Joe Zarbo grew up a Buffalo Sabres fan.  Call it attraction by proximity as he grew up fairly close to Buffalo.  In the inaugural USHL season of the Youngstown Phantoms, Zarbo is one of the “go-to” guys, a veteran who played in the USHL last season.  A veteran in any other league would refer to a 35+ year-old player who has experience in many situations.  At 18, a veteran of the USHL means someone who played in the USHL last season.  I caught up with Zarbo at the Ice Zone and talked about Youngstown, Goodfellas, and about the pressure to lead a new team.

Paneech:  What kind of feelings do you have about scoring the first-ever USHL Phantoms goal?

Zarbo: It was a pretty special feeling getting the first USHL goal for the team.  It was also a pretty good feeling for myself.  I thought I had a pretty good game even though we lost.  We came out strong in the first [period] and I thought it was pretty cool.

Paneech:  How disappointed was the team with the loss to Indiana?

Zarbo: We were very disappointed.  We outworked them in the first period and we just got outside of our game and fell apart.

Paneech: Did Coach Mainhardt make wholesale changes after the loss or is he going to stick to a gameplan that he has laid out?

Zarbo: Coach is switching up the lines a little, but he is stressing for us to stick to the gameplan. 

Paneech: If Goodfellas is your favorite movie, you had to be thrilled about coming to Youngstown.

Zarbo: It’s a good movie.  I heard some stories about Youngstown, but its a cool place and those are all old stories.

Paneech: Tell me about Clarkson University and how you are already signed up for next season.

Zarbo: Clarkson is a small university in upstate New York that plays in the ECAC and I committed to go there three years ago and I should be on my way next year.  They are usually ranked in the Top-10 of Division-1 schools.

Paneech: How can Bobby Orr be your favorite hockey player if he retired before you were even born?

Zarbo: He set the level of play.  He was one of the greats and was just so much better than everyone else.

Paneech: Why the Buffalo Sabres?

Zarbo: I’m from Buffalo and growing up they were my favorite team.  I really liked Pat LaFontaine when he was there.  I also liked Rob Ray and Dominik Hasek.

Paneech: How do you like Youngstown so far?

Zarbo: It’s pretty nice.  I like being in the East.  Last year I was in Nebraska and I like it alot better here than there.  Days off are nice, I hang out with the team, watch some TV, play a video game.

Paneech: Predict your numbers for the season (goals and assists).

Zarbo: I would like to have 30 goals and 30 assists.

Paneech:  Why should people come and see the Phantoms instead of going to a movie on a Saturday?

Zarbo: It’s alot more intense than a chick flick.  If you like sports, it’s a fun sport to watch.  It’s high-level, high-intensity, fights, all kinds of stuff.

One Word Answers

Favorite Nickelback Song?  This Is How You Remind Me.

Favorite Flavor of Ice Cream?  Peanut Butter.

Best Show On Television?  Entourage.

Simpsons or Family Guy?  Family Guy.

Bills, Jets, or Giants?  Bills.

Best Goalie In The NHL?  Hasek.

Nicest Thing Anyone Has Done For You?  My parents putting up with me and raising me.

Topping(s) On A Pizza?  Pepperoni.

Favorite Soft Drink:  Cherry-Coke.

Ideal Number of Hours of Sleep Per Night?  12.

Don Cherry Is An Idiot, True or False?  False.