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Category: Game Recap
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OK, I didn't watch this on FH and Pointstreak has no info beyond the pre-game sheet. Furthermore, no one from the Phantoms Tweeted anything. I did manage to get some info from the SC Twitter feed abd it looks like the Phantoms won 3-2, holding off a late push by the Musketeers. I'll probably post a better recap if and when I get a chance to watch the games.


Youngstown took an early lead on a flukey bounce. They went on to dominate the rest of the first. SC managed to tie the game up in the second for and seemingly played a lot better, but not good enough. The Phantoms ended up going to the locker room with a 3-1 lead. We all know 2 goal leads aren't leads, they're disasters waiting to happen. Pre-season or not, the Musketeers are a hockey team and pride won't earn you a roster spot. It sounds like they played hard to the buzzer. They walked away from fights to get power play time. The Phantoms iced the puck late and let them get on with their top line and an extra skater for the final surge. The Phantoms goalie, presumably Romeo, held them back.


And hey, it's a pre-season tourny, they even went out for for a friendly 5 minute 3-on-3 skate. No one scored but it sounds like at least SC enjoyed it.

 

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Category: News
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Pre-season is a couple hours away! OK, I don't give a whole lot of anything when it comes to pre-season stats. Every team's coaching staff has a different agenda when it comes to pre-season games. At least I got the pre-game sheet that has everyone's number. Height and weight too! Alex Carle looks to be the only name from the roster that's missing but we'll see if there are any other scratches. On paper, we at least look bigger than Souix City.

Again, it's just pre-season. I'm probably not going to be able to catch the streams until Sunday or Monday. Unless the hockey jones kick in a little harder, don't expect me to post too much about this weekends games.

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Category: News
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I didn't have the blog up yet to report when the Phantoms assistant coach Rob Rassey took a well deserved position as an assistant coach with the Harvard University Crimson, one of the oldest hockey programs in the United States. First off, I have to thank and congratulate Rob. Of course, with less than a week until pre-season starts, this left me wondering who, how and when they would be able to fill the gap left next to coach Noreen. Well, it was only a couple days wait. I won't bore you with the long form, you can read the official release if you want that.


Let me sum it up. Michael Zucker is as bona fide an assistant coach as your going to see. Zucker has spent the past 7 seasons in the trenches as an assistant coach in the WHL, NCAA and the last 2 seasons USHL's Omaha Lancers. That's Canadian Major Jr., NCAA Division I, and the USHL Western Conference. Before coming to the USHL he served under the University of Denver's George Gwozdecky, the 11th winningest coach in the NCAA. Before that he served under Kevin Constantine for three years with the Everett Silvertips of the Canadian Major WHL. Constantine, in addition to coaching several season in the NHL for three teams, has coached just about every major Jr. league, including the USHL and NAHL.


Zucker should bring a lot to the bench. I'm surprised that the Phantoms got an assistant coach of this caliber so shortly after Rassy's leaving. The one thing I've noticed with the Phantoms over the past couple years: they know what they want and go get it! Be it tenders, draft picks, trades or staff, they have a way of finding pieces that fit together well. Everyone from the front office to the players has the same vision of what Phantom hockey. When someone new joins the team, there's no need to sell them on it because they get people who already have the same vision.