Get to know the Phantoms
Kale Bennett
WHERE FROM: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
POSITION: Defenseman
BIRTHDAY: Nov. 30, 1995
PREVIOUS TEAM: Youngstown Phantoms
WHAT'S ON YOUR IPOD: Dean Brody
FAVORITE FOOD: Lasagna
FAVORITE PART OF ROAD TRIPS: Story time
PREGAME RITUAL: Left side equipment, then right side
FAVORITE MOVIE: Anchorman
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Friday Night Lights
Who on the Phantoms is...
BIGGEST CLOWN: Jimmy Mazza
SHYEST: Kyle Conner
MOST OUTGOING: Cam Brown
COACH NOREEN'S FAVORITE: Austin Cangelosi
BIGGEST LADIES MAN: Jake Moore
BIGGEST DIVA: Dan Renouf
MOST LIKELY TO OVERSLEEP AND MISS PRACTICE: Todd Koritzinsky
Phantoms Notebook
YOUNGSTOWN - The Youngstown Phantoms saw their franchise record winning streak come to an end after a split with the Indiana Ice last weekend at the Covelli Centre. The loss continued Thursday night with a loss to Team USA. The Phantoms now look to get a new streak started tonight when they travel west to take on the Muskegon Lumberjacks and close out Saturday in Iowa against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
WEEK IN REVIEW: The Phantoms carried a slim 2-1 lead into the third period Friday, but erupted for three goals in the final 20 minutes to down the Ice 5-1 and extend their winning streak to six straight games. Cam Brown and John Padulo led the way with a goal and assist each, while Sam Anas, who left the game in the first period after suffering a cut that required 13 stitches to close, scored the put-away goal less than a minute into the final period. Captains Austin Cangelosi and Alexander Dahl both found the back of the net as well, as Youngstown improved to 4-0-0 to open the season against Indiana (16-23-3, 35 points). Meanwhile goaltender Sean Romeo was sharp in his return from a two-game suspension, turning away 33 of 34 shots to pick up his 15th win of the campaign.
On Saturday, the Ice jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first period and held on, as the Phantoms pressed frantically to tie the game, only to come up short falling 4-3. The loss snapped Youngstown's franchise record winning streak at six games and was Indiana's first win in five meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals. Anas scored a pair of goals, and Eric Sweetman chipped in with a power-play tally, as the Phantoms outshot the Ice 24-14 over the final two periods. Between the pipes, Romeo turned away 22 shots, but was saddled with the loss.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Phantoms announced goaltender Sean Romeo's commitment to the University of Maine Tuesday. The Cary, N.C. native became the 10th player on Youngstown's current roster to secure a college commitment. Teammates Cam Brown and Dan Renouf are both Black Bear recruits as well. ... Right wing Sam Anas stayed red-hot tallying three goals last weekend. The Quinnipiac commit has racked up seven goals in his last five games to bring his team-leading total to 19. ... Left wing Nathan Walker continued the torrid start to his USHL career with a pair of assists last weekend, giving him at least a point in each of his first six games. The Sydney, Australia native has put up 2-6-8 during the streak.
LOOKING AHEAD: Friday night the Phantoms travel to the banks of Lake Michigan to take on the rival Lumberjacks (22-13-7, 51 points). Led by Michigan natives Ryan Lowney (three goals, two assists) and Kyle Connor (two goals, two assists), the Phantoms have taken two of three meetings with the Lumberjacks, including a 6-3 victory Nov. 17 at Muskegon's L.C. Walker Arena. Padulo, a former 'Jack, put up 1-1-2 in win, and since that game, Youngstown has been on fire going 13-6-0, while Muskegon has been middling, going 11-8-6 over the span. The Phantoms finish up their three-game swing Saturday night at the Stable in Cedar Rapids. Entering the weekend the RoughRiders (15-19-5, 35 points) trail the Phantoms by three points for fourth place in the East, and the final Clark Cup Playoff spot that comes with it.
