youngstown phantoms O’Connor earns USHL honor

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Matt O’Connor has been named the USHL’s Goaltender of the Week.

O’Connor posted a 1.46 goals-against-average and a .957 save percentage in

two wins for the Phantoms last week. He equaled a USHL season high with 44 saves in the 4-1 win over Chicago on Friday.

The second-year goaltender then made 23 saves in the 3-2 overtime victory against Cedar Rapids on Saturday, which tied him for the USHL lead with eight victories this season.

The

19-year-old from Toronto has won each of his last three starts and

is fifth overall among league netminders with a 2.36 goals against average while ranking tied for third with a .923 save percentage.

Monday, the Phantoms added forward Zach Tatrn to their roster,

Tatrn, 20, served as a protected replacement player for the Phantoms while center Austin Cangelosi and defenseman Chris Bradley were absent at the World Junior A Challenge and his play earned him a place on the roster after their return.

Tatrn, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound center who can also play on the wing, is from Lower Burrell, Pa., and spent the past four seasons playing major junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes. He registered 11 goals, 23 assists and 34 points in 172 games for the Ontario Hockey League club.

“Zach brings some size to the group… This is a man, not a boy,” Phantoms director of player personnel Jason Koehler said. “The other value is that Zach has four years of junior experience playing with Peterborough in the OHL. This is somebody that’s been through the business – understands how to play the game – and we feel he can come in and contribute here immediately.”

Tatrn will be available to play this weekend when the Phantoms host the Fargo Force on Friday and the Sioux City Musketeers on Saturday. The puck drops at the Covelli Centre at 7:15 both nights.

In a separate transaction, the Phantoms dealt the rights of forward Nolan Culver to the Bay State Breakers of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Culver appeared in five games for the Phantoms this season.

“Nolan was a pleasure to have. On the ice and off the ice he did everything the right way,” Noreen said. “We wish him nothing but success in the future.”