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Bradley earns USHL honors
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Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Chris Bradley (3) closes in on Team USA’s Tyler Motte during a recent game at the Covelli Centre. Bradley was selected last week’s USHL Defenseman of the Week.
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown Phantoms’ Chris Bradley scored four goals last weekend, including a hat trick on Saturday.
Funny thing about Bradley — he’s a defenseman.
The Williamsville, N.Y., native has shown that to be a good defenseman in hockey, you just have to get a little offensive sometimes.
“When you get an offensive defenseman from the midget level, usually they come up and try to do too much,” Youngstown coach Anthony Noreen said Wednesday. “He never really did that.”
What Bradley did do, though, was start to grow a skillful career.
“When he came in, he was pretty raw,” Noreen said. “We saw an offensive ability in him and somebody who could really help on our power play.
“He made a great first pass and just played a simple game — I think that’s one of the best things.
“He was near the bottom of our depth chart a year ago, and he’s progressed faster than we expected,” Noreen said. “This year, it’s all come together.”
Things really are shaping up to be bright for Bradley. On Tuesday, he took part in the first annual United State Hockey League/National Hockey League Top Prospects Game and registered an assist in the 5-3 win by the Eastern squad.
“It was a really great experience,” Bradley said. “When I was told I was chosen, I looked at it as a great opportunity to make an impression.”
That he did.
“I bet he opened a lot of eyes,” Noreen said.
With a professional career likely not too far away, Bradley’s biggest impact is coming in the locker room.
“He’s one of the more vocal leaders on the team, but he’s also real friendly with us,” fellow defenseman Daniel Renouf said. “He’s really shown us how to prepare in this league and for all he’s done, he’s getting recognized for it.”
On top of the Top Prospects Game nod, Bradley was named the CCM Defensive Player of the Week by the USHL. In 29 games for the Phantoms (19-12), he’s tallied 11 points on six assists and five goals.
“It’s nice to be recognized as a player and it’s just more motivation,” Bradley said. “I’m going to keep playing my game and hopefully more good things can come.”
The closest thing that can come would be a pair of wins. Youngstown gets that chance tonight and Friday when the Phantoms are home against Waterloo and Dubuque.
The Phantoms (19-12-3, 41 points) sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, 14 points behind leader Green Bay.