The Americans are Coming

For the first time this season, the U.S. National Team invades the Ice Zone. The under-17s come to town for a two game set against the Phantoms… don’t for get to bring a toy for Toys for Tots night on Friday, and a winter clothing item, canned food item, or a cash donation on Saturday for a free DVD of your child with Santa. A shameless plug – I know, but a worthy one for sure – on to hockey.

The Phantoms are 3-2-1 so far this season against the U.S., with their last game being a 6-4 setback on November 20. With the Phantoms winning 10-2 in their previous meeting (on October 30), the U.S. stacked their roster with quite a few under-18 players for the Nov. 20 game. The teams were deadlocked at 3-3 for nearly half of that game, before a late (and questionable) hooking call led to a USA powerplay goal and eventually an empty-netter to seal the deal. The Phantoms have gone 4-1-1 since.

Chad Boeckman should be given the playmaker award in this series, as he leads both teams in scoring with nine points – all assists. Derek Graham and Johnny Meo each have three goals and four assists in the series. The U.S. has Vinny Saponari and sniper Kyle Palmieri that have led the way against the Phantoms.

The special teams trends in this series are somewhat reversed from each team’s season stats… the US has the fourth best power play in the league, but has only converted at an 11.4% clip against Mahoning Valley. The Phantoms on the other hand are in the middle of the pack of the NAHL powerplay-wise, but have put home 23.1% of their opportunities against the U.S.

After practice on Friday, the coaching staff gave the players Saturday and Sunday off… the first two-day break since the season started. I’m sure the time off was enjoyed by the players, but it didn’t do a whole lot for the team’s injury woes… perhaps the 19-day break after these two games will allow the Phantoms defense to get healthy again.

Don’t be surprised to see one or more AAA defensemen get a crack at the U.S. squad this weekend. The 13-day break probably most helped the guys with sore muscles, aches, and pains – the ones that were playing hurt.

The boys got a chance to break routine a couple times last week, heading to Master Park, a martial arts instructor in Boardman. Most of the benefit of such a diversion lies in the mental discipline that martial arts employs… translating hopefully into an increased focus on the ice.

The sport also takes a lot of strength, flexibility, balance, and hand-eye coordination, that all play a major role in hockey as well. The boys worked up a decent sweat, but it was the diversion from normalcy itself that probably helped more than anything.

The practices in the meantime have been mostly skating. Most of the skating drills are designed competitively, however, which not only makes it feel less like you’re being overworked, but also keeps the boys working harder, longer, because they are competing against someone.

In case you forgot with the layover, the Phantoms last game was one of their best efforts of the season, dismantling the red-hot Marquette Rangers 8-2, and winning a number of fights as well.

With the Bandits winning two at home against North Iowa last weekend, the Phantoms find themselves in second place as they get back to action – four points behind St. Louis.

Derek Graham also fell one point off the pace of the league’s leading scorer (North Iowa’s Shea Walters). Graham’s 23 goals are still tops – by three. Graham and captain Trent Bonnett are both tied for fourth in the league in plus/minus at +16. Scotty Moser (33.3%) and Derek Graham (31.5%) are second and third respectively in the NAHL in shooting percentage.

At 18-8-3, the season is half over, and the Phantoms are primed for a title run. They are definitely improving weekly, but of course still have yet to meld into the team they can be. The coaches have said all season that they are playing well and hopefully will be peaking when the time is right.

Although we have yet to play the teams from the other divisions, the Bandits have beaten the best of the rest, and we know we can beat the Bandits. The tools are there, the work ethic is there… it’s just about effort and consistency in execution from here on out.