TeamUSA Deals @YTownPhantoms a Season Opening Loss

Typically, the first game of the season provides a baseline for any team. It also provides the first opportunity for analysis, overreaction and growth.

This weekend's season-opening 4-2 loss to Team USA (6-1-0, 12 pts) was no exception.

Team USA doubled up the Phantoms - who are ranked #6 in USAHockey Magazine's opening USHL Power Rankings - for the second time in two weeks, their previous meeting resulting in a 6-3 loss at the USHL's Fall Classic East event Wednesday, Sept 17th.

As Season Starts, @YTownPhantoms Are Ready

As hard as it is to believe, Game 1 of the Youngstown Phantoms’ 2014-15 season is less than 48 hours away. The team continues to chip away at the little things that make the difference between a solid start or a disappointing one.


This is the way a preseason goes in any sport.

The changes in this team – from Week 1 until now – are very apparent. In the first week of open practices, I saw a team that was green.  Veteran players still needed to reestablish their on-ice relationships with each other. The newer faces knew that they had to both secure a roster spot for themselves and carve out their place among their peers.

The @YTownPhantoms Finalize Roster, Announce Trade

1240AM will carry Phantoms games.

The Youngstown Phantoms and Head Coach/General Manager Anthony Noreen announced the team's roster for the 2014-15 season, in time for the season opener in Chicago versus Team USA U-18 this Saturday.

A press release from the Phantoms indicates that the opening day roster will be as follows:

Former @YTownPhantoms Head Coach Lands Merrimack Job

Per a press release from the Youngstown Phantoms, released today:

Former Phantoms Head Coach Curtis Carr has been promoted to Associate Head Coach of Merrimack College’s hockey team. Carr had served as an Assistant Coach for the last three seasons with the Warriors.

 

During his time at Merrimack, Carr has helped the team to a 34-38-12 overall record, and has overseen a penalty kill unit that has ranked third in Hockey East two of the past three seasons with an 85.1% success rate in 2012-13, and an 84.5% success rate in 2011-12.

If you'll recall, coach Carr was named the head coach of the Phantoms late in the 1009-10 campaign, spending a total of 5 years with the organization. During that time, Carr served as an Assistant Coach, and Associate Head Coach, and as the Head Coach and Director of Player Development.

His stay also included the Phantoms transition from the North American Hockey League, the nation's top Tier II Junior circuit, into the Tier I USHL.

Of the USHL, Carr said “The quality of play and coaching in the USHL makes you a better coach. The caliber of players in the league prepares you for working with college athletes.”

One former and one current Phantom will get the opportunity to work with Carr. Former team captain Alfred Larrson plays at Merrimeck currently and defenseman Alex Carle will join the team at the conclusion of his USHL career.

Larsson

Past, Present and Future @YTownPhantoms Selected to Top Prospect Game

Forty-two players were selected to participate in the 2014 CCM/USAHockey All-American Prospects game to be held in late September. Among those selected were three current Phantoms and one Phantoms alum.

This is a huge honor as the prospect game gathers some of American hockey's top-talent to showcase their games in front of scouts from all around, including the NHL. All the players selected to participate are potential early-round NHL Draft picks.

Front Office of @YTownPhantoms Visit @Penguins

According to a Youngstown Phantoms press release, the team continued growing their relationship with the Pittsburgh Penguins when members of their front office paid the NHL franchise's offices a visit.

During the visit, the teams discussed a variety of topics, covering nearly every base involving team branding and marketing operations. The Phantoms remain Youngstown's hottest ticket but continue to linger near the bottom of the USHL in attendance each year due to the area's focus on football.

Ryan Lomberg: Phantoms' New Risky Acquisition

The Youngstown Phantoms have acquired Forward Ryan Lomberg from the Lincoln Stars.

Lomberg, a native of Richmond Hill, Ontario never played a game for the Stars, spending the last two seasons at the University of Maine. At UMaine, Lomberg excelled in on-ice production, becoming the team's third highest goal-scorer in his sophomore year, lighting the lamp 11 times in 34 games.