Gresock’s hat trick helps Phantoms snap skid

January 7, 2018 at 12:05a.m.

Staff report

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

Chase Gresock’s hat-trick goal midway through the third period snapped a tie and lifted the Youngstown Phantoms to Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

The win snapped the Phantoms’ five-game losing streak. Matthew Thomson and Michael Joyaux assisted on Gresock’s goal.

With 28 seconds remaining, Max Ellis scored an empty-net goal to seal the victory. The goal was unassisted.

Gresock’s first two goals gave the Phantoms an early lead. The first one came just 71 seconds into the contest. Matthew Barry and Mike Regush earned assists.

Seven minutes later, Gresock struck again, with Regush and Barry again setting him up.

Goaltender Ivan Prosvetov stopped 29 shots.

The Phantoms (13-10-3-1, 30 points) are tied with Dubuque for second place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference.