Ambrosia receives USHL’s Curt Hammer Award

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown Phantoms captain Mike Ambrosia has been named the 2011-12 recipient of the USHL’s Curt Hammer Award that recognizes a player who distinguishes himself on and off the ice by demonstrating performance skills, leadership, pride and determination.

“I couldn’t be prouder or happier for Mike,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said Tuesday. “If you’re talking about a person who exemplifies what the USHL wants their players to embody on the ice, in the classroom and in the community, I don’t think there’s anyone better than him.

“Mike does everything the right way,” Noreen said. “He’s the epitome of what we want a Youngstown Phantom to be.”

Prior to the 2011-12 season, Ambrosia was voted captain by his teammates. Although not a vocal leader, the Chatham, N.J., native led by example with his stellar play and unequivocal work ethic on the ice.

Ambrosia, who will play for Princeton University this fall, led the Phantoms with 65 points and 47 assists — both franchise records — while excelling in all three zones and playing in every situation.

His 47 assists were third most in the USHL and he put together a league-best 10-game assist streak from Jan. 14 to Feb. 10, dishing out 15 assists over the span and leading the Phantoms to a 6-3-1 record.

He also tied for the league-lead with 18 power-play assists and led the USHL with four short-handed assists.

Ambrosia was instrumental in leading the team its first playoff berth. He recorded two goals and three assists in six postseason games as the Phantoms fell to the eventual Clark Cup champion Green Bay Gamblers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

In two seasons with the Phantoms, Ambrosia registered 28 goals, 65 assists and 93 points along with a plus-9 rating while never missing a game. He leaves Youngstown as the franchise’s all-time leader in points and assists and ranks in the top-five in career goals and games played.

Away from the rink, Ambrosia, who graduated from Delbarton High School in New Jersey with a 3.9 grade-point average and 2200 score on the SAT exam, took it upon himself to help teammates balance the rigors of life in the USHL with their academic obligations. He served as a tutor for teammates and always made himself available to help with schoolwork.

At Princeton, he will major in financial engineering and play for the Tigers’ NCAA Division-I team.

In his years with the Phantoms organization, Ambrosia also took a very active role in community outreach. Ambrosia volunteered at the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry, helped build on a house for Habitat for Humanity and made frequent visits to area grade schools with the team’s “Hockey for Health” program.

“Mike’s stature both within the Phantoms organization, and as a contributor to the Youngstown community, set a standard for scholar-athletes in any sport,” USHL President and Commissioner Skip Prince said.