Wednesday, August 19, 2015
In late June when Anthony Noreen left the Youngstown Phantoms to become head coach of the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, Phantoms ownership had no idea what kind of experience the replacement candidates would offer.
It turns out there were impressive resumes coming to the Covelli Centre.
In July, the Phantoms chose John Wroblewski, a 34-year-old from Wisconsin whose last job was as an assistant with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (hockey’s version of Triple A).
Wroblewski also had two years experience as a head coach in the ECHL. He once was named that league’s co-coach of the year.
Asked how many candidates had professional experience, Phantoms co-owner Troy Loney said, “More than you would think.
“[There were] even guys who had NHL experience,” Loney said. “Quite a few had Canadian junior, AHL [on their resumes].”
“And Europe,” said Loney’s wife, Aafke, also a co-owner of the team with founder Bruce Zoldan.
Loney credits the success of Jon Cooper for elevating junior hockey. Six years ago when the Youngstown Phantoms were created, Cooper was the head of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers. His team went on to win the USHL’s Robertson Cup.
Two years later, Cooper was coaching the Norfolk Admirals, leading them to the AHL championship. The Admirals’ general manager was Joe Gregory, a Youngstown State University graduate who was the Youngstown SteelHounds general manager in the team’s final two seasons.
In 2013, Cooper replaced Guy Boucher as the head coach of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. This spring, Cooper’s Lightning advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, losing in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Loney said Cooper’s path to the NHL has helped lift the league’s profile.
“Our league [had] the most number of players drafted of any league this year,” Loney said. “We’re starting to grow up as a league, not only from the player development side but from the coaching side.
“The diversity of the resumes was surprising,” Loney said.
What impressed the Loneys about Wroblewski was his passion and intensity. He reminds them a little of the departed head coach who led the Phantoms to the USHL playoffs three times in four seasons.
“He’s got a fire in his eyes, a determination the same way that Anthony has that fire in his eyes and a passion for the game,” Loney said.
Aafke added: “He’s an intense, purposeful person.”
Wroblewski’s recent experience was with the Americans’ defensemen. Coincidentally, the Phantoms’ defense this fall should be the strength of the team as five are expected to return. On offense, the Phantoms lost their top six forwards to colleges.
Wroblewski said his goal is to approach the season one day at a time.
“For my mindset, it’s a daily growth process,” Wroblewski said of his first head coaching job in junior hockey. “Every day when the guys get to the rink, there’s going to be a fresh perspective.
“There’s going to be a well-managed, detailed practice plan ... all specific to the day we have in front of us. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most.”
Repeating as regular-season champions will be a challenge. Wroblewski said securing the USHL’s Roberston Cup as league champion “is the end goal. For me, it’s [about] daily growth and that will lead to better things, hopefully championships.”
Tom Williams is a sportswriter at The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Williams_Vindy.