Phantoms visit memory lane

January 5, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

Staff report

BOARDMAN

With a rare Saturday off, the Youngstown Phantoms shared their love of skating with young ones hoping to learn.

“Everyone had smiles, whether it be the little kids or our kids,” Phantoms assistant coach Brad Patterson said after the hockey players participated with 74 children on the first session of the team’s “Learn to Skate Program. “I think that’s the biggest thing that sport teaches you — somebody gave their time to teach you at some point, and our guys are doing the same with youngsters and building hockey in the area.

“It was great to see.”

The Learn to Skate program teaches skating fundamentals. The program covers five weeks and meets Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. through Feb. 4. A second session is set from Feb. 25 through March 25.

The event sparked memories for the teen-age hockey players.

“It was great to see all the little kids on the ice, because I started that way once,” Phantoms defenseman Tommy Parran said. “The high school team from my area came out and did a little clinic when I was playing Mighty Mites, and that’s how I really got interested in it.

“I looked up to those guys, so hopefully, we inspired some hockey players today.”

Phantoms captain Alfred Larsson hails from Sweden.

“I thought it was really fun to come out with the kids,” Larsson said. “When I was younger, I always looked up to players who came down to skate with us.

“Being here for the new kids and to help them get a new interest in hockey, I think it’s great.”

Forward Alex Rauer, a newcomer to the hockey team, said the session brought back memories of when he was new to skating.

“It brought me back to my days when I was learning how to skate,” Rauter said. “Hopefully, we inspired some kids to pick up hockey here in Youngstown.”

Patterson has been an assistant coach with the Phantoms for five seasons after playing two seasons with the Youngstown SteelHounds. He said the event gave his players a chance to appreciate mentors.

“[The team] was talking about when they first learned how to skate, and who taught them,” Patterson said. “We talked about that before we hit the ice today.

“Seeing our guys take a parenting, almost, role on the ice was pretty special, and I think the parents and the kids appreciated it.”

For more information about the free sessions, contact the Ice Zone at 330-965-1423.