The Youngstown Phantoms are a
Tier I junior ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
team that plays in the Eastern Conference of the
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictly ...
(USHL). The team plays home games at the 5,200-seat
Covelli Centre
The Covelli Centre is a multi-purpose arena in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. It opened in 2005, thanks in a large part to a $26 million HUD redevelopment grant secured in 2000 by Congressman James A. Traficant Jr. It is home to the Youngstown ...
in
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, and the largest city and county seat of Mahoning County, Ohio, Mahoning County. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, Youngstown had a city population of 60,068. It is a principal city of ...
. The team was co-owned by Bruce J. Zoldan (founder and CEO of fireworks brand Phantom Fireworks, hence the team's name
) and
Troy Loney
Troy ( el, Τροία and Latin: Troia, Hittite: 𒋫𒊒𒄿𒊭 ''Truwiša'') or Ilion ( el, Ίλιον and Latin: Ilium, Hittite: 𒃾𒇻𒊭 ''Wiluša'') was an ancient city located at Hisarlik in present-day Turkey, south-west of Çan ...
(who played 12 years in the
NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
, primarily for the
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...
) 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.
History
From their inaugural season in 2003 until 2009, the Phantoms played in the
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...
's North Division, with home games at the 1,000-seat
Boardman Ice Zone in the suburb of
Boardman, Ohio
Boardman Township is one of the fourteen townships of Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 40,213 at the 2020 census. A suburb directly south of Youngstown, it is the second largest municipality in the Youngstown–Warren met ...
. From 2005 until 2009, the team was known as the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, because the
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League (CHL) was a North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 until 2014. It was founded by Ray Miron and Bill Levins and later sold to Global Entertainment Corporation, which opera ...
's
Youngstown SteelHounds
The Youngstown SteelHounds was a professional ice hockey team which participated in the Central Hockey League (CHL) from the 2005–2006 season through the 2007–2008 season. The team was affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL and t ...
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.
Seventeen players with Youngstown Phantoms ties have been drafted into the NHL. Defenseman
Scott Mayfield
Scott Mayfield (born October 14, 1992) is an American ice hockey player for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Early life
Mayfield was born on October 14, 1992, in St. Louis, Missouri, to parents Jane and Andy. He is th ...
(2009–11) was drafted in the 2nd round, 34th overall pick,
by the
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
in the
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hoste ...
. Goalie Matthew Mahalak (2009–10) was drafted in the 6th round,
163rd overall pick, by the
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...
also in the
2011 NHL Entry Draft
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hoste ...
. Forward
Nathan Walker
Nathan Walker (born 7 February 1994) is a Welsh-born Australian professional ice hockey Forward (ice hockey), forward who is currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Walker, who was born in Wales, grew up ...
(2012–13) was drafted in the 3rd round, 89th overall pick, by the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL) ...
in the
2014 NHL Entry Draft
The 2014 NHL Entry Draft was the 52nd NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 27–28, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia), Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The top three selections were Aaron Ekblad, ...
. Forward Maxim Letunov (2013–15) was drafted in the 2nd round, 52nd overall pick, by the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...
also in the
2014 NHL Entry Draft
The 2014 NHL Entry Draft was the 52nd NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 27–28, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia), Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The top three selections were Aaron Ekblad, ...
. Also, a total of seven alumni have signed NHL contracts, including Nathan Walker, Scott Mayfield,
Brandon Saad
Brandon Saad (born October 27, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Saad was raised in Pittsburgh and attended Pine-Richland High School.
He was draf ...
,
Jiri Sekac
Jiri ( ne, जिरी) is a municipality in Dolakha District in the Bagmati Province of central Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 13,638 people..
Jiri, which lies about 190 kilometers from Kathmandu, is the m ...
,
Andrej Sustr
Andrey, Andrej or Andrei (in Cyrillic script: Андрей, Андреј or Андрэй) is a form of Andreas/Ἀνδρέας in Slavic languages and Romanian. People with the name include:
*Andrei of Polotsk ( – 1399), Lithuanian nobleman
*An ...
, and Lucas Craggs. In addition, Mayfield, Saad, Sustr and Sekac have seen action with their respective NHL clubs, and Saad won the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
with the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division i ...
in 2013.
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 - Steven's Point.
In April 2012, Noreen's contract was extended through the 2013–14 season.
Noreen was hired by the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The E ...
's
Orlando Solar Bears
The Orlando Solar Bears are a professional ice hockey team that plays their home games at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. They play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning of t ...
after the 2014–15 season.
John Wroblewski
John Ellsworth Wroblewski (born May 26, 1981) is an American former ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of the United States women's national ice hockey team. He is the former head coach of the USA Hockey National Team Development Pr ...
was then hired for the 2015–16 season as the fourth head coach in team history. After one season in Youngstown, Wroblewski was hired by the
USA Hockey National Team Development Program
The United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) was started in 1996 by USA Hockey as a way to identify elite ice hockey players under the age of 18, and centralize their training. There are two teams in the program: under-17 and under- ...
as the head coach and was replaced by former assistant coach, Brad Patterson.
Regular season records
Playoff records
Roster
As of December 28, 2022.
Phantoms drafted into the NHL
*2011: Scott Mayfield – 34th overall by New York Islanders
*2011: Matt Mahalak – 163rd overall by Carolina Hurricanes
*2014: Max Letunov – 52nd overall by St. Louis Blues
*2014: Nathan Walker – 89th overall by Washington Capitals
*2014: JJ Piccinich – 103rd overall by Toronto Maple Leafs
*2015: Kyle Connor – 17th overall by Winnipeg Jets
*2015: Chase Pearson – 140th overall by Detroit Red Wings
*2015: Ryan Bednard – 206th overall by Florida Panthers
*2015: Ryan Shea – 121st overall by Chicago Blackhawks
*2015: Steven Ruggiero – 178th overall by Anaheim Ducks
*2016: Cam Morrison – 40th overall by Colorado Avalanche
*2017: Michael Karow – 126th overall by Arizona Coyotes
*2018: Ivan Prosvetov – 114th overall by Arizona Coyotes
*2018: Curtis Hall – 119th overall by Boston Bruins
*2018: Michael Callahan – 142nd overall by Arizona Coyotes
References
External links
Official site
{{NAHL
United States Hockey League teams
Ice hockey teams in Ohio
Sports in Youngstown, Ohio
Ice hockey clubs established in 2003
2003 establishments in Ohio