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USHL reviews mega-brawl, suspends Paulides, Belonger
By Tom Williams
BOARDMAN
When the penalties were announced after last Saturday’s mega-brawl between the Youngstown Phantoms and Waterloo Black Hawks at the Covelli Centre, Curtis Carr knew his team was going to be short some players for the next game.
The Phantoms coach is relieved that the suspension list is shorter than it might have been.
Phantoms captain Adam Berkle explains: “If you fight after a whistle, it’s a game misconduct.”
Misconduct penalties involving fights are reviewed by Scott Brand, the USHL’s director of officiating. As a result, two Phantoms — defenseman Ben Paulides and forward Ryan Belonger — have been suspended by the league for tonight’s game against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
The other two Phantoms who were tossed from the Phantoms’ 3-2 overtime win over the Black Hawks — forwards Stu Higgins and Mike Ambrosia — have not received an additional penalty.
“I was planning on missing Ben, Ryan and Stu so to get Stu back is a bonus,” Carr said. “Obviously with Ryan and Ben, you can’t argue that they didn’t fight — they pretty much whupped up on their guys.”
Late in the second period, Phantoms defenseman Scott Mayfield and Jamie Hill skirmished in the Youngstown zone. On his way to the penalty box, Mayfield was struck from behind by the Hawks’ Andrew Panzarella.
Paulides leaped in to the fray to assist Mayfield and Hill jumped out of the penalty box so that all five skaters on each side were tangling.
Carr said that Panzarella was suspended for three games, Hill two and Ian McCoshen one.
Carr said the USHL tolerates fighting.
“If it’s done in the proper ways, it’s accepted,” Carr said. “The biggest thing is that for the integrity of the league and the skill that we have in this league, they don’t want to turn it into a circus act.
“If it’s handled the right way, they understand it’s part of the game.”
Mayfield was the only skater who wasn’t ejected from the brawl.
“Mayfield got a five for fighting, but Panzarella jumped him so he had no choice,” Carr said. “Stu Higgins and [Anthony] Day each got five for fighting, but they felt in watching the video that they were doing more holding and pushing.
“After watching the video, I didn’t know if we’d get Stu back because of the angle,” Carr said. “It was tough to see exactly what Stu did.”
Carr said Hill’s extra game was because he instigated the fight with Ambrosia.
“Mike was kind of holding him and Hill had his gloves on and helmet on,” Carr said. “Hill started throwing punches, which gave Mike no choice but to defend himself.
“I thought we’d get Mike back — it was pretty clear on the video that he didn’t have a choice but to fight.”
Speaking of fighting, the Phantoms (13-18-3, 29 points) are preparing for Rounds 5 and 6 with the Lumberjacks (14-14-7, 25 points).
“Every game we’ve played against them has been a little heated,” Carr said. “I think it’s quickly become one of our biggest rivalries, and they feel the same way. It’s good having one of our closest teams feel that way.”
After the game, both teams will leave for Muskegon, Mich., for Saturday’s game.
“It’s a big [weekend] for both teams in the standings,” Carr said. “I think it will be a pretty emotional.”
Berkle said there may be some fisticuffs but nothing like the last game.
“The physical play and the jawing back and forth, that’s all going to be there but I don’t think we’re going to see a line brawl,” Berkle said. “There might be a fight or two but I don’t foresee [another] five-on-five line brawl.”
Starting in goal tonight for the Phantoms will be Greg Lewis who has a 4-1-1 record.
“He’s confident right now, he’s playing well,” Carr said. “The biggest thing is he’s not putting a lot of pressure on himself, he’s kind of being himself.”
Berkle said, “I expected him to do well, but he’s going above that. He’s playing rebounds well and he’s keeping us in a lot of games. We just have to play a little better in front of him.”