Phantoms trade for goalie; deal Senkbeil

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms on Monday traded a conditional pick in the next USHL Entry Draft to obtain goaltender Matt Green from the Tri-City Storm.

Last week, the Phantoms’ top goalie, Jordan Tibbett, accepted a scholarship at Mercyhurst College. Last season, Tibbett was 11-19-1, with a goals-against average of 3.68.

Green spent last season with the Lincoln Stars, finishing with nine wins and a goals-against average of 2.99. He also had a .899 save percentage and posted four shutouts.

“With Jordan leaving,” Phantoms coach Curtis Carr said, “we needed to fill a void and [Green] does that and much more for us.

“He has experience in the league and the numbers he put up last year were very impressive while playing in Lincoln.”

In another trade, the Phantoms traded defenseman Dan Senkbeil, a veteran of the Phantoms’ first USHL season, to the Chicago Steel for a third-round pick in next spring’s Entry Draft.

Last season, Senkbeil played in 55 games and had five assists and 42 penalty minutes. He was a minus-10 in plus-minus (on ice for even-strength goals).

“He is a great player and an even better individual,” said Carr of Senkbeil. “We wish him nothing but the best in his bright future.

“We have a lot of leadership in our locker room and we expect some of the new players to step up and take some leadership roles,” Carr said.

“Our new USHL-level players are new to this league, but they are not new in being leaders. They know how to lead and they know how to win.”

This weekend, the Phantoms will play two preseason games against Team USA in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Phantoms’ home opener will be Oct. 16 at the Covelli Centre against Green Bay.