Youngstown Phantoms

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Youngstown Phantoms
Youngstown Phantoms Logo.svg
City Youngstown, Ohio
League United States Hockey League
ConferenceEastern
Founded2003 (in the NAHL)
Home arena Covelli Centre
ColorsPurple, orange, black
   
Owner(s)Bruce J. Zoldan, Alex Zoldan, Ron Zoldan, Black Bear Sports Group
General managerJason Deskins and Ryan Kosecki [1]
Head coachRyan Ward
Media Western Reserve Radio (Internet)
FloHockey
Franchise history
2003–2005Youngstown Phantoms
2005–2009Mahoning Valley Phantoms
2009–presentYoungstown Phantoms
Championships
Regular season titles1 Anderson Cup (2014–15)
Playoff championships1 Clark Cup (2023)

The Youngstown Phantoms are a Tier I junior ice hockey team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The team plays home games at the 5,200-seat Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. The team was co-owned by Bruce J. Zoldan (founder and CEO of fireworks brand Phantom Fireworks, hence the team's name [2] ) and Troy Loney (who played 12 years in the NHL, primarily for the Pittsburgh Penguins) along with his wife Aafke Loney. In the summer of 2018, the Loney's sold their interests to the Black Bear Sports Group led by CEO Murry Gunty.

Contents

History

From their inaugural season in 2003 until 2009, the Phantoms played in the North American Hockey League's North Division, with home games at the 1,000-seat Boardman Ice Zone in the suburb of Boardman, Ohio. From 2005 until 2009, the team was known as the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, because the Central Hockey League's Youngstown SteelHounds moved into the county. However, soon after the SteelHounds shut down, the Phantoms started playing most of their games in the city of Youngstown, and with the move to the USHL, re-adopted the old Youngstown Phantoms name.[ citation needed ]

Seventeen players with Youngstown Phantoms ties have been drafted into the NHL. Defenseman Scott Mayfield (2009–11) was drafted in the second round, 34th overall, [3] [4] by the New York Islanders in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Goalie Matthew Mahalak (2009–10) was drafted in the sixth round, [3] 163rd overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes, also in 2011. Forward Nathan Walker (2012–13) was drafted in the third round, 89th overall, [5] by the Washington Capitals in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Forward Maxim Letunov (2013–15) was drafted in the second round, 52nd overall, [6] by the St. Louis Blues, also in 2014. Also, a total of seven alumni have signed NHL contracts, including Nathan Walker, Scott Mayfield, Brandon Saad, Jiri Sekac, Andrej Sustr and Lucas Craggs. [7] In addition, Mayfield, Saad, Sustr and Sekac have seen action with their respective NHL clubs, and Saad won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. [2] On August 10, 2011, the Youngstown Phantoms announced 29-year-old Chicago native Anthony Noreen as head coach, making him the third head coach in the team's history. Before joining the Youngstown Phantoms, Noreen was an assistant coach for three seasons at his alma mater, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. [8] In April 2012, Noreen's contract was extended through the 2013–14 season. [8] Noreen was hired by the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears after the 2014–15 season. John Wroblewski was then hired for the 2015–16 season as the fourth head coach in team history. [9] After one season in Youngstown, Wroblewski was hired by the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as the head coach [10] and was replaced by former assistant coach, Brad Patterson. [11] Patterson's contract was not renewed at the end of the 2021–22 season and he was replaced by Ryan Ward. In February 2023, the Phantoms participated in their first outdoor game in franchise history, hosting the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. [12]

Regular season records

SeasonLeagueGPWLOTLPTSGFGAPIMFinish
2003–04 NAHL56282176316816913475th, North
2004–05 [13] NAHL56272545820118113654th, North
2005–06 [14] NAHL58342047221418112883rd, North
2006–07 [15] NAHL62471419528316811981st, North
2007–08 [16] NAHL58361847622717312722nd, North
2008–09 [17] NAHL58361757722417310922nd, North
2009–10 [18] USHL60203644417024716077th, Eastern
2010–11 [19] USHL60233075316720511457th, Eastern
2011–12 [20] USHL60322177120219611904th, Eastern
2012–13 USHL64372707421519913483rd of 8, Eastern; 7th of 16, USHL
2013–14 USHL60173764017223012128th of 8, Eastern; 15th of 16, USHL
2014–15 USHL60401468623316611781st of 9, Eastern; 1st of 17, USHL
2015–16 USHL60312097119217710205th of 9, Eastern; 6th of 17, USHL
2016–17 USHL60342067416113510544th of 9, Eastern; 8th of 17, USHL
2017–18 USHL6033207731801899762nd of 9, Eastern; 6th of 17, USHL
2018–19 USHL62362157721420911013rd of 9, Eastern; 6th of 17, USHL
2019–20 USHL502022848146197865Season cancelled
2020–21 USHL4912307311452186896th of 6, Eastern; 14th of 14, USHL
2021-22 USHL62292310681911997754th of 8, Eastern; 7th of 16, USHL [21]
2022-23 USHL62381958122517310522nd of 8, Eastern; 4th of 16, USHL
2023-24USHL623319107623020612904th of 8, Eastern; 5th of 16, USHL
2024-25USHL62421828623216710911st of 8, Eastern; 2nd of 16 USHL

Playoff records

SeasonGPWLOTLGFGAPIMFinish
2006 [22] 82602033166Lost in Quarterfinals
2007 [23] 109104724152Lost in Championship Game
2008 [24] 126513934222Lost in Round 2
2009 [25] 148604237159Lost in Semifinals
2012 [26] 63302025100Lost in East Conf. Semifinals
2013 [27] 95402323121Lost in East Conf. Finals
2015 [27] 4130111395Lost in East Conf. Semifinals
2017 523081579Lost in East Conf. Semifinals
2018 117403935164Lost in Clark Cup Final
2019 20203624Lost in First Round
202220205812Lost in First Round
202398102513100Clark Cup Champions
20248331202375Lost in East Conf. Semifinals
2025003081663Lost in East Conf. Semifinals

References

  1. "YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS HIRE JASON DESKINS AND RYAN KOSECKI AS CO-GENERAL MANAGERS AND VICE PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY OPERATIONS FOR 2021-22". Youngstown Phantoms. June 21, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "ABOUT | YoungstownPhantoms.com". Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "USHL NHL Drafts". Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. "Burnside: Scott Mayfield rises from obscurity to big stage". ESPN.com. June 25, 2011.
  5. bwerger (July 25, 2014). "Phantoms Alum Continues to Make History".
  6. "Maxim Letunov at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com.
  7. "Preds Sign Forward Lukas Craggs to Two-Year, Entry-Level Deal". www.nhl.com. April 5, 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Phantoms Agree to 2-Year Extension with Head Coach Anthony Noreen". April 30, 2012.
  9. "Youngstown Phantoms Name John Wroblewski Head Coach". USHL. July 21, 2015.
  10. "John Wroblewski Named Head Coach at National Team Development Program". Junior Hockey News. May 16, 2016.
  11. "Phantoms Name Assistant Coach Brad Patterson to Head Coaching Position". Junior Hockey News. June 7, 2016.
  12. "Youngstown Announces Outdoor Game Slated for Feb. 23". USHL.com. United States Hockey League. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  13. "North American Hockey League - on Pointstreak Sports Technologies". Pointstreak Sports Technologies.
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  21. "Youngstown Phantoms Statistics and History [USHL]". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
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  26. "USHL Standings". Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
  27. 1 2 "USHL Standings". Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.