Phantoms return to action with two games this weekend

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Looking to build on their strongest start in three USHL seasons, the Youngstown Phantoms are hoping for another solid weekend even though two of their best players won’t be available.

Center Austin Cangelosi and defenseman Chris Bradley will miss the Phantoms’ next five games while they are representing Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge in Langley, British Columbia. The Phantoms are one of five USHL teams supplying two players to Team USA.

Last season, defenseman Scott Mayfield played for Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. In June, Mayfield (University of Denver) was selected by the New York Islanders in the second round of the National Hockey League Draft.

Tonight, the Phantoms (6-2-0) hope to extend their recent road magic in a game against the Muskegon Lumberjacks in Michigan.

Saturday, the Phantoms will play the Covelli Centre for the first time in three weeks when the Indiana Ice visit for a 7:15 p.m. faceoff.

Last weekend, the Phantoms won twice in Nebraska — 5-1 over Tri-City and 5-2 over Omaha. Those were the first victories over the Storm and Lancers in franchise history.

Against the Storm, goaltender Sean Romeo made his first USHL start and stopped 42 of 43 shots. Pat Conte, Dylan Margonari, Mike Gunn, Ryan Belonger and Jordan Young scored the goals.

Against the Lancers, Margonari netted a hat trick while JT Stenglein and Todd Koritzinsky also scored as Romeo won his second straight game.

Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen was pleased to see balanced scoring.

“Our first line has carried us long enough and far enough and other guys need to step up and fill the void when they don’t,” Noreen said. “They did all weekend long. It seemed like it was always different guy stepping up and making the play.”

Margonari was named the USHL’s offensive player of the week for his four-goal weekend and defenseman Jordan Young earned defensive player of the week.

Koritzinsky is expected to play in Cangelosi’s absence.

Tonight’s game could be a special teams’ challenge as the Lumberjacks (3-5-0) and Phantoms rank one and two in USHL penalty minutes.

The Ice (6-2-0) also are off to a strong start and have three players among the USHL’s top 15 scorers. Forward Daniil Tarasov leads the league with 14 points.