Boardman hockey tryouts set to begin

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown Phantoms return to the ice this week when they hold their Selection Camp at the Ice Zone. The five-day camp which ends Monday will be used to determine the team for the upcoming 2012-13 United States Hockey League season.

“We’re very excited for the start of camp,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “Last season, we really wanted to try to establish an identity for this franchise and we’re looking to build on that here.

“Our staff has put in a lot of work in the offseason and we’re eager to see the amount of work these young men have put in,” Noreen said. “There’s no doubt about it, we’ve got some very tough decisions ahead of us.”

The first two days of the camp will be used to evaluate goaltenders while the final three days will consist of intrasquad games to whittle down to the roster for the Phantoms’ training camp in September.

The Phantoms have invited 72 skaters — 48 forwards and 24 defensemen made up of Phantoms affiliate list players, USHL Entry Draft picks and top free agent invitees — to attend the latter portion of the camp.

Veteran Phantoms will participate in the final two days of the camp. Among the returning players are center Austin Cangelosi, who was named to the 2011-2012 USHL All-Rookie Team, and left wing JT Stenglein, who led the Phantoms with 31 goals last season.

Other veteran are forwards Sam Anas, Alexander Dahl, Zach Evancho and Todd Koritzinsky; blue liners Ryan Lowney, Daniel Renouf and Eric Sweetman; and goaltender Sean Romeo.

“It’s a very deep camp,” said Jason Koehler, Phantoms director of player personnel. “We’ll have a lot of quality at all the positions here.

“The hope is that the veteran players, who have USHL experience under their belts, show it. But all the players, whether they’re free agents, draft picks or affiliate players, have to come to play.”

The first round of intrasquad games begins Saturday morning and will consist of four teams made up of camp invitees. Each team will play three games — one game against each other team — over the two-day evaluation.

The staff then will select two teams comprised of the top performers from the camp as well as the returning Phantom veterans. These teams will play two final games Sunday night and Monday morning. Games are open to the public.