Phantoms host first-place Lumberjacks

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

So far in their sixth USHL season, the Youngstown Phantoms have done well against an expansion team and younger squad of Team USA’s program.

Tonight at the Covelli Centre, the Phantoms (6-2-1, 13 points) will face their challenge of the young season when the first-place Muskegon Lumberjacks (7-4-0, 14 points) visit the Covelli Centre for the first time this season.

Going into Friday’s games, the Lumberjacks and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (7-1-0, 14 points) were tied for first place in the USHL Eastern Conference standings, one point ahead of the Phantoms.

The Phantoms are 4-0-1 in their past five games, outscoring opponents 17-4.

“I think the chemistry is there,” said Josh Nenadal, one of the Phantoms’ captains. “As cliche as it sounds, everyone is friends on the team and we all get along really well.

“It’s an all-around team effort, and we all rally around each other whether it’s a good shift, a good hit or a good play, it’s all about being good teammates to one another and I think we’ve all done that.”

Last weekend, the Phantoms improved to 4-0-0 against the Bloomngton Thunder (4-4-1, 9 points), one of the USHL’s two new teams.

On Oct. 24, the Phantoms defeated the Thunder, 6-1. Special teams sparkled as six goals were either scored on the power play or while shorthanded.

Ryan Lomberg and Max Letunov connected for power-play goals while Nenadal and Max Alvaro scored against the Thunder power-play.

“There’s no person more deserving of their first goal than Matt,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “The work he’s done, the way he’s prepared and the attitude he’s brought since day one has shown, and he deserves everything good that happens to him.”