‘Addicting': Phantoms ready for 2nd title in three seasons
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Youngstown Phantoms have spent the past week practicing as the team secured a First Round bye and No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference USHL Playoffs.
Watch above for extended interviews with Phantom's head coach Ryan Ward and players.
'Once you win and you start winning, you see you can win a championship it becomes a little addicting,' said Ward.
Coach Ward isn't a stranger to titles as he won the USHL's title, The Clark Cup, in his first season as head coach of the Phantoms in 2022-2023.
'With the grit, we just wear other teams down so they don't even want to play against us,' said defenseman Coleson Hanrahan. 'Then our skill, obviously we're just making plays and putting the puck in the back of the net.'
The Phantoms have also broken a list of records in the current regular season. Youngstown finished with a franchise record in season wins with 42 and home wins with 23.
'Our fans are the most passionate in the USHL and being in Youngstown, representing this city, it's something that we all take a lot of pride in,' said Ward.
The Phantoms also tied the team record for most points in a season with 86.
'The fans here all year have been amazing,' said defenseman Luke Osburn. 'It's awesome to have them at the game, at least for the first two.'
Youngstown earned home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs and will start the second round at home in the Covelli Centre.
'There's a few guys that have never played in a playoff game, so they're pretty jazzed to just to get it going,' said Hanrahan. 'I think they're excited just to maybe get a hit or something. Just get the crowd into it.'
Phantoms players have also broken individual franchise records. Osburn broke the record for most goals scored by a Phantoms defenseman with 18.
Goalie Melvin Strahl broke the record for most wins as a Phantoms goalie with 33.
'Our message is nothing's changed and we're just going to go out be prepared to do our jobs, said Ward. 'Hopefully, we can build on the success in the regular season. But it's a new season, you have to have short memories and we're just going to have to to really dig in there.'
Youngstown finished the regular season with a record of (42-18-0-2) with 86 points.
The Phantoms will play next on either Friday, April 18 or Saturday, April 19 at the Covelli Centre against an undecided opponent in the Semifinals of the Eastern Conference USHL Playoffs.
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