Posts Tagged ‘Bob Mainhardt’

The Youngstown Phantoms played better than they did Friday, but not good enough to win in dropping their fourth consecutive game, 3-1, to Tri-City.  The loss marks the third consecutive home defeat for the Phantoms.

Steven Bolton made his first start of the year in goal for Tri-City and turned in a great performance stopping 31 of 32 shots to log his first victory for the Storm.

Tri-City struck first on a power-play goal from Maxwell Tardy, as he bat Phantoms goalee Jordan Tibbett at the 5:47 mark in the first period.  Tardy also scored a power-play goal on Friday.  The goal by Tardy, his fourth of the season, gave Tri-City the 1-0 advantage.  Picking up assists on the goal were Brett Moehler and Jaden Schwartz.

Youngstown was able to respond with 3:44 left in the first period  when Adam Berkle connected on an even-strength opportunity.  Berkle was assisted on his goal by Nick Czinder and Taylor Holstrom.  The teams would head into the locker rooms tied 1-1.

Just 20 seconds into the second period, Radoslav Illo scored to put Tri-City ahead 2-1.  Illo was assisted by Josh Berge and Anthony DeCenzo.  It was also Illo’s second goal in two nights in an unwanted recurring theme for the Phantoms.

At the 7:50 mark of the second period, Moehler tallied to put the Storm up 3-1.  For Moehler, it was his third goal of the two-game series.  Moehler was assisted by Schwartz and Nate Jensen on the even-strength chance.

There was no scoring in the third period.  Youngstown got almost twice as many shots off in the game and seemingly improved on the penalty-killing holding Tri-City to just 1-of-5 conversions on the power-play.  The Phantoms were 0-2 with a man advantage.

Next weekend, the Phantoms are back on the bus, this time headed to Fargo, North Dakota for a two-game series with the Force.  The Friday and Saturday contests start at 7:05 and can be heard on AM-1240 with Matt Gajtka calling the action.  You have to hear Gajtka, he sounds like a seasoned NHL announcer with obvious passion for the game.

 

Power-plays and penalty killing go a long way at any level of hockey.  Tri-City won the battle of both Friday night in a 5-3 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms at the Covelli Centre.  For the Phantoms, it extends an unwanted losing streak to 3 games.  Brett Moehler paced Tri-City with a pair of goals and an assist en route to being named the First Star of the game.

Tri-City  got on the board first when Brett Moehler scored on the second Storm power-play at 14:02 of the first period.  Moehler was assisted on the goal by Jaden Schwartz and Maxwell Tardy. 

The Phantoms answered with 4:21 left in the first period with a power-play goal of their own to tie the contest at 1-1.  Luke Eibler capitalized on the one-man advantage with a slapshot just beyond the left faceoff circle.  Eibler was assisted by David Donnellan and Joe Zarbo.

The Phantoms were awarded a penalty shot at 17:52 of the first, but Brett Gensler was stuffed by Tri-City goalie Carson Chubak.  However, on the faceoff the Phantoms broke fast into the Storm zone and took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Richard Young, his first of the year.  Young was assisted by Ben Paulides. 

The first period would end with Youngstown leading Tri-City 2-1.  Both teams were 1 for 3 in power-play opportunities in the initial stanza. 

At 12:29 of the second period, Tardy got a power-play goal for Tri-City assisted by Schwartz and Moehler to tie the game at 2.  The same line earlier combined for a power-play score. 

The Phantoms reclaimed the lead with :29 left in the second period.  Luke Eibler picked up his second goal of the evening.  Eibler’s goal came just ten seconds into a Phantoms power-play and he was assisted on the score by Andrej Sustr to put Youngstown in front, 3-2, which is how the second period would end.

With 13:28 left in the game, Radoslav Illo tied the game at 3 with yet another power-play opportunity for Tri-City.    For Illo it was his fifth goal on the season. 

Just 2:03 later, Cody Murphy scored for Tri-City to give the Storm a 4-3 lead.  Murphy was assisted by Tyler Pistone and Rick Pinkston on the even-strength goal.  The goal was Murphy’s first on the year.

The Phantoms had a couple of opportunities late in the game but were unable to capitalize.  Moehler had an empty-net goal, his second on the evening to  push the Tri-City margin to 5-3, which would also end up being the final score.

Coach Bob Mainhardt commented on the unsuccessful penalty killing which ultimately spelled doom for the Phantoms.  “It was bad.  It was really bad.  Every team that plays us look like the Edmonton Oilers of the 80’s on the power-play.”  Mainhardt also commented that he was happy his team played hard until the end and had a chance to win, but was disappointed nonetheless.  “I think some of our younger guys are ready to step forward and assume bigger roles.  Right now our veterans are just not getting the job done.”

Tri-City Forward Brett Moehler had a big game with a couple of goals and an assist.  “I’ve been close the last couple of games and hit the post a couple of times.  I’m glad I could finally get something in and help my team win.”

Phantoms President Alex Zoldan likes what he sees in his first-year club and thinks the Ursuline – Mooney game may have hampered attendance.  “I believe in my heart that the people will really make an effort to get here and take in a game.  We were in this one until the end and our guys played hard.”

The Phantoms (2-3-1) and the Storm (4-1-1) will hook it up again Saturday night at the Covelli Centre.  The puck drops at 7:15 and if you can’t make it to the game then you can catch all of the action with Matt Gajtka on AM-1240.

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.

Welcome to Youngstown seemed to be a theme for area sports teams on Saturday.  Youngstown State’s football team gave one away to Missouri State.  USHL newcomer, the Youngstown Phantoms, also played the role of cordial host after coughing up a 2-0 lead and losing 6-2 to the Indiana Ice.  It was the first game of the new franchise’s inaugural season.

Brett Gensler and Joseph Zarbo scored first period goals to give the Phantoms a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.  Indiana then ripped off six unanswered goals over the next two periods.

The Phantoms really struggled on a couple of power play opportunities in the third period.  In fact, the puck was in their own zone more than their opponents in the last two PP chances. 

Coach Bob Mainhardt was dejected and vowed to never see this type of contagious play again.  “We know it is a long season and we have to stick to the gameplan and come together as a team.  Overall, we played an undisciplined game.  Undisciplined penalties, undisciplined in our systems, and undisciplined in our work ethic.  We won’t be embarrassed like this at home again.”

The Phantoms head West to face the Des Moines Buccaneers on Friday and then head back East a bit for a next night game at Chicago.  Both games can be heard on AM-1240 with Matt Gajtka calling the action.

Relax readers, it’s not a beauty contest, it’s hockey in Youngstown.  Ryan Jasinsky (pictured) has already achieved a level of success a USHL player wishes for.  Jasinsky was invited to Washington Capitals camp to work out and strut his stuff.  The beat-up look Jasinsky is sporting in the above picture was a result of a fight in last weekend’s exhibition game.  I recently had the pleasure of meeting Ryan and discussing everything from Kimbo Slice to Alexander Ovechkin.

Paneech: How has Youngstown been to you so far?

RJ:  It’s been great, I enjoy it alot.  I’ve had fun hanging out with the guys and going everywhere, it’s a great town.  All of the people seem nice and I haven’t had any problems with anybody. 

Paneech:  Talk about your trip to Washington and how you got the opportunity to participate in workouts with the Caps.

RJ:  Last year they [Washington] scouted me and invited me to rookie camp.  I went to rookie camp with all of the prospects and did really well.  I had a really good rookie game against the Flyers, played really well and had a fight there.  They were impressed enough to ask me to go to camp, and after a couple of weeks they sent me back.  They are definitely going to be looking at me this year and down the road something could happen with them.

Paneech:  When you say something could happen, does that mean they may draft you?

RJ:  Yeah, they could draft me or invite me back to camp next year. 

Paneech:  Tell me what went through your head when you got on the ice with Alexander Ovechkin.

RJ:  Obviously you are a little shocked when you are watching him.  When you get out there with him though, he is just another guy you are playing against.  He’s an unreal individual, person and hockey player.

Paneech:  Why do you follow MMA so closely?

RJ:  My uncle is in the military and he does stuff like that.  I know alot of guys back home, some SEALS, and other military guys who get out of the military and do stuff like that.  I got into it that way.  It’s the conditioning, the exercise, and making yourself into a machine that appealed.

Paneech:  Kimbo Slice or Big Country?  (which happened the night I was interviewing him)

RJ:  Almost gotta say Big Country (laughs), just becuase it is Big Country (which he predicted right).

Paneech:  How far can you take this dream of playing hockey and what makes you think you have what it takes?

RJ:  I felt like I belonged when I was in Washington and didn’t do badly.  The Caps told me that I had a really good showing and that they liked the way I can skate, hit, and fight.  Hopefully I will take this as far as I can and hopefully I don’t get injured to prevent me from doing my best.

Paneech:  Tell me about a typical day right now.

RJ:  When I wake up in the morning I usually go running or try to go to the gym.  Then we practice.  Usually if we have a workout day, I go to the downtown YMCA and have a workout there with Josh from The House of Speed.  Go to practice which is usually high-paced and energetic.   Today we had Pilates after.  Some days I go back to the gym to keep working out.  After it’s all over, I go home and eat dinner and call it a day.

Paneech:  How do you like playing for Coach Mainhardt?

RJ:  He is a great coach to have here.  He is one of the reasons I decided to come here and play.  The staff is a great group of guys who make you feel welcome and provide more of a family atmosphere.  They [the coaching staff] bring you in more like family rather than oh, he’s the head coach and he’s not gonna talk to you. 

Paneech:  Predict your goals and assists for the season.

RJ:  (laughs) I’m shooting for 25 and 25.

 

One Word Answers 

Favorite Meal Of The Day?  Probably dinner.

Favorite TV Show?  Ultimate Fighter and sometimes Family Guy.

Iced Tea or Milk?  Iced tea

Favorite Thing About Youngstown.  The atmosphere.

Ovechkin or Malkin?  Ovechkin.

Favorite NHL Team?  Washington Capitals (laughs).

Toppings On A Pizza?  Barbecued Chicken Pizza.

One Penalty In Hockey You Would Do Away With.  Instigator.

Gretzky or Lemieux?  Lemieux

Favorite Musician or CD?  Jason Aldean

The Best Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For You?  My mom supporting me doing all of my hockey stuff and always being behind me.

If I Were A Casual Hockey Fan, What Would You Say To Lure Me Into A Phantoms Game?  You will see bodies hit the ice. Hard. 

Bob Mainhardt has been around the sport of hockey most of his life.  He now finds himself in Youngstown, Ohio, not exactly a hockey hotbed (yet).  Mainhardt likes his role with the Youngstown Phantoms leading into their inaugural season and thinks the valley will enjoy the level of hockey they will see played at The Covelli Centre this Fall.  I recently had a candid interview with Mainhardt in his second floor office at The Covelli Centre. 

Paneech:  Having covered the Mahoning Valley Thunder Arena Football Team, I noticed people were priced out of coming to games here.  There was $10 parking, $6 beer sales, and the team was not winning.  Has the Phantoms organization expressed fear in those three factors of playing at home and potentially not drawing decent-sized crowds?

Mainhardt: I think both the city and the management team here at The Covelli Centre have really taken strides to strengthen our relationship.  We are going to have more specials, we are aware of the current economy and know that these type of things can be too pricy.  I think you will see some modest adjustments that will help make coming to a home game more attractive for a family.  We also feel that we are going to have a winning team, I think that always helps.

Paneech:  Explain the difference of the level of hockey the Phantoms will play at compared to the level that last year’s area representative, the Steelhounds, competed at.

Mainhardt: This level [USHL] is drastically closer to the professional level.  The guys playing in this league are just bigger, stronger, faster, and better players.  What we had here before were the best guys that were not able to play in this league, and now we have essentially the greatest players in the world at this age level.

Paneech:  What are the chances of seeing someone who plays in the USHL move on to the NHL someday?

Mainhardt: It’s very likely.  It’s a double-edged sword for a coach, but that is our goal, to get players to the NHL.  We have Ryan Jasinsky, who is one of our forwards this year.  He is headed to Washington Capitals Camp, and they may very well sign him to a contract.  If he signs, we replace him and move forward, if not, then we will expect to have him back here.

Paneech:  Talk about Jordan Tibbett, a goalkeeper who played for the Steelhounds here last year.

Mainhardt:  Jordan has played in the USHL, he is a very highly touted goaltender and ran into problems with not performing the way he needed to.  We feel we have developed him to the point where he is ready to step back into the USHL and prove that he is an NHL-caliber goaltender.  Some people had given up on him, but we saw that he had all of the tools and just needed to mature a little bit.  We feel that he has done that.

Paneech: Tell me who the big playmakers on this team can be?

Mainhardt:   Well, we have a few.  Brian Dowd had great college numbers at Niagara.  He is very skilled, he is a Sidney Crosby-type of player.  Aside from that, we have some really good playmakers on the blue line.  We have some defensemen who can really generate some offense.  Alot of our defensemen are prototypical NHL defensemen that are big and mobile.  Two of our defensemen are over 6’6″, two are over 6’4″, and two that are over 6’3″, so we’ve got a big group that can move.

Paneech:  Talk to me about the offensive style we should expect to see the Phantoms play.  Will it be a press, will you dump and chase, or will it be dictated by the situation.

Mainhardt:  They say defense wins championships.  We are definitely an offensive-minded team.  We want to have control, but we want to put the other team in bad situations.  We will play a very uptempo offense and be very physical, that’s always been my style.  That’s how these players will get to the NHL, by hitting and generating offense. 

Paneech:  I want to give the readers a better idea of where the USHL ranks as compared to a major-league baseball farm system.  Can you make an analogy that people would be able to put into perspective?

Mainhardt: I guess if I had to draw a comparison to baseball I would call it Double-A.  The next step for many of these guys will either be college or the American Hockey League.  The elite of this league, however, will go directly to the NHL.  These players will get drafted, weigh their options, some will go to college for a year or two and get their education paid for.  In the NFL, there is nothing worse than seeing your favorite college player leave early and he ends up getting drafted in the 4th round by the worst team and doesn’t make it.  So these guys know now if they should go take a shot at the pros or go to college for a couple of years.  Another way to look at it is this, McDonald’s has a basketball game for the best players that sells out arenas every year.  If you took the best Freshmen out of college and it was hockey, that’s what you would have with this league.

Paneech:  Talk to me about your backround in hockey.

Mainhardt: I grew up in Detroit and played all of my youth hockey in Detroit.  From there, I played Junior-A in the North American League which is the league we [Steelhounds] used to be in.  I then moved up to the USHL and had the dreams of pro hockey but didn’t get drafted so I went the college route and wound up playing at Kent State University.  I then had a tough decision after a series of shoulder injuries and had to make a decision that every athlete hates to make [retirement], but had to make it much sooner than I would have anticipated.  I chose to carry out my education and later pursue a career in coaching.

Paneech:   Amateur hockey bores the casual fan because there are no fights.  On the converse, professional hockey draws fans because of fights.  What is the league policy on fighting?

Mainhardt: Again, our main goal is to develop players for the NHL.  The NHL has fights.  We do not, nor does the NHL anymore, have a true goon, someone who is here for just fighting.  What you will find is guys that are big and tough and know that in order to make it to the NHL, they not only have to score goals and be tough, but they must be able to fight as well.  At this level, you will see alot of fights where guys are genuinely angry with each other.  You might not have the quantity, you might not have seven fights that quite frankly are more show than they are go, but you will have those two or three that are good fights where guys are upset and want to prove their point.  We have some guys that the fans will identify really quick as guys that are not going to take anything too lightly out there.

Paneech:  With your time spent in Detroit, are you a Red Wings fan?

Mainhardt: I am a Red Wings fan by birth.  I will tell you that during the finals last year, I was very torn between Pittsburgh and Detroit.  At the end of the day, I was really pulling for Pittsburgh.  I really like what Mario Lemieux has done there and how the city has gotten around that team.  I know there are alot of Penguins fans in Mahoning and Trumbull County.  They [Pittsburgh] did everything right and there was nothing to dislike about that team.  If my Red Wings come in second, that’s fine.  They had a good showing, but it was Pittsburgh’s year. and I was happy that they won it.

Paneech: Talk to me about someone I despise, Don Cherry.

Mainhardt: Don has alot of great thoughts.  Unfortunately, he isn’t able to get that through to most people because he clouds it with so much BS.  I think he is good for the game, kind of like the rogue wrestling manager that interferes and hits the wrestler with a chair.  He is the guy that everyone can kind of like to hate.  Don is still a little too much smoke and mirrors.  Barry Melrose has become the American version and he is much more knowledgable and factual and someone I feel is a great ambassador of the game.  I feel those are the type of guys we need a little more of and a little less of the biased guys like Don Cherry.

One Word Answers

Favorite all-time NHL player?  Gordie Howe

Best Goaltender To Ever Play The Game?  Patrick Roy

Favorite Meal of The Day:  Lunch

Favorite Area Restaurant:  MVR Club

Second Favorite Sport:  Soccer and Baseball are very distant runner-ups.

Television:  UFC and Lost

Favorite Flavor At Handel’s:  Coffee Chocolate Chip

Perfect Day Off: Taking my three daughters to the zoo and then heading to Ikea and letting the kids free in the play area while my wife spends some money on something nice. 

Favorite Fruit: Strawberries

Favorite Vegetable: Peppers

Favorite Music: The Clash and Pearl Jam

Mainhardt stressed that his biggest wish is that the area gives this league and the Youngstown Phantoms a fair look and tries to get to some games.  I tend to agree that this developmental league will yield a good amount of talent into the NHL and am really looking forward to covering this season.