Phantoms name John Wroblewski head coach

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Phantoms named John Wroblewski as the team's next head coach on Tuesday. Wroblewski spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Rochester (NY) Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL), the top affiliate club of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

“The Youngstown Phantoms are a perfect fit for me," Wroblewski said in a press release.

"The ownership group is strong, intelligent, and determined. We have a general manager that finds talent, sticks to an identity, and does business the right way. The most significant attraction of coaching in the USHL is the opportunity to work with a group for an entire season."

Prior to his time in Rochester, Wroblewski spent three seasons in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) as both a head and assistant coach. His time as an ECHL assistant was with the Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate, the Wheeling (WV) Nailers. He then became the head coach with the Gwinnett (GA) Gladiators, where he had two successful seasons and was named co-recipient of the 2011-12 ECHL Coach of the Year award. During his time in Gwinnett, the club advanced to the playoffs both seasons, won two Southeast Division titles, and had the Eastern Division’s best winning percentage in those two seasons.

“We had a number of quality candidates for this position, but John proved to us through the interview process that he was the best man to lead this club moving forward," Phantoms general manager Jason Koehler said.

"We’re excited that we get to bring Youngstown an outstanding young coach that has had success and experience at high levels. All of our student-athletes aspire to get to the next level, be it college or pro hockey, and John has been there as either a coach or player. I’m excited to work with someone that I feel shares a strong passion, energy, and commitment to developing players and winning, and will be an incredible coach, teacher, mentor, and role model for our players."

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