Phantoms Larsson, McCrea make college commitments

Staff report

GREEN BAY, WIS.

Youngstown Phantoms forwards Alfred Larsson and Markus McCrea have made their college decisions.

Larsson, a center, has committed to Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., while McCrea, a left wing, has committed to Selkirk College in British Columbia, Canada.

Larsson, 19, will begin at Merrimack in fall 2014, becoming the 13th player on the Phantoms’ roster to commit to play NCAA Division I hockey. Curtis Carr, former Phantoms head coach, is an assistant coach with Merrimack.

The 6-foot-4 center from Malmo, Sweden recorded eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points over 49 games this season, his first in the United States.

“He plays the game the right way, he plays it hard, he plays our style and above all else, he’s one of the best human beings I’ve had the pleasure of being around in my life,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “At Merrimack, we know he’s going to a place that appreciates the type of player that he is.”

Merrimack is part of the 10-team Hockey East Association. The Warriors finished the 2012-13 season 15-17-6 while going 13-11-3 in conference, good for a sixth-place finish.

McCrea, 21, will begin at Selkirk this fall, taking advantage of the education package he earned during three seasons playing Canadian major junior hockey in Western Hockey League with the Everett Silvertips.

A native of Temecula, Calif., McCrea registered 14-7-21 along with 144 penalty minutes in 57 games this season with the Phantoms, setting career highs in both goals (14) and points (21).

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound winger totaled 22-17-39 and 143 penalty minutes in 108 career USHL games with the Phantoms and Lincoln Stars.

“He’s a leader and he helps other guys out,” Noreen said. “He brings a ton of energy to the rink and the bench every day and he backs it up with his play on the ice.”

Located in West Kootenay, British Columbia, Selkirk competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League. The Saints captured their first BCIHL championship in March.