Stampede, Phantoms looking to remain hot

March 6, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Stampede, Phantoms look to continue win streaks

YOUNGSTOWN

The hottest teams in the USHL are ready for a Covelli Centre smackdown.

The Sioux Falls Stampede (25-15-5, 55 points) are bringing a seven-game winning streak from North Dakota to Ohio for a two-game series against the Youngstown Phantoms (29-13-5, 63 points), winners of 10 consecutive games.

“They’ve won seven straight, it’s definitely going to be a battle,” said second-year Phantoms forward Max Letunov, whose NHL rights were traded on Monday by the St. Louis Blues to the Arizona Coyotes. “It’s always good to play against a good team. For me, the most fun games to play are when one goal decides everything.”

Tonight’s game is the first of four home games for the Phantoms against Western Conference powers. Next weekend, the first-place Sioux City Musketeers (31-13-5, 67 points, best in the league) will visit for two games.

The Stampede should provide a solid test tonight and Saturday.

“We know that have been rolling as of late,” Phantoms co-captain Ryan Lomberg said. “We’re just trying to focus on being prepared. These past couple of weeks, we’ve been focusing more on us, on what we have to do rather than opponents.

“We’ll be ready for this weekend.”

The Phantoms haven’t lost since Jan. 31 and are the second-place team in the nine-team Eastern Conference. They trail the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (32-16-0, 64 points) and have a game in hand.

“We’ve put ourselves in a position where every game we’re playing is the biggest game of the season,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said of the final 20 percent of the schedule. “It’s a pretty fun position to be in. There is a lot of pressure involved, but that’s what you want.”

It’s a far cry from last season when the Phantoms finished dead-last in the Eastern Conference. Noreen appreciates the difference.

“The main goal of developing players as people is still the same, but there’s nothing like meaningful hockey,” the fourth-year head coach said. “I can’t imagine anything being more intense, more emotional, more of a roller coaster.

“It’s a great thing to be a part of, it’s fun, it’s why we do it.”

Monday, the Phantoms bolstered their roster with three trade deadline deals. First-year defenseman Carson Vance was sent to the Chicago for Steel defenseman and captain Connor McDonald. First-year forward Bryan Lemos was dealt to the Waterloo Blackhawks for forward Tyler Sheehy. Prospect defenseman Carter Ekberg’s rights were sent to Madison for Capitals defenseman and captain Alec Vanko.

“Is there going to be an adjustment? Absolutely,” Noreen said. “But we feel we are a better built team for the long run after we made these deals. We feel like we’ve upgraded.

“We expect them to push us to be better.”

Josh Melnick, who was named USHL Forward of the Week after scoring six points in two games last weekend, said losing two teammates isn’t easy.

“It does [hurt] that we are losing some of our good friends, we’re sad to see them go,” Melnick said. “But we need to look forward. The guys we are bringing in are going to help us make a great push for the playoffs. As long as they pick up things quick, we’re going to keep rolling.”

Melnick can’t wait for the puck to drop.

“We’ve been playing great as a team,” Melnick said. “Coach has been preaching playing Youngstown hockey — hard, fast, make the other team feel it. Keep working hard, good things are going to happen.”