Phantoms' newest goalie thrilled for second chance

By Dan Hiner

dhiner@vindy.com

Youngstown

Chad Veltri got a special gift for the holidays — another chance.

Veltri, a goalie, was signed by the Youngstown Phantoms on Dec. 21. He was released by the Sioux Falls Stampede on Dec. 12 after playing 10 games.

The USHL season didn’t start well for Veltri, and he knows it. With the Stampede, he posted a 3.75 goals against average and .875 save percentage.

“When they dropped me, I just knew I had to stay confident in myself,” Veltri said. “I knew another opportunity would come and just do the best I can where I was at.”

Veltri went to the Corpus Christi IceRays in the North American Hockey League during his time in between rosters. He played for the IceRays last season and practiced with the team while waiting for a call from a USHL team.

Veltri thought he’d finish the year in Texas, then Phantoms general manager Jason Koehler called him.

“I got a call from Jason Koehler about four days after I was down there and asked me to join the team,” Veltri said. “It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Wile Veltri was a new addition to the Youngstown roster, he isn’t a new face to the team. The 20-year-old attended Phantoms camps in the past and was an emergency goalie for the team while playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite AAA program.

“I’ve always known the Phantoms since I was a little kid,” Veltri said. “Just growing up, that was a team right next to home. I practiced with them and was an emergency goalie ... just putting on the jersey and playing in a game for them was just so unreal.”

After not playing for a month, Veltri made his first appearance for the Phantoms on Saturday. He stopped 21 shots in Youngstown’s 4-3 overtime win over the Sioux City Musketeers.

“I thought he made some big stops early in the game,” Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson said. “I thought, as the game went, there weren’t a whole lot of chances either way, and that’s kind of to be expected. You’re playing against a really good team.”

The first save wasn’t the easiest for Veltri. Early in the first period, Sioux City’s Parker Ford took a slapshot from the left circle. Veltri blocked it, but the puck slid through his legs. He dove on the puck to prevent the early deficit.

“Maybe some nerves. I had 20 people from my family come here and watch me ... a lot of fans here,” Veltri said. “Once you get that first save, you settle in and it’s easy from there.”

A native of Fox Chapel, Pa., Veltri played in front of his family for the first time this season. His family saw him play once while with the IceRays last year and hadn’t seen him with the Stampede.

“It’s just exciting they can come out and watch me play because it doesn’t happen often,” Veltri said.

Veltri is still adjusting to the new roster. He’s taking the situation game-by-game and hopes to develop into a leader in the locker room.

“The biggest thing is just have confidence in yourself and play your game,” Veltri said. “Everything will come, you’ll get those wins. I’m excited to make a push for the Clark Cup Playoffs with this team.”