, the Phantoms and Gamblers met on the ice at the USHL Fall Classic where the Gamblers escaped with a 5-4 win.

The Gamblers enter weekend play in an unusual position — sixth place.

Scoring has been hard to come by as the Gamblers have six goals in three games. Defenseman Markus Lauridsen leads the team with two points (one goal, one assist).

Tonight, Green Bay plays Indiana before traveling to Youngstown.

Phantoms forward Josef Pontasch and defenseman Nilan Nagy said limiting mistakes and moving the puck forward are keys to a productive weekend.

“Being mentally focused will be our biggest asset,” Pontasch said. “A lot of the goals scored against us have come as a result of our mistakes.

“If we can limit those mistakes, we can limit the other team’s scoring chances,” Pontasch said.

Nagy said there isn’t much difference between the USHL teams on top of the standings and at the bottom.

“Every team is just as good as the next in the USHL,” Nagy said. “We have to come prepared to work hard and do everything it takes to get the win.

“It starts with our defense moving the puck forward and our offensive capitalizing on our shots,” Nagy said. “We have been able to take a lot of shots on goal in our first four games and if their goalie is off by a step we will make them pay.”

Also at the USHL Fall Classic, the RoughRiders defeated the Phantoms, 5-1.

RoughRiders goaltender Brady Hjelle enters weekend play with both wins and a .952 save percentage, including a shutout against Waterloo.

Cedar Rapids plays at Indiana on Saturday before traveling to Youngstown.

Leading the Phantoms with four points are forward Ty Loney (two goals, two assists) and defenseman Brandon Russo (four assists). Goaltender Matt O’Connor has started all four games.

A Phantom Phan Fest tailgate party begins Saturday at 5 p.m. and features a rock-climbing wall and a performance by country/rock group Twelve Gauge Justice. Fans may bring their own food and drinks.