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Phantoms have busy week
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
Youngstown Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson is a high-energy guy who wants those type of player son his team.
After a recent five-game road trip produced a 4-0-1 result, the first-year head coach feels as if that energy has his team peaking at just the right time with six of their eight December games slated for the Covelli Centre. Three of them will be played Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at Avion Banquet Center, Patterson noted that while the team is looking forward to playing at home, they’ll have to do so without the services of center and leading scorer Nicolas Werbik over the next several games.
Werbik (10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points) leaves on Thursday hoping to earn a spot on the Czech National team with hopes of representing his country at the upcoming World Juniors in Canada.
“Our coaching staff and his teammates are sad to lose him, but as an organization we are very happy for him,” Patterson said. “In my eyes, his chances of making the team are very good as teams and players in our league stack up against any of the international teams.
“Without question, he’s one of the very best players in the USHL.”
Andrej Sustr, a Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman, was a Phantom during the 2009-10 season. when he earned a spot on the Czech national team.
The Phantoms (11-9-1-1, 24 points) are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The top four teams in the conference qualify for the playoffs. Last Friday, the Phantoms lost 2-1 to the Chicago Steel.
They’ll go back to work Thursday morning at the Covelli Centre when they play host to the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the annual “School Day” game at 10 a.m.
“I like a morning game and the fact that there will be a lot of excitement and energy in the building,” Patterson said. “Hopefully, the game not only will add to our fan base but continue to generate interest in hockey in the area.”
Patterson has been a part of the Phantoms coaching staff for the past seven seasons. He has been instrumental in the development of more than 120 players who have gone on to the college ranks. Among the former Phantoms who were drafted in the NHL Draft is Kyle Connor, a rookie with the Winnipeg Jets.
“About 95 percent of our team members and players league-wide go on to play college hockey and that’s a really significant number,” the Cranbrook, British Columbia, native said. “Skill development at this stage is huge and while the won-loss record is always looked at, it’s still development at this stage.”
Preparation is also a key.
“We stress ‘show up every day and get better,” Patterson said. “The onus is on us because we need to get better as well — players, coaches and everyone in the organization.”