Covelli Centre, Phantoms ink three-year deal
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
Eric Ryan, the general manager for the Covelli Centre, said on Thursday that the arena and Youngstown Phantoms hockey team have a new three-year agreement that runs through the 2019-20 season.
The Phantoms’ previous contract expires at the end of the current season.
Tonight, the Phantoms will host the Chicago Steel in a USHL playoff game. The Phantoms trail the Steel 2-0 in the best-of-five series. If the Phantoms win, Game 4 will be at the Covelli Centre on Saturday.
Bruce Zoldan, Phantoms Fireworks CEO, created the Youngstown Phantoms in 2009 as a USHL expansion team after his Mahoning Valley Phantoms of the North American Hockey League folded.
In March 2014, Zoldan sold half of the team to Troy and Aafke Loney, who run the team’s day-to-day operations. A month later, the Phantoms agreed to the current expiring contract.
“We’re pleased that we could reach a three-year agreement with the Covelli Centre to remain as their primary tenant,” Troy Loney said. “The playoff games this weekend will provide another opportunity to showcase Youngstown and the beautiful Covelli Centre to sports fans across the nation.”
The Phantoms have qualified for the USHL Playoffs four times in eight seasons. In the 2014-15 season, the team won the USHL’s Anderson Cup for compiling the best regular-season record.