USHL suspends Miller, Noreen

March 12, 2015 at 12:08a.m.

Coach suspended for

a game; player out two

YOUNGSTOWN

Friday the 13th arrived a little early for the Youngstown Phantoms, who have a 12-game winning streak going into this weekend’s series against the USHL’s top team.

The USHL has suspended Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen and defenseman Matt Miller for Friday’s game against the Sioux City Musketeers. Miller also will be suspended for Saturday’s game at the Covelli Centre.

In last Saturday’s 6-2 victory against the Sioux Falls Stampede, the league says Miller left the bench too soon after Josh Nenadal’s goal late in the game. The second-year Phantoms defenseman said he was rushing to the aid of defenseman Vas Kolias who was knocked to the ice.

Sunday, the USHL suspended Stampede defenseman Joey Raats for kneeing Kolias. Neither Miller nor Raats were penalized in the game.

Troy Loney, Phantoms co-owner, says this adversity could be inspirational.

“Every successful team that I’ve ever been involved with has a defining moment in a season, something that players and fans rally behind to push the team to new level,” said Loney, a Stanley Cup winner in 1991 and 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. “The adversity coming from the suspensions is one of these defining moments.

“As we strive to get to 13 wins in a row this Friday I trust that our fans and the whole Valley will support Coach Noreen and the entire team and be the extra man in the building at the game.”

Miller wasn’t surprised at his penalty.

“It was illegal, but after certain things happen, there’s only so much [you can take],” Miller said. “I thought [Kolias] was more hurt than he was and I went to check on him.

“When a teammate gets hit like that, especially when five or six hits in the game are cheap, emotions get the better of you,” Miller said.

Noreen, however, was surprised.

“We didn’t know [about possible suspensions] until they told us,” Noreen said.

The USHL requested game video on Monday and announced the suspensions Wednesday.

This weekend’s series is arguably the biggest in the Phantoms’ six regular seasons. Four teams including the Musketeers (32-14-5, 69 points) and Phantoms (31-13-5, 67 points) are in the race for first-place overall. Cedar Rapids and Tri-City both have 68 points.

Nenadal said that after a goal is scored or an altercation, no one can leave the bench until players on the ice are coming off.

“Matty just got caught up in the heat of the moment,” said Nenadal, a co-captain. “He just wanted to protect his teammate, that’s what happens when a team is so close.”

Noreen can have no contact with the team from 20 minutes before the opening faceoff until after the game Friday.

Noreen said assistants Brad Patterson and John Ronan will split coaching duties.

“There’s no place you’d rather be in the world then on the bench with the guys in that game,” Noreen said. “Having said that, this group is way bigger than me.

“The majority of our work as a staff is done during the week and our guys know what’s expected. They know what needs to be done.”