Phantoms Bantams team qualifies for nationals

Staff report

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown Phantoms Bantams AA team has the road trip of a lifetime awaiting its young players.

By virtue of winning a state title, the Phantoms Bantams (ages 14-younger) will be traveling to Salt Lake City for the national tournament that begins March 25.

In the state championship game at Mentor, the Phantoms Bantams defeated the Toledo Cherokee Bantam AAs, 9-1, earning Ohio’s 14U Tier II title.

Coached by Bob Hawthorne, the Phantoms Bantams compiled a 37-13-6 record. His assistant coaches are Zach Skook, Jamie Hamilton and Taylor Cera.

The players from the Mahoning Valley are Drew Murphy, Stone Elias, Tallon Price, Colin Frost, Bo Gray, Devin Whitaker, Danny LaFontaine, Michael Fetsko, Vince Hepola and Rob Stanko.

The players from Western Pennsylvania are Darrin Smith, Max Hamilton, Brayden Forsyth, Cole Luther, Richie Phipps, RJ Pozzuto and Bradley Ryniawec.

The Phantom Bantams have out-scored their opponents 223-103 and are ranked 50th of 1,060 teams in the U.S.

This will be Hawthorne’s fourth time taking a bantams team to the national tournament.

The Phantom Bantams went 16-2-2 in the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League. They also participated in the Silver Sticks National Tournament in January at Port Huron, Mich.

The team is selling T-shirts to raise money for the Salt Lake City trip. Visit https://www.booster.com/phantom1 for more information.