Phantoms, Lumberjacks meet tonight, Sunday

February 23, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

BOARDMAN

Like most athletes, hockey players are creatures of routine. The USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms, Muskegon Lumberjacks and Chicago Steel are about to have theirs disrupted.

Because of Friday’s Rascal Flatts concert at the Covelli Centre, the fourth-place Phantoms (23-20-0, 46 points) moved their scheduled game against the second-place Lumberjacks (26-14-8, 60 points) to Sunday at 1 p.m., about 16 hours after their game tonight ends.

Wednesday, the Phantoms will play in the first of two morning games against the sixth-place Chicago Steel (18-23-3, 39 points). That game will begin at 10 a.m., also at the Covelli Centre.

Goaltender Sean Romeo and defenseman Dan Renouf say they normally sleep until 10 a.m. The exception is the days when the team meets at 6 a.m. for weight-lifting.

Naturally, they are treating Sunday’s and Wednesday’s games as weight-lifting assignments.

“It definitely affects what we do,” said Renouf of game-day preparations. “The biggest part is what we eat — we won’t be able to eat pasta. For breakfast, maybe eggs.

“It is a big change for everyone.”

Romeo said another change is the lack of a morning skate.

“The pregame meal probably will be a big breakfast at around 10, then maybe a snack at the rink,” Romeo said of Sunday’s preparations. “But once you get to the rink, you do the same stuff.”

Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said Romeo will start tonight’s game. He won’t decide on Sunday’s starter until the game ends. If it’s his number-one goalie, Romeo said getting ready early won’t be an issue.

“I have a good warm-up routine,” Romeo said. “I think I will be alright.”

Noreen calls himself an early-riser.

“My mornings will probably be the same,” the 28-year-old coach said. “Because of the amount of e-mails that I get and have to return, I like to get up really early, do those.

“So the returns are coming back when I’m getting to the office.”

This late into the season, Noreen said the Phantoms rarely skate on the morning of a consecutive game.

“Sometimes they are optional, sometimes we don’t do them at all,” Noreen said. “So it’s not a big change-up for us to not have a morning skate.”

Noreen said his first-year players are more used to playing day games than his veterans.

“For the older guys, it’s a little bit different, it changes up your daily routine,” Noreen said.

The Phantoms’ other morning game will be April 10 in Chicago.

For those lamenting how hockey isn’t doing enough to fill the Covelli Centre and Mahoning Valley coffers, Noreen said the Lumberjacks did their part by attending the Rascal Flatts concert and keeping their Friday hotel reservations even though the game was rescheduled for Sunday.