Phantoms focusing on positive entering weekend games

October 2, 2015 at 12:07a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

While none of the Youngstown Phantoms are pleased with their 6-4 season-opening loss to Team USA, positives were found to build on.

In last Saturday’s game at the Covelli Centre, Team USA’s 18-Under team jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period — not exactly the start the defending USHL regular-season champions were looking for.

Rather than fold, the Phantoms rallied in the second period, scoring four of the game’s next five goals for a 4-4 tie.

“Coach [John Wroblewski] challenged us in the locker room [with] two ways you can go,” third-year defenseman Matt Miller from East Palestine said. “You can fold or work your butt off to get back into it.

“Everybody had the right mindset, we were all positive in the locker room,” Miller said. “A short memory and then we bounced back.”

Wroblewski, in his head coaching debut with the Phantoms, said he was happy his players showed the toughness to bounce back from an ultra-flat start.

“There’s times in hockey where you [ask] did we play terribly or did they capitalize?” Wroblewski said. “I would say it was more of the second option.”

“We took our lumps, came back into the dressing room and regrouped,” Wroblewski said. “That’s the resolve that we want to carry on the rest of the season.”

Center Chase Pearson, one of the Phantoms’ alternate captains this season, said his teammates heard their new head coach loud and clear.

“Coach said to pick it up,” Pearson said. “The second period, we started off strong and once we got the momentum [we rolled].”

Kevin Conley’s power play goal set up by Yushiro Hirano and Luke McInnis got the Phantoms rolling four minutes into the second period.

Three minutes later, Lukas Craggs scored on an assist by Eric Esposito that sliced Team USA’s lead to 3-2.

Kieffer Bellows’ second goal of the game four minutes later gave Team USA another two-goal lead. It didn’t last long.

Twenty-seven seconds later, Grant Meyer’s first USHL goal set up by Esposito made it 4-3. Then in the next 27 seconds, Cam Morrison tied the game with a feed from Pearson.

Bellows’ third goal of the game came about eight minutes into the third period. The Phantoms surrendered an empty-netter with 62 seconds remaining.

“Last year, we could outscore teams because we had a lot of [offensive] talent,” Miller said.

The top six scorers from last season — Kyle Connor, Max Letunov, Josh Melnick, Kiefer Sherwood, Ryan Lomberg and Taylor Best — have moved on to college.

This year, the top veterans are on defense. In addition to Miller, returning blueliners are Kris Myllari, Ty Farmer and Vas Kolias.

“This year, it’s going to be a lot more structured, a lot more gritty,” Miller said. “At the same time, it’s going to be just as fun going to war.”

The Phantoms’ season resumes tonight and Saturday with games against the Bloomington Thunder at the Covelli Centre.