Phantoms adjust roster for Iowa trip

HOCKEY

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms have added two players to replace two who have departed.

Goaltender Vincent Purpura has joined Boston University for the second semester.

Forward Jake Suede has returned to the Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL after his time on loan from their club to the Phantoms.

Forward Ethan DeStefani has left Merrimack College to join the Phantoms (10-11-0-3, 23 points). Free-agent goaltender Chad Veltri, who has played with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, will compete with Christian Stoever and Jon Mor for playing time this weekend on a three-game road trip to Iowa.

Purpura played in three games with the Phantoms after being acquired from the Omaha Lancers on Nov. 12 and went 2-1 with a 1.97 goals against average and .912 save percentage.

“Vincent was a quality addition while he was with our team,” Phantoms’ General Manager Jason Koehler said. “We are in the business of developing our players for the college and professional levels and sometimes the timing maybe is not what is best for us, but for the player and the opportunity presented at that time.

“In this case, Vincent was committed to Boston University and they had a need to add and upgrade their goaltending situation and felt that after two-and-a-half seasons of junior hockey in the NAHL and USHL, Vincent was ready to step in and help them.”

It’s not the first time a Phantom has departed for college in midseason. Two years ago, forward Brett Murray left the Phantoms for Penn State. He returned to the Phantoms for this season and now is committed to Miami.

Suede was with the Phantoms for 10 games as the Phantoms dealt with injuries and Jack Malone’s absence for two weeks to play for Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge tournament. Suede recorded one assist.

DeStefani, 19, played four games for Merrimack this fall and once played for the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks.

“We had drafted Ethan back in May in the event he did not enroll in college this fall, so we have a feel for him as a player as he attended our tryout camp in May,” Koehler said.

Veltri, 20, played 10 games with the Stampede this fall, with a 3.75 goals against average and .875 save percentage.