Latest news with #YoungstownPhantoms
Calgary Herald
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
FLAMES RETOOL TRACKER: Does Kirill Zarubin have a future in Calgary's crease?
Article content 'I talk to him every other day on WhatsApp and he's very accountable, too. If I write him about his game and tell him he had a good game, it's always, 'No, I could be better. I could have stopped one of those.' Article content 'He played a little bit less this year, just because their 20-year-old, (Ilya) Kanarsky, was back. Kirill played more last year because that kid was hurt. But when he did play, he was outstanding and just got better as the season went on.' Article content That didn't go unnoticed. Article content Article content As Zarubin was in the midst of posting a 12-9 record, 2.34 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in 21 appearances with AKM Tula, Sigalet's phone continued to buzz — not with curses from his counterparts but rather with reach-outs from recruiters wondering about his plans for the 2025-26 campaign. Article content While at least one powerhouse college program had Zarubin earmarked as a could-be starter, there were concerns that he would struggle with classes due to the language barrier. Article content Article content The Youngstown Phantoms called his name in the USHL's draft this spring, but he has instead inked an extension at home. Flames fans should not view that as negative news, since Russia is the leading country for developing future crease stars. Some of the best puck-stoppers on the planet — guys like Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy — honed their skills for multiple seasons in the MHL. Article content Leonid Grishukevich, the goaltending coach for AKM Tula, had plenty of praise for Zarubin. In a text message conversation, he described him as an 'excellent student.' Article content Listing off some of his strengths, he mentioned he 'perfectly copes with emotions,' 'understands and reads the game well' and 'fights to the end in every moment.' Article content According to Grishukevich, who is originally from Belarus and spent one winter in the Alberta Junior Hockey League in the late-90s as the last-line-of-defence for the Olds Grizzlys, Zarubin likes to watch and study Mackenzie Blackwood of the Colorado Avalanche. As Grishukevich summarized: 'Kirill likes his tactics of the game, the use of his own size and the choice of positioning.' Article content Article content David Phillips, the chief goaltending scout for FC Hockey, tracked Zarubin through his draft season. In more recent video viewings, he has noticed some significant strides. Article content 'When he was drafted by Calgary, I could see why they'd want a guy like him because of the raw talent and the size and the athleticism that he does have,' Phillips said. 'And then this year, I was very impressed with how much more refined he became. Article content 'His footwork looks a lot better. His positioning was always quite good. And then he's done a good job of keeping his athleticism and contesting shots all over the ice with that athleticism by being able to just explode into a save.'
New York Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Adam Benák, one of the 2025 NHL Draft's smallest prospects, could defy his size
FRISCO, Texas — 'He's the smartest player I've ever coached.' 'One of the best skaters I've ever seen.' That's Ryan Ward talking, twice, about Adam Benák. Ward has been a head coach in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms, an assistant coach in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds and a video coach in the NHL with the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs. Advertisement In Youngstown, he has coached Sascha Boumedienne, one of the best skaters in the 2025 NHL Draft, and previous draft picks such as Brandon Svoboda, Martin Misiak, William Whitelaw and James Fisher, each standout skaters in different ways. In Sault Ste. Marie, he coached first-rounders such as Morgan Frost, Rasmus Sandin and Barrett Hayton, each lauded for their smarts, as well as high-end skaters such as Mac Hollowell. But it's Benák, he'll say unequivocally, who is the smartest and fastest. It's also Benák who holds the Hlinka Gretzky Cup's all-time points record with 21 points in 10 games across two tournaments — two tournaments in which he led the Czechs to silver medals. It's also Benák who registered 14 points in 14 games at two U17 worlds. It's also Benák who, as a rookie with Youngstown in the USHL this season, registered 59 points in 56 games to lead the Phantoms in scoring by six points. He led all U18 skaters in league scoring, too. This week, at U18 worlds in Texas, it was Benák who showed up late to join the Czechs, played 23:44 shortly after landing, was immediately given a letter on his jersey and had primary assists on all three of Czechia's goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to Germany. On Saturday, he added a fourth primary point in two games when he ripped a shot under the bar from the right-wing faceoff circle on the power play to give the Czechs a 2-0 lead over Switzerland, and a fifth with a primary assist on the empty-netter that sealed it 4-2. Nekompromisní rána Adama Benáka znamená vedení o dvě branky! 🔥 🇨🇭⚔️🇨🇿 0:2#SUICZE #U18MensWorlds #narodnitym — Český hokej (@czehockey) April 26, 2025 But then there's this: 5-foot-7.25, 164 pounds. That's his listing with NHL Central Scouting, which ranked him 58th among North American skaters on its final list for the 2025 NHL Draft. And it makes him one of the most interesting and also difficult case studies in the class. That won't stop his believers from making his case, though. Ask Ward or Youngstown co-general managers Jason Deskins and Ryan Kosecki about Benák's size and they'll tell you why he's going to beat it. 'Just wait until he hits puberty. He's still a boy. People that look at his size should think twice. He's a special player. Just give him some time,' Ward said. 'He's an extraordinary hockey player. So competitive, so smart, unbelievable passer.' Advertisement Deskins refers to him as a 'bulldog.' 'He doesn't really care how big you are, he's going to play the same way all the time and he gives you second and third efforts and competes on pucks. And even when he gets knocked off pucks, he's going to work and keep going at it,' Deskins said. Kosecki, as he begins to make his case, says Benák's 'not afraid of guys.' 'He plays the body, he's physical, he can play wing or center. I know everyone wants big centers in the NHL right now so he'll probably have to play wing in the NHL, but IQ is the most important thing in hockey and he's got it coming out of his ears, and he's such a fun kid and he immerses himself in hockey, so for that I think he'll have tons of success,' Kosecki continued. In his introduction to Benák in exhibition games against the NTDP in September, Ward said he was 'dominant' and 'could've had nine points a game.' Deskins argues people don't realize how good the USHL is and how hard it is to be dominant as a 17-year-old, to strengthen Benák's case. 'I think people assume that it might not be what the CHL is and I can just tell you that this league is an absolute bear and it's really, really hard to score in, especially at a young age,' Deskins said. 'So I think sometimes these young kids come in and their expectations or somebody else's expectations from the outside might be that they're going to have 100 points and it just doesn't work that way. With Adam, the one thing that I've been really pleased with is just that he continually got better. Every single week, you look at him and he starts doing little things that you would hope for and taking steps.' When people ask Benák about his size and why he thinks he's going to make it in spite of it, he tells them the following: 'I think my work ethic is the biggest difference. I know I'm smaller, but you don't have to be the biggest guy if you're the hardest worker. So that's what I'm trying to do, and show people that size doesn't matter for me.' Advertisement He has made changes to his style of play this year to show them, too, making an effort to play a much more physical style than he used to. It's a style he said he has really enjoyed in North America. After what he said was an adjustment in the first half, he's really happy with the way he has played in the second half. And he'll always have the speed and the smarts to fall back on. He says both were developed by playing competitive soccer and floorball growing up. But the skating has also come from hard work. 'I was always smaller so I knew I needed to be fast to be faster than the bigger guys, and it's something that I've worked at every day of my life. I know I need to be faster than everyone if I want to play in the NHL,' Benák said. His impact on the Czech team was felt immediately, despite the travel day and a bit of jet lag. Jaroslav Nedved, Czechia's assistant coach, calls him 'one of the best players in his age group' regardless of country. 'He gives us speed, he gives us finesse, he sees the game,' Nedved said. 'He's a big part of our group. For us, he's the biggest impact on our game. With his speed and hockey IQ, he sees the game one step ahead of everybody else. He can skate one way to bring the defenceman in and then he can pass it or delay it and put it to the second wave. And he knows what's going to happen before everybody else knows. If he goes to the right or left side of the rink with the puck, it's for a reason. How do you say it in music? He's the conductor, or the orchestrator. He orchestrates his teammates.' Despite it all, scouts worry that the height will never come and wonder if he'll be able to play his style, however smart and fast and fearless, against NHLers if it doesn't. That even though, as Ward said, he's still a 'boy,' his dad Václav, a longtime pro defenseman in Czechia, is only 5-foot-9. Advertisement But his proponents disagree, or argue that even if it doesn't ever come that he's still a legit — if singular — NHL prospect. 'I don't even think he has scratched the surface, to be honest, with how good he can be,' Deskins said. 'And I think that you're starting to see it now, but it's only going to continue to grow as he keeps putting the work in, and he's a very hard worker, so I'm not concerned about that.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lumberjacks stop Phantoms comeback to take Game 1
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Youngstown Phantoms lost game one to the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 5-3, at the Covelli Centre in the second round of the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs. Watch above for extended highlights and an interview with Phantom's head coach Ryan Ward. The Lumberjacks' offense dominated throughout the beginning of the game starting the third period with a 5-0 lead. Youngstown goalie Melvin Strahl was replaced by backup Owen Lepak in the middle of the second period. The Phantoms stormed back in the third period with three consecutive goals. Youngstown's Ryan Rucinski scored twice and Connor De Haro found the net once in the loss. Muskegon's Ivan Ryabkin, David Deputy, Vaclav Nestrasil, Teddy Spitznagel and Jack Christ all scored in the game-one win. Game two is back at the Covelli Centre on at 7:05 p.m. on Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Larry Neal Snyder, Austintown, Ohio
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Larry Neal Snyder, 69, passed away Thursday afternoon, March 20, 2025, at University Hospital Cleveland following a brief illness. Larry was born August 23, 1955, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, a son of the late William L. 'The Chief' Snyder and Shirley Baker Snyder. Find obituaries from your high school He spent his formative years in Franklin, Pennsylvania, and was a proud 1973 graduate of Franklin Regional High School. In 1977, Larry made Austintown his home, where he built a life full of love, community, and spirited dedication to the things he cared about most—his family, his faith, and his passion for sports. Best known to many as the unmistakable voice behind the microphone, Larry served as the public address announcer for the Youngstown Phantoms and Robert Morris University Colonials hockey teams. He was also the creator and writer of the beloved blog, Larry's Starting Line-Up, where his deep knowledge and enthusiasm for sports shone through every post. Larry had a special admiration for women's athletics and proudly coached his daughter's hockey team, bringing his signature encouragement and heart to the rink. He also found joy supporting the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds Ultimate Frisbee Team. Larry was a dedicated member of the former St. Luke Episcopal Church in Niles, where he served faithfully as worship leader and treasurer. Alongside John Hammel, he represented the church in its outreach through Niles Churches for Housing, continuing his lifelong commitment to service and community support. To know Larry was to know kindness, generosity, and fierce loyalty. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and proud grandfather. Larry is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary McKee Snyder, whom he married May 28, 1977; two daughters, Elizabeth Rose Snyder of Austintown and Sarah Catherine Mullins (Dorian) of East Palestine; three grandchildren, Easton, Gannon and Aayrian; a brother, Jay R. Snyder (Barb) of Youngstown; nieces, Jenny and Meg (Perry) Numedahl; nephew, Josh (Elizabeth) Craft; four grandnieces and two grandnephews. Family and friends are invited to pay respects from Noon – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Road, Youngstown where a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Larry's family suggests memorial contributions be made to Niles Community Services, 400 Vienna Avenue, Suite 2, Niles, OH 44446. Larry's voice may have fallen silent, but his echo remains—in the hearts he inspired, the lives he uplifted, and every game day yet to 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penguins sign former Phantom to entry-level deal
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN) – The Pittsburgh Penguins announced the signing of former Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Chase Pietila to an entry-level contract on Sunday. President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced the three-year deal will begin 2025-26 through the 2027-28 season, according to a press release. The Penguins originally drafted Pietila in the fourth round, 111th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. During his time in Youngstown, Pietila scored 8 goals and 39 assists across two seasons and served as an alternate captain on the USHL Clark Cup champion team in 2023. The 21-year-old has spent the past two seasons in the same role for Michigan Tech while registering 44 points in 76 career games of Division I hockey. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
