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4 Phantoms players set to play in USHL/NHL game
Four Youngstown Phantoms’ players set to play in USHL/NHL game in Dubuque, Iowa
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Chris Birdsall will be cheering hard for teammates Kyle Connor, Kris Myllari and Chase Pearson to produce points against the Green Bay Gamblers this weekend.
On Tuesday, he’ll do everything he can to stop them in the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Dubuque, Iowa.
“It should be a good experience there, playing against some of my teammates and just having a good time,” said Birdsall who was traded last spring to the Phantoms by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
Birdsall (6-2-5) will be on Team West. The other Phantoms will skate for Team East.
When he heard he was selected, Birdsall said he felt “pretty honored.”
It’s the third time in six seasons that Phantoms have sent a player to the annual event. Forward Austin Cangelosi went in 2012 and 2013. Nathan Walker also went in 2013.
USHL general managers and NHL scouts choose the players. All 40 are eligible for the NHL Draft, 30 for the first time.
“It’s a testament to my teammates and coaches to put me in a situation to flourish,” Myllari said. “They’ve helped me out quite a bit.”
The RoughRiders are sending six players. Like the Phantoms, the Chicago Steel are sending four.
Connor’s selection is no surprise — he’s projected by ISS Hockey to be a top-15 pick in June’s NHL Draft. With 31 points in 25 games, he’s tied for seventh in scoring in the USHL.
Pearson, a forward, and Myllari, a defenseman, are in their first seasons with the Phantoms.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” said Myllari who hails from Kanata, Ontario. “It’s a prestigious event — to be selected to it is a huge honor.”
In 28 games, Myllari has one goal and three assists. More importantly, he has a plus 1 rating in the plus/minus category.
“I’m excited to go with my teammates, I want to share the experience with them,” Myllari said. “It’s going to be great.
“When you play with good guys, it always raises your level [of play],” the defenseman said. “It makes you want to try to be the best out there — very tough [to do] with the amount of talent you have out there.
“But it pushes you to do better.”
Pearson has four goals and 10 assists, and is plus 3 in 29 games.
“Excited but also honored,” said Pearson of his reaction to the invitation.
He admitted after a recent practice that getting invited “was in the back of my mind.
“I was not going to be that disappointed if I didn’t make it, but I was fortunate enough to make the cut,” Pearson said. “It’s a big deal, especially four guys going from one team.”
Pearson calls the opportunity “incredible. These guys are the top in their draft class. To get to play against them is going to unbelievable in front of all those scouts.”
Birdsall says his relocation to Ohio has gone well.
“It’s been a smooth transition,” the native of Glen Rock, N.J., said. “I feel this environment is a lot better than the last one I was in — better coaches, nicer teammates.
“It’s been a better opportunity to come and play here.”
Birdsall has missed three weeks of action with an upper body injury but he expects to play in one of the games against the Gamblers at the Covelli Centre.
“It’s a big year for me — just have to play hard and try to get better,” the Boston College recruit said.