Playoff-bound Phantoms set to finish regular season

April 10, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Two years ago, when the USHL regular season was winding down and the Youngstown Phantoms’ playoff position was secure, Kiefer Sherwood was one of several affiliate players to make their debuts at the Covelli Centre.

“My eyes were pretty big just trying to take it all in,” said Sherwood who is from New Albany, outside Columbus. “All the [regulars] were excited because they were on the brink of going to the playoffs.

“We’re feeling the same kind of energy.”

Wednesday, the Phantoms (38-15-5, 82 points), the USHL Eastern Conference champions, clinched home-ice advantage for the entire Clark Cup Playoffs. The Tri-City Storm (36-16-6, 78 points), the second-place team in the Western Conference, can tie the Phantoms in points, but Youngstown owns the tiebreaker (most victories not counting shootout wins).

The Phantoms’ locker room had an unusual look Thursday — extra chairs everywhere for affiliate players to use.

“We plan on some affiliate players jumping in this weekend,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said.

The Phantoms close the regular season with two games against Team USA’s 17-younger squad — tonight in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Saturday at the Covelli Centre. Even though the Storm can still share the Anderson Cup, the regular-season championship trophy, Noreen said his priority is to rest some players and give young hopefuls a chance.

“[Top priorities are] to make sure we’re healthy and playing the right way,” Noreen said. “First game next week is a pretty quick turnaround.”

Noreen said a couple of Phantoms are “on the verge of accumulation [suspensions]” if they get into any more extensive trouble on the ice. Regular-season suspensions carry over into the postseason

“So you want to make sure to be careful with them,” Noreen said. “We want to get out of this weekend playing well, playing smart and being healthy.”

The Phantoms will open the playoffs with a road game after choosing a 1-2-1-1 format for their best-of-five series against the Eastern’s fourth-place team. With two games each to play, the Muskegon Lumberjacks trail the Dubuque Fighting Saints by three points and the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders by four.

This much is certain: if the opponent is from Iowa, Game 1 will be on Tuesday. If the opponent is Muskegon, Game 1 will be on Wednesday. Games 2 and 3 will be on April 17-18 at the Covelli Centre.

The Phantoms clinched their first team trophy with Wednesday’s shootout loss to the Chicago Steel in Illinois.

“It’s incredible seeing that trophy,” Phantoms co-captain Josh Neneadal said, adding, “not one guy on the team has touched the trophy. Adam [Waddell], our equipment manager, has been carrying it around.

“We’re not touching that trophy until we win everything.”

Clinching in the Steel’s arena “was pretty awesome” for defenseman Connor McDonald, Chicago’s captain until he was traded on March 2 to the Phantoms. “My former billet parents were there. It was pretty exciting to share this accomplishment.

“Our ultimate goal is getting the Clarkie, but winning the Anderson is huge.”