Green Bay’s Karow has key role in Phantoms’ defense

Green Bay’s Karow has key role in Phantoms’ chase

By Tom Williams | williams@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

It should surprise no one that a hockey-playing teen from Green Bay, Wis., has fit in so well in the Mahoning Valley.

Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Michael Karow literally has grown up with the NFL’s Packers. Just about everyone here has an opinion on the Browns, Steelers, Buckeyes and Penguins.

Sometimes, football can unite us (the New England Patriots being an exception).

“I’ve lived in the same house all my life and if you hit all the red lights, it’s 10 minutes to Lambeau Field,” said Karow of his family home. “You can’t see it from the house, but we’re right there in the city limits.”

A “100 percent” Packers fan, Karow said his family usually attends a few games each season.

“Obviously, not [last fall], but it’s always fun going to games,” the Ursuline High School honor student said. “It’s definitely a big part of your life there.”

Karow understands how Steelers fans felt on Jan. 22 when their team was blown out 36-17 by the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. His Packers had a similar experience that afternoon against the Atlanta Falcons (44-21).

He didn’t see that game as the Phantoms were playing an extra-long game in Bloomington, Ill., against the Thunder. Tied at 2 after overtime, the game ended with a 10-round shootout. Defenseman Dominic Dockery scored the only goal in the shootout and goaltender Ivan Kulbakov stopped all 10 shots by the Thunder.

“Our equipment manager [Eric Breed] was keeping me up to date,” said Karow of the Packers-Falcons game. “It was tough hearing those scores.”

Karow said he didn’t know much about northeastern Ohio when he was first drafted by the Phantoms. A friend, now a volleyball player for Wisconsin-Green Bay, told him that her Horizon League school is in the same league as Youngstown State.

“The men’s basketball team plays at the Resch Center,” Karow said of the home of the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.

That’s right — Penguins and Phantoms sometimes share the same facility.

During the Phantoms’ tryout camp last June, Karow knew he had a golden opportunity with the Phantoms. Only two defensemen — Ty Farmer and Carter Ekberg — were returning from last year’s fifth-place team.

“There was a lot of room for me to make the team out of camp,” Karow said.

He’s partnered with Brandon Estes, who hails from a Dallas suburb, and they’ve become the Phantoms’ top defensive pairing.

“He’s a good, solid defenseman,” Karow said. “He has my complete trust when we are on the ice.”

Estes said: “We have a chemistry going. We’re comfortable playing with each other.”

The other defensemen include Alec Mahalak, Jake Gingell and Andrew Petrillo. Steve Ruggiero, who was a Phantom three seasons ago, returned to the team last month after giving up his scholarship to Providence. (Ekberg was released in training camp and Farmer was traded to the Muskegon Lumberjacks three weeks ago).

“It’s a tight-knit group, we have a well-balanced D corps,” Karow said. “Dockery and Mahalak are more offensive and Gingell, Rugs and Petrillo are in-between.”

Next fall, Karow will be playing for Boston College and Estes for Union College. Karow said the history of the program enticed him.

“Great academics — for me, it was the whole package,” Karow said of his commitment. “Hockey and academics, the coaching staff, the history and the tem they have right now — it’s really exciting to be a part of that.”

Despite a defense built from scratch, the Phantoms (23-13-5, 51 points) are in the thick of USHL Eastern Conference’s playoff chase. They are tied with the Lumberjacks for third place (the top four teams qualify for the postseason).

Entering tonight’s game in Bloomington, the Phantoms are five points behind the first-place Dubuque Fighting Saints and three behind the Chicago Steel. Seven points back in fifth place are the Gamblers.

“We have a great group of guys and great coaching staff,” Karow said. “It’s not like it’s a chore to come to the rink every day, you want to be here.”

Thanksgiving weekend, Karow celebrated a homecoming when the Phantoms played in Green Bay. It wasn’t his first time playing in the Resch Center, but it was a new experience as to how many eyes were watching. Karow once played for the Junior Gamblers.

“We’d have 20 fans and they were all parents,” Karow said. “Playing the Gamblers [with a large crowd] was sort of a surreal feeling.”