Phantoms hockey season to open at home

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms will open their fourth season in the USHL against the Omaha Lancers on Sept. 28 at the Covelli Centre, the team’s earliest home opener. Puck drop is set for 7:15 p.m.

The Phantoms will play an expanded 64-game schedule in 2012-13, with 32 games at home and 32 on the road.

The regular-season finale is set for April 13 against the Chicago Steel.

Of the Phantoms’ 32 home games, 27 will be played on Friday or Saturday nights. The Phantoms’ home schedule features two Sunday matinee games and three weekday games.

Conference battles will be more important than ever as the USHL will utilize an eight-team playoff format with the top four teams in each conference qualifying for the Clark Cup Playoffs.

All series in the 2013 playoffs will have a best-of-five games format.

The Phantoms will face USHL Eastern Conference opponents Indiana 10 times (six home games) and the Steel nine times.

The defending Clark Cup champion Green Bay Gamblers make their first visit to the Covelli Centre on Nov. 10 and the rival Muskegon Lumberjacks come to town for the first time on Jan. 4.

The Phantoms are scheduled to host Western Conference opponents the Lancers, the Lincoln Stars (Oct. 26) and the Tri-City Storm (March 2) for the first time in two seasons.

The 2012 Western Conference champion Waterloo Black Hawks will visit on Oct. 28.