Twelve players set to return to Phantoms

July 11, 2013 at 12:07a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Twelve members of the 2012-13 Youngstown Phantoms are on the team’s initial protected list for the 2013-14 USHL season.

In all, 26 players are on the Phantoms’ list: two goaltenders, eight defensemen and 16 forwards.

Both goaltenders from last season — Sean Romeo and Jake Moore — are returning. In his third season with the Phantoms and first as the No. 1 netminder, Romeo set franchise records for victories (31) and shutouts (5).

Returning forwards are Nathan Walker, Kyle Connor, Alfred Larsson, Luke Stork, Zach Evancho, Mac MacSorley, Josh Nenadal and JJ Piccinic.

Returning defenders are Kale Bennett and Kyle Mackey.

Connor, the youngest player in the USHL last season, was nicknamed “The Franchise” last season by Austin Cangelosi.

“He kind of made it up one day in practice and it pretty much stuck,” Connor said. “I don’t hate it [but], I don’t like it.”

Cangelosi picked the name in honor of Connor’s youth.

“He’s going to be here three more seasons,” Cangelosi said. “It fits.”

Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said the development of Connor and Stork as last season progressed were pleasant surprises.

“Connor was playing U16 hockey last year,” Noreen said. “You talk about the jump from U18 or prep, but to jump from U16 hockey to the USHL — that’s the biggest jump he’ll ever make in his life.

“His skating allowed him to not but out of place early on but the pace, the physicality was a lot for him,” Noreen said. “He’s a guy who has worked his way up to our top line.

“Stork also was still in high school [last season], but was an impact player for us as well down the stretch.”

Walker has healed from the broken neck bone he suffered late in the regular season that caused him to miss the playoffs.

“We had to make some extremely hard decisions, but we’re excited about the list that we have,” Noreen said. “We think this core is going to help take our program to the next level and it’s one that bodes very well for the future of the Youngstown Phantoms.”

Both of the Phantoms’ first-round picks from Phases 1 and 2 of the 2013 USHL Draft — defenseman Steven Ruggiero and forward Blake Christensen respectively — are also among the players on the 26-man list.

“With Austin Cangelosi and Cam Brown moving on, we needed a dynamic competitive center to come in, and I think he fits that role,” Noreen said of Christensen. “He’s a guy who plays our style — high skill, high speeds, high compete level.

“He’s gonna be a great fit for us.”

In August, the 26 will gather at the Ice Zone for training camp for the team’s fifth season.