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phantoms notebook
Off to Finland: Youngstown Phantom forward Kyle Connor has been named to the USA Hockey roster for this month’s International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s Under-18 World Championship. Connor, the Phantoms’ leading scorer, will be part of the 22-man roster for the U-18 National Team that’s competing in Lappeenranta, Finland from April 17-27. The U.S. squad seeks its eighth gold medal in the event after capturing the tournament title in four of the last five years. Connor, a native of Shelby Township, Mich., set the Phantoms single-season points mark with 74 this year and led the team in goals scored with 31 in 56 games. On Sunday, Connor tweeted “Can’t thank the @YtownPhantoms enough for all the memories and another great year. Going to miss everybody!”
Islanders: Defenseman Scott Mayfield made his NHL debut on Sunday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus when the Blue Jackets defeated the New York Isalnders, 4-0. Mayfield skated with the Phantoms in their first two USHL seasons (2009-10 and 2010-11). Mayfield was drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 2011 draft. He played two seasons at Denver University then turned pro last spring. He’s been playing for the Islanders’ AHL team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He’s the second former Youngstown Phantom to advance to the NHL. Andrej Sustr, Mayfield’s teammate in the first Phantoms season, is a defenseman with the Tampa Bay Lightning and scored his first NHL goal on Saturday.