Squirt hockey team moves up in league standings

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Macy Banner (Canton) guards the blue line on defense during last weekend's Youngstown Squirt hockey games.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Bo Gray (Boardman) tries to sneak a rebound past the goalie last weekend. The Squirts won both contests last weekend to move one point out of fourth place in the league.

The Youngstown Phantoms Squirt team (6-4-1) moved into fifth place in the league standings with two road victories last weekend in PAHL play.

On Saturday, the Squirts defeated third-place North Pittsburgh 5-2. Youngstown erupted for three goals in the third period to turn a 2-all contest into a victory.

After Devin Whitaker (Boardman) scored with 6:27 left to tie the contest at 2-all, Matthew Baggethun (Boardman) gave the Phantoms their first lead at the At 5:09 mark in the third with his second goal of the game. Whitaker scored his second goal on an empty net with 1:07 remaining to pad the advantage to 4-2.

With both teams at even strength, Maguire Franko (Poland) had a breakaway attempt that bounced off the goalie and Whitaker was there for the rebound and his third goal of the game.

Nick Beck (Boardman) faced 26 shots on goal.

On Sunday, Youngstown beat fourth-place Mt. Lebanon 3-1 to climb within a point of fourth place in the league. Whitaker scored two more goals, breaking a 1-1 tie against the Hornets to spark the victory.

Justin Long (Brookfield) opened the scoring at 7:23 in the first period to give the Squirts a 1-0 advantage. Playing shorthanded for much of the second period, Justin Lewis (Poland) and Alex Laberto (Boardman) helped keep the Hornets scoreless for much of the contest.

Mt. Lebanon was able to score on a power play to even the score at 1-all. But with 18 seconds remaining in the second period, Whitaker broke the tie with a goal. At 3:05 of the third period, Whitaker scored the final goal of the game.

Beck (Boardman) was the goalie of record, facing 22 shots.