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Phantoms coach Noreen hopes Nenadal can provide spark
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Noreen
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen hopes the return of forward Josh Nenadal from a one-game suspension will jolt his team for this morning’s hockey game against the Indiana Ice at the Covelli Centre.
“The value he brings to a team — shift in and shift out — it was never more evident than tonight of how important of a presence he is in the game,” Noreen said after the Phantoms (8-20-5, 21 points) lost Saturday’s game to the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 7-4, while Nenadal watched from the stands.
In Friday’s 4-3 loss to Waterloo, Nenadal was given a major penalty and ejected for head contact against the Black Hawks’ Zach Sanford.
Saturday’s view wasn’t pretty as the Phantoms fell behind 5-1 before staging a late rally. It was Youngstown’s 12th loss in 13 games and was extra disappointing because it was in front of the largest crowd of the season (2,200).
The Phantoms also stumbled out of the gate on Friday, falling behind 2-0 in the first period.
“That’s been the story,” Noreen said. “We’ve come out and allowed a lot of teams to jump on us early. [Then] we get mad and start playing our game. When we do, we’re a scary hockey team.
“When we are on our heels and we are not dictating the play, we’re the exact opposite.”
Noreen struggled to control his anger after both games. Twenty-one penalties were assessed in the Waterloo game, giving each team two 5-on-3 power plays.
Late in Saturday’s game, Phantoms forward Tyler Spezia was kneed by the Lumberjacks’ Trevor Morbeck, who was given a major penalty and ejected. Spezia was helped off the ice.
“That was an extremely dangerous play, one that has not place in the game,” Noreen said.
The Ice (21-6-5, 47 points) have the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Noreen was not thrilled with how his team played minus Nenadal’s grit.
“I know it drove him crazy to see guys not give the way he does,” Noreen said. “He’s what we are, we expect every guy to compete like that. We’re young, we’ve got a lot of guys with a ton of skill, a ton of upside. When we hem teams in, we’re tough to play against. When we don’t, we’re just an average hockey team.”
Over the weekend, Phantoms defenseman Tommy Parran scored his first three USHL goals and was named the USHL Defenseman of the Week. He is the third Phantom to earn a league award this season.
“It speaks volumes about him, his character, what type of work ethic he has, and the type of work he’s put in,” Noreen said of Parran, who was the Phantoms’ last selection in the 2012 USHL Phase 2 draft.
Also celebrating a milestone was affiliate player Trey Bradley who scored his first USHL goal in Saturday’s game, then was added to the active roster.
To make room, the Phantoms sent forward Alex Rauter to Bradley’s old team, the Wenatchee Wild of the North American hockey League.
“Trey proved over the couple of weeks that he’s been here that he will be a valuable asset that’s ready to chip in for our organization,” Noreen said.