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No Noreen? Phantoms unfazed
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Phantoms’ Luke Stork (27) reaches for the puck against the Lincoln Stars’ Zach Frye (21) during their game at the Covelli Centre on Oct. 19. Coming off a two-goal performance, Stork could be one of the role players challenged to assert himself as a scoring threat with Kyle Connor in Nova Scotia.
By Kevin Connelly
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown Phantoms’ bench will be missing two familiar faces when they host the Sioux Falls Stampede this weekend at the Covelli Centre.
Third-year head coach Anthony Noreen and team points leader Kyle Connor left earlier in the week for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where they will join the U.S. Junior Select Team competing in the World Junior A Challenge.
Noreen was named to the coaching staff as an assistant, while Connor will look to help Team USA win the six-team international tournament for the fifth time in six years.
It will be the job of Phantoms assistant coaches Michael Zucker and Brad Patterson to make sure their team doesn’t continue its slide, as the USHL regular season continues without some its top players and coaches.
“I think Anthony trusts the job we’ll do,” said Zucker, who’s in his first year with the Phantoms. “Obviously we’re not gonna change anything without him here – it’s business as usual.
“Practice has been planed the same, the bench will be run the same. I think our players are mature enough that they’ll play hard for each other and for the jersey.”
Connor’s production — 16 points through the fist 12 games — won’t be easily replaced, but the coaching staff it as more of an opportunity than a drawback.
“No question Kyle’s role on our team, and contribution to our team, is invaluable,” Zucker said. “I think the good thing about Kyle being gone is it gives other guys a chance to step into roles and spots that they haven’t previously been in.
“It gives us a chance to look at players in a little bit of a different light and gives them an opportunity to kind of show us what they’re capable of too.”
Zucker alluded to the depth the Phantoms (4-7-1, 9 points) have at the forward position, despite Connor’s absence. Luke Stork, who’s coming off a two-goal performance last weekend, could be one of the role players challenged to assert himself as a scoring threat in an increased role.
“He [plays] a huge, important role for our team,” Stork said of his teammate Connor. “So for guys to step up and try and fill that role is going to be a tough battle.”
“I think we just need to stick as a team — every line has to be going.”
Sioux Falls will also be shorthanded as it prepares for back-to-back games in Youngstown. The Stampede (7-2-1, 15 points) will be running without their top three point leaders, who are also in Nova Scotia. Zucker understands that’s not a reason to take them any lightly.
“There’s no question they’re well coached, they play hard, they’re physical, they’re big, and so we will practice a little bit differently this week taking some of that into consideration,” he said.
One Phantom who hasn’t been shy — at least on the ice — is defenseman Lucas Klok. The 6-foot 1, Czech Republic native has added a big presence at the blue line since joining the team last month. For as seamlessly as his transition to the American game has appeared, his grasp of the English language, just three weeks in, isn’t far behind.
“It’s a very different style in Czech,” Klok said. “This is better. Everybody here is really physical and it’s better for me.”
He even had a game plan on how to avoid succumbing to the Stampede this weekend.
“We must play very physical,” Klok said. “We must shout and move our feet and keep our energy [up] on [the] bench. When we are good in this style, we win.”