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Phantoms start season Saturday

Tribune Chronicle / Marc Weems Phantoms coach Brad Patterson addresses the media this week.

YOUNGSTOWN — With six returning players for the 2017-18 season, the Youngstown Phantoms will yet again be ready to go. Last year, the Phantoms won 31 games and came in fifth in the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League.

Those six returning players are Andrew Petrillo, Jake Gingell, Eric Esposito, Alex Esposito, Chase Gresock and Curtis Hall. Phantoms coach Brad Patterson will rely quite a lot on them.

“I don’t talk about wins and losses a whole lot. For me, expectations are that the guys show up every day and they get better,” Patterson said. “They need to represent us, not me as a staff member, but me as a community member. The hard-working, blue collar attitude that pays dividends on the ice by showing and playing well.”

Before its first regular season game, Youngstown got involved in a few exhibition games in the USHL showcase in Pittsburgh. Patterson thought they played well but could do better.

“Anything that we’ve tried to implement within our team, they’ve shown they can handle that. There is definitely room for improvement. Some teams we played had been in six or seven games and those were our first games. So that was encouraging,” Patterson said.

As always with teams in junior hockey, turnover is expected. Nothing is out of the ordinary here.

“Our first three games were really great. They really exceeded expectations,” forward Alex Barber said. “Obviously, there are still some things that we need to work on. That is going to come with time. For the future of the team, I see great things.”

Barber also said that being one of the few guys on the team from the state of Ohio only makes playing here even more special.

Although he hasn’t been in Youngstown for long, Tommy Parrottino was acquired recently from the Des Moines Buccaneers.

“It’s been great. The coaching staff has welcomed me with open arms,” Parrottino said about being the newest guy there with experience. “I think the league is just as hard as last year and that you have to work just as hard.”

Parrottino also said that being someone that was traded for is important for getting along with a new team.

“They are here for a reason too,” Patterson said. “They are here to develop and to get to the next level. Whether that is the NHL (National Hockey League) or college hockey, whatever path they might go down. The guys have to stay focused on that but it’s hard, especially as young men.”

Youngstown gets its season rolling with the home opener Saturday against the Central Illinois Flying Aces.

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