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Phantoms co-owner: Hockey on upswing in Valley
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
Youngstown Phantoms co-owner Troy Loney likens hockey in the Mahoning Valley to the game’s upswing in popularity during his playing days in the 1980s while a member of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches Monday during their weekly session at Lucianno’s Restaurant, he added that changing the feel of the Covelli Centre so people know that it is different than in years past will also play a key role in the sport’s popularity locally.
“I grew up in Alberta, Canada, right above Montana in the middle of the prairies and as football is ingrained in this community, hockey is up there. Right now, Pittsburgh hockey is really growing very, very quickly,” the Bow Island native said.
“I’m from a town of 1,000 and there are three things in every town in Canada, no matter what size. You will have a grain elevator, a bar and an ice rink. You’ll also find a Chinese Restaurant with good Chinese food as well.”
Entertaining is the key for those that take in a game and expect them to return, according to Loney.
“We’re going to take a page out of minor league baseball’s book and know that the [Mahoning Valley] Scrappers do a great job in that area. We’ll entertain first and make them hockey fans second,” he stated.
“When the family is going out and looking for something to do, we want to be a viable option for them.”
Loney said his 10 years in Pittsburgh, which yielded a Stanley Cup championship under the DeBartolo family’s ownership, were very special.
“My body retired in 1994 but my brain retired in ’95,” he joked.
“Not the way I had liked it to happen but it happened that way.”
For Loney, community involvement is also a very big part of the equation.
“We want to get fans and the community involved so that they can see what we are doing,” he said.
“We can also be a fundraising opportunity for organizations as well.”
In the past, the Phantoms have held specialty jersey nights and will do so once again three times this year. The jerseys, which will be worn by team members, will then be auctioned off after the contest with all proceeds going to charity.
This year’s jersey nights will raise funds and awareness for Akron Children’s Hospital, the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center and Disabled American Veterans.
“The jersey nights were great and for excellent, worthwhile causes. The one that really impacted me, however, was the one for our Disabled Veterans,” he said.
“We were able to host Veterans from the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. They had a loge, complete with food and it was absolutely great just to see them enjoying the game. I don’t know if they had ever been together before in that type of setting.”
This season, specialty jersey auctions will take place on Oct. 24 (Pink in the Rink) when the Phantoms play host to the Muskegon Lumberjacks, Feb. 6 (Military Appreciation) against the Tri-City Storm and on Feb. 27 (Crowd the Covelli) when the Phantoms entertain the Bloomington Thunder.
Next week, YSU men’s basketball coach Jerry Slocum will be the guest speaker.