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Phantoms rev up for 9th season
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
Wednesday, the Youngstown Phantoms were happy to hit more than the ice.
“Last year, we had more [preseason] games to start off,” defenseman Jake Gingell said. “We’ve been practicing for way too long, the boys just want to [play] some games and go hit somebody and make some contact.
“We want to finally get into the groove of things,” the second-year defender said. “The boys are just ready to go.”
At the Pittsburgh Penguins’ UMPC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, the Phantoms defeated the Waterloo Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime in the first of their three games at the USHL Fall Classic.
Their ninth USHL regular season begins on Oct. 7-8 with games against the Bloomington Thunder at the Covelli Centre.
Gingell spoke after Tuesday’s practice at the Covelli Centre where soaring temperatures outside had help create fog above the ice and plenty of condensation on the plexiglass.
It’s not a new experience. Forward Eric Esposito who is back for his third season, said the Phantoms had a similar experience at his second tryout camp at The Ice Zone in Boardman.
“It was real bad,” Esposito said. “In the All-Star Game, after every shift, we had to [skate] laps [to clear the fog.] I don’t think they could even see us from where they were watching. It’s hard to track pucks.”
Esposito and Gingell are two of the eight players back from last season’s playoff team. The Phantoms finished fourth in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Phantoms forced a deciding Game 5 before losing to the Chicago Steel, the eventual league champs.
The other returning defenseman is Andrew Petrillo. Returning forwards include Max Ellis, Nicolas Werbik, Chase Gresock and Curtis Hall.
Goalie Britt League, who missed much of last season with an injury, is one of three goalies in camp. The others are Wouter Peeters of Belarus and Ivan Prosvetov of Russia. Peeters is a draft pick of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks.
They’re competing to replace the huge skates left by goalie Ivan Kulbakov, last year’s team Most Valuable Player who signed with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets and could be playing this fall for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (hockey’s version of Triple A baseball).
“I’m just so proud of him,” Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson said of the Belarus goalie. “The best way to describe [his season here] is that he was a pro.
“He made guys around him better, but he carried himself like a pro,” Patterson said. “He’s got that opportunity and he’s worked hard to get that.”
Esposito agreed and isn’t surprised.
“We saw him every day, stopping all of our shots,” Esposito said. “I knew he’s an NHL-caliber goalie and he could find a roster spot. When he’s at the rink, he’s locked in.”
Gingell said: “Ivan was a great teammate, a natural leader even though he didn’t speak [our] language very well. He still led by example.
“He had a lot of confidence coming in, which is pretty hard to do being so far from home, Gingell said. “He dominated — so happy for him.”
Prosvetov was the winning goalie against the Blackhawks.
Defenseman Zach Metsa scored two goals including the overtime winner. Esposito, Craig Needham and Ellis netted the others.
Matthew Barry had two assists while Esposito, Michael Regush and Werbik had one apiece.
Patterson is taking 27 players to the USHL Fall Classic. They will play on Saturday and Sunday. The team then has to reduce its roster to 23 by Tuesday.
“Your biggest evaluation period is in games,” Patterson said. “It’s unfortunate this year we weren’t able to get another exhibition game.”
Patterson and his staff are looking for team leaders and play this weekend will help.
We’ll have captains to start the year, but it won’t be finalized until next week,” Patterson said.
Esposito, who hopes to be one of them, said he’s feeling much more confident after his third training camp.
“I want to wear a letter,” he said. “When you get here, it’s real fast, it’s right on you.
“I felt a difference last year and I’m feeling a difference this year,” Esposito said. “It’s a bigger jump.