Covelli going to the dogs today

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

It’s been three months since the Youngstown Phantoms have had a traditional weekend doubleheader at home against the same team.

But more surprising is that it has been five months since the Phantoms have played the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (33-20-3, 69 points), the second-place team in the USHL’s Eastern Conference.

In a way, tonight’s Phantoms-RoughRiders game is something to howl about. It’s being billed as the team’s first “Hockey for Hounds” night.

Fans may bring their dogs to the Covelli Centre if they are on a non-retractable leash and have proof of up-to-date shots.

The RoughRiders need points as they have just one more than the Dubuque Fighting Saints (32-19-4, 68 points) in the race for home-ice advantage in the first round of the USHL playoffs, which begin in two weeks.

The last time the Phantoms and RoughRiders hooked up was Oct. 25 in Cedar Rapids when the Phantoms (16-33-6, 38 points) failed to hold a two-goal lead in the third period and lost, 4-3. Earlier in October, the Phantoms lost in Cedar Rapids by the same score. Head coach Anthony Noreen says those defeats in Iowa were some of his team’s most difficult to endure.

“Those two games stung, no doubt about it,” Noreen said. “We went in there and had leads twice.

“I’ll still say the second time we went in there, the first two periods were some of the best periods we’ve had all season,” Noreen said. “We surrendered a late goal with under a minute left to give up the lead.

“There was a breakaway one way, we missed it, and they came back and got a weak goal that ended up being the game winner. Those losses definitely hurt.”

Even though the last-place Phantoms are playing for pride, they would like to return the favor with their games tonight and Saturday at the Covelli Centre.

“[Those were] two games where we put a lot on the line,” Noreen said. “We’ve had [a] playoff series with them, and some intense games over the years that I’ve been here.

“I think the veteran guys on our team know what they bring. They know how good we’ll have to be in order to have a chance to beat them.”

Noreen said the Phantoms will have their hands full.

“They have a lot of speed, and they’re very good in transition,” the Phantoms’ third-year head coach said. “They also have dynamic forwards who are very well rounded, with a lot of offensive firepower.”

Andrew Poturalski leads the RoughRiders in scoring with 59 points in 56 games. The 20-year-old forward will skate for the University of New Hampshire in the fall.

“I think a lot has changed since those games,” Noreen said. “Nothing too drastic, but obviously, lineups on both sides have changed.”

Last weekend, Noreen used affiliate players Connor Moore and Carson Gicewicz in their three games. This weekend, affiliate players Shawn Brennan and Chase Pearson will see ice time.

“Shawn Brennan is a guy we got to see play a lot over the last few years in Cleveland,” Noreen said. “He’s a good two-way defenseman, plays with an edge, can chip in offensively, and he’s playing in the NAHL right now for Topeka.

“He’s a guy we definitely expect to be here eventually.”

On the injury front, forward Zach Evancho and defenseman Lukas Klok could return.