Power outage pushes back Phantoms tryouts

June 13, 2015 at 12:10a.m.

Thunderstorm forceS Phantoms to shake up camp schedule

In hockey, sometimes lightning strikes.

Just ask the New York Rangers.

On the eve of the Youngstown Phantoms’ seventh annual tryout camp, Thursday’s severe thunderstorm knocked out power to The Ice Zone in Boardman, canceling Friday’s schedule of scrimmages for the 125-or-so players hoping to earn a spot the 2015-16 squad.

Forward Matt Alvaro, who drove five hours from Toronto for the camp, said he feels for the unknowns hoping to make a splash.

“It’s more for the newer guys,” Alvaro said of the camp.

Returning players serve as bench coaches during the first six scrimmages, then take the ice for the all-star games that close camp.

“We’re here to show them what it means to be a Phantom and to show them the Youngstown way,” Alvaro said.

The camp’s original plan was to divide the players into six squads, with each playing two scrimmages on Friday and one today. Then the roster would be cut down to two squads including returning players from last season’s Anderson Cup-winning team.

Two scrimmages were scheduled for those teams (tonight and Sunday morning).

Friday evening, Jason Koehler, the Phantoms’ assistant general manager, said camp will resume today at 9 a.m.. The forecast: a busy day at the ice rink. That suits forward Chase Pearson, who drove 11 hours from Georgia, just fine.

“When something like this happens, you just have to go with it,” Pearson said of the power outage. “It’s a fluke. That it happened on the day we’re supposed to have camp is kind of crazy but it will sort itself out.”

It’s going to be a busy month for Pearson, 17. After the Phantoms’ season ended with a first-round playoff loss to the Muskegon Lumberjacks in April, The Hockey News printed its NHL Draft preview issue with the magazine’s projections for the top 100 players in this year’s draft. Pearson is ranked 83rd.

“Someone texted me [about the article],” said Pearson, explaining he had no advance knowledge he would be in the magazine. “No one ever contacted me.

“It’s pretty cool.”

The article described the son of former NHL player Scott Pearson as being “big and smart.” It also said he may be playing for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, one of Canada’s top junior leagues.

“I don’t think that is going to happen,” said Pearson, who has a scholarship to play for the University of Maine. Pearson said he could play for the Black Bears this fall, but waiting a year after another season with the Phantoms is an option.

If he plays junior hockey in Canada where players are paid, he would forfeit his college eligibility.

“I’m obviously very happy for him,” said Alvaro, Pearson’s linemate for most of last season. “He worked very hard this [past] year.

“Playing with him this year [will] definitely be an honor,” Alvaro said. “We’ve [demonstrated good] chemistry together.”

Pearson said he’s thinking of traveling to Florida for the NHL Draft that will be June 26-27 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise (home of the Florida Panthers).

“It only happens once,” Pearson said of being drafted. “It is kinda crazy when you think about it, but I just try to take it day-by day and hopefully on draft day my name will get called.

“If not, it’s not a huge deal. If I don’t get drafted, hopefully [someday] I’ll be able to sign [as a free agent] with a NHL team.”

Pearson doesn’t envy the job awaiting Koehler, head coach Anthony Noreen and assistants Brad Patterson and John Rohan,

The shortened competition “won’t make their jobs any easier,” Pearson said. “The really good players will stand out, obviously. Hopefully, that makes [decision-making] a lot easier.”