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Category: Opinion and Editorial
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After an "eventful" week, the Phantoms go back on the road.And on to Chicago! - After an "eventful" week, the Phantoms go back on the road.
After an exciting (if not exhausting for some) weekend return to the Covelli Centre, everyone was looking forward to a nice boring week before heading to Chicago for a pair of games. Owen Bartoszkiewicz got the first shutout at Covelli in years, almost guaranteeing USHL weekly honors. After showing he was progressing in his short USHL career, it would be nice to focus on getting Kyle Chauvette healthy while feeling more confident about letting Bartoszkiewicz get more time in net in preparation for next season, when he could be a starter. I'm sure that getting players back in the lineup so we could reunite lines that have worked well all season was on the agenda.

The Phantoms (12-11-2-3) can wish in one hand I guess. The first bit of news came in the form of a trade with Fargo. With the addition of Tomas Machu from Czechia, the Phantoms had 1 more import player than is allowed, and were juggling their affiliate list to accommodate. The result was sending Ryan Alexander (10g, 7a) to the Force in exchange for Charlie Lurie (7g, 11a) and a swap of Phase 2 draft picks, in favor of the Phantoms. Next came the announcement from the USHL that the first game of the weekend was off, with the typical form message that usually means it's due to Covid. Saturday's game is still on as of publication. Needless to say, no one knows which team (if not both) initiated this and how the remaining game will be affected if played. Then came Twitter rumors about Owen Bartoszkiewicz heading to the NCAA to join the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who's top netminder just signed in the NHL. Yeesh, how is a guy supposed to write up anything through all this.

So this week we might play a game against the Chicago Steel (20-5-6-0). These teams have met twice so far this season in separate weeks, splitting the games with each winning on the road. Both were weeks I had other obligations and missed the preview. Fortunately for me, they don't need a lot of introduction. And with the fact that at least one game has been cancelled for a possible outbreak, who knows who will be playing. In the last last two weeks, at least, the Steel have listed players as "protocol" or "illness", so we know they have not been unaffected though this.

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Category: Podcasts
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S4E15 - New episode out now! We look back on an incredible weekend at the Covelli Centre, and added some star power to our show! Edit: The Ryan Alexander trade was announced after we recorded. Shocker, amirite?

 

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Category: Game Recap
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Owne Bartoszkiewicz moves the puck out of harms way in a 3-0 shutout of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.A Shutout For Bartoszkiewicz! - Owne Bartoszkiewicz moves the puck out of harms way in a 3-0 shutout of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
The hope going into Saturday's game was that we'd be getting back some played from Covid protocol after playing shorthanded on Friday, dressing three '05 affiliates and an emergency backup goalie. Well, we got back Kenta Isogai and Evan Werner, but out went Justin Varner and Tomas Machu. To top it all off, the two Pens Elite affiliates had to go back, leaving Skogen Schrott as the only affiliate. Net result, we only had 18 players dressed last night - 11 forwards, 5 defensemen, 1 goalie, and the EBUG. It looked like it was going to be a rough night, but the Phantoms pulled it together for more than just a simple win. It was a shutout.

The Phantoms started it off in the first. RoughRiders defenseman Eric Pohlkamp, turned the puck over to Ryan Alexander just inside the 'Riders blueline as Evan Werner made himself available in the slot. Alexander one-touched the puck to Werner who dragged the puck forehand to backhand across the top of the crease before roofing a backhander over the glove of 'Riders netminder Connor Hasley at 6:35 of the first. Shots were 7-7 in the first.

The second period was Adam Ingram's time to score. A 2-on-1 with Winter Wallace quickly turned into a breakaway on net with Ingram using his speed to walk around 'Riders defenseman William Brenner. Ingram went from left to right across the crease, making Hasley open up the five hole, much as he did in the second period the night before. Time of the goal was 14:12. Shots were 18-10 Cedar Rapids in the second.