I seriously doubt that Coach Mainhardt plays mind games with his players. I have a young son involved in hockey and also help coach. With our teams here and all the other places we travel to play you can see how crazy some parents are concerning their kids. It happens with all sports in all towns. You can imagine what the Phantom coaches have to deal with. At the NAHL and USHL level these kids were the best in their school or league and now they come here with kids on the same level or better. It's hard for them to accept they aren't the best on the team and the same goes for the parents. Coach Mainhardt has a hard job to tell some of these kids they aren't going to make the team or they are on the 4th line instead of the 1st line where they are used to playing. Knowing Coach Mainhardt I can say one thing that is for sure, he is brutally honest and for the first time in their lives these kids may be hearing that they are not as good as they have always been told and that hurts but I don't think any mind games have ever been played. If that was the case his teams would self destruct and not make the tournament each year. You and I both know he has never had a losing season and don't be surprised if this new "expansion" team is near the top of the league standings this year!!
jowitwer, you obviously have a better understanding of hockey than most. You keep spotting Columbus as an example of a failed USHL franchise. No Sh*t that it failed. They were third on the list behind an NHL team and OSU hockey. If you tried to bring USHL to Pittsburgh and compete with the Penguins guess what would happen? Youngstown in unique since we don't have to compete with anyone in town. On the same hand you say bring the ECHL and USHL here. That is ludicrous!! I don't think the USHL is a straight path to the NHL by any means but those kids are going up where many ECHLers are holding on failing to realize their dream is over. No one remembers Joe Smith who played 10 seasons in the ECHL in 7 towns or the last cut on the 80 USA Olympic team but they will remember a lot of players who lived here for 2 or 3 years and helped grow and promote hockey for young players and hockey purists. It is true that most pros are not Sidney Crosby and go straight to the NHL. I know they spend time in the minors but if they are good the go to the AHL on the way up not ECHL on the way down
I think we are forgeting an important point. The Phantoms stepped in and offered to play at the Chevy Center after all the other great options fell through. I will grant you the fact that they did not knock it dead with attendance but I question how much marketing they did knowing that they were looking to bring another team in or thinking this may be their last year so why try. However, when they did market (UAW night and Hockey for Health on a Tuesday morning) they had between 4-5000 fans. Something else to consider is the coaches. Why do they want a USHL team instead of a CHL team? An ECHL team requires less time, would pay much more and is a quicker path to an NHL job if successful. The USHL requires way more time, tons of community service and pays less. The reason why they want a USHL team is because they realize it is better hockey and a better business model to boot. We will see hopefully soon what happens and I hope for my selfish interest and my son's USHL wins. One more thing: What hooked you on hockey? Watching hockey night in Canada once a week or emulating the older kids that you saw at the rink everyday and pushed you to be like them?
jowitwer, a lot of things have changed since you played and coached. 8 tracks are gone as well as cassettes. There is no high school team in Minnesota, Michigan or Boston that could play competitively with any USHL team. If you are talking finances the USHL does not pay players at all but the ECHL and OHL do and as far as travel is concerned why do you think the USHL wants to come here? I'll tell you. Youngstown and Team USA are the first two teams that are going to be involved in the league expanding east to include New York, PA, Mass and other closer states. If the birth place of hockey (Canada) only has 4 or 5 non NHL "pro teams" and a total commitment to junior hockey then perhaps we should pay attention to them. I bet you could play on an ECHL team right now if you wanted to.
It's hard to get more local hockey players if they have no mentors to follow. If you go to the Ice Zone you will always see Phantom players there. They practice and when they are done thet help with youth programs like 3 on 3 and learn to play hockey as well as skills clinics. They are living examples of young kids that are successful in hockey and believe me the youth players look at these kids like they are stars. FYI the Steelhounds and any ECHL team would not practice at the Ice Zone so how would the average youth player receive any motivation from them. If the USHL comes or even if the current Phantoms stay you will see a group of local talent in the next few years without a doubt. The USHL is the quickest, best and cheapest way to grow hockey in this town period!!
Let me get this straight. We have a local owner who built the ice zone in hopes of bringing top level hockey to the area. Then he got a team that has made the playoffs 5 out of 6 years of its existence and played for the championship the last two years. Now he wants to bring to us the top level of junior hockey in America and oh, give the Chevy Center a 5 year deal for naming rights too. Well given all the facts I think it makes sense to pass up that deal and leave the center empty for a year. Maybe some white knight from out of town who we know nothing about will come and save us. Better yet we can get REO Speedwagon and Styx or Gallagher or maybe even Elvis.
Why don't you move to the the hotbed of hockey (Phoenix) to live the dream? If you are good you go to the AHL then the pros, Division 1 college to the pros or USHL to the pros. The ECHL is not a pro feeder by any stretch of the imagination.
Valleyred, you are a joke if you call Jeff Christian (who I like and is a good player) a star. He played 3 or 4 games for a bad Penguins team. Compare that to current Phantom Brandon Saad. He is only 16 years old and was drafted last year by the OHL in the top ten. Two years from now when he is eligible he will be taken as one of the top 5 picks in the NHL first round. That is a star. He plays in our own back yard and there will be many others like him if the USHL comes. Why is Mario Lemieux who knows a little about hockey part owner of a USHL team in Omaha? The Phantoms who are not in high school are heavily involved in the community and the USHL would be expected to do the same. Maybe they won't go out for 30 beers with you after the game and hit on girls but that may not be a bad thing.
I think all you naysayers should do a little more research before you make your decision. If the ECHL is so great why did 3 teams fold this year in the middle of the season? Why is another team wanting to move here if they are doing so good? Do we want another team that will be here for three years and leave? The USHL is the top junior league in the country. I bet that any USHL team could compete with the "pros" in the ECHL. The USHL has kids that go right to the pros where the ECHL has mediocre 4th line NHLers who are playing their last hockey before they retire. Go on USHL.com as do some homework and you will see this is the way to go. That is unless you know nothing about hockey and want to get drunk while watching fat old guys fight only to be traded after being here for a week. If you like the movie Slapshot then the ECHL is for you but if you are a true fan the USHL is the wave of the future. Be careful what you wish for!!!
Phantoms select Tibbett, Schneider
I seriously doubt that Coach Mainhardt plays mind games with his players. I have a young son involved in hockey and also help coach. With our teams here and all the other places we travel to play you can see how crazy some parents are concerning their kids. It happens with all sports in all towns. You can imagine what the Phantom coaches have to deal with. At the NAHL and USHL level these kids were the best in their school or league and now they come here with kids on the same level or better. It's hard for them to accept they aren't the best on the team and the same goes for the parents. Coach Mainhardt has a hard job to tell some of these kids they aren't going to make the team or they are on the 4th line instead of the 1st line where they are used to playing. Knowing Coach Mainhardt I can say one thing that is for sure, he is brutally honest and for the first time in their lives these kids may be hearing that they are not as good as they have always been told and that hurts but I don't think any mind games have ever been played. If that was the case his teams would self destruct and not make the tournament each year. You and I both know he has never had a losing season and don't be surprised if this new "expansion" team is near the top of the league standings this year!!
June 16, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. permalink suggest removal
USHL chief cites league’s top quality
jowitwer, you obviously have a better understanding of hockey than most. You keep spotting Columbus as an example of a failed USHL franchise. No Sh*t that it failed. They were third on the list behind an NHL team and OSU hockey. If you tried to bring USHL to Pittsburgh and compete with the Penguins guess what would happen? Youngstown in unique since we don't have to compete with anyone in town. On the same hand you say bring the ECHL and USHL here. That is ludicrous!! I don't think the USHL is a straight path to the NHL by any means but those kids are going up where many ECHLers are holding on failing to realize their dream is over. No one remembers Joe Smith who played 10 seasons in the ECHL in 7 towns or the last cut on the 80 USA Olympic team but they will remember a lot of players who lived here for 2 or 3 years and helped grow and promote hockey for young players and hockey purists. It is true that most pros are not Sidney Crosby and go straight to the NHL. I know they spend time in the minors but if they are good the go to the AHL on the way up not ECHL on the way down
March 27, 2009 at 7:39 p.m. permalink suggest removal
USHL chief cites league’s top quality
I think we are forgeting an important point. The Phantoms stepped in and offered to play at the Chevy Center after all the other great options fell through. I will grant you the fact that they did not knock it dead with attendance but I question how much marketing they did knowing that they were looking to bring another team in or thinking this may be their last year so why try. However, when they did market (UAW night and Hockey for Health on a Tuesday morning) they had between 4-5000 fans. Something else to consider is the coaches. Why do they want a USHL team instead of a CHL team? An ECHL team requires less time, would pay much more and is a quicker path to an NHL job if successful. The USHL requires way more time, tons of community service and pays less. The reason why they want a USHL team is because they realize it is better hockey and a better business model to boot. We will see hopefully soon what happens and I hope for my selfish interest and my son's USHL wins. One more thing: What hooked you on hockey? Watching hockey night in Canada once a week or emulating the older kids that you saw at the rink everyday and pushed you to be like them?
March 27, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. permalink suggest removal
USHL chief cites league’s top quality
jowitwer, a lot of things have changed since you played and coached. 8 tracks are gone as well as cassettes. There is no high school team in Minnesota, Michigan or Boston that could play competitively with any USHL team. If you are talking finances the USHL does not pay players at all but the ECHL and OHL do and as far as travel is concerned why do you think the USHL wants to come here? I'll tell you. Youngstown and Team USA are the first two teams that are going to be involved in the league expanding east to include New York, PA, Mass and other closer states. If the birth place of hockey (Canada) only has 4 or 5 non NHL "pro teams" and a total commitment to junior hockey then perhaps we should pay attention to them. I bet you could play on an ECHL team right now if you wanted to.
March 26, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Hockey at Chevy remains in limbo
It's hard to get more local hockey players if they have no mentors to follow. If you go to the Ice Zone you will always see Phantom players there. They practice and when they are done thet help with youth programs like 3 on 3 and learn to play hockey as well as skills clinics. They are living examples of young kids that are successful in hockey and believe me the youth players look at these kids like they are stars. FYI the Steelhounds and any ECHL team would not practice at the Ice Zone so how would the average youth player receive any motivation from them. If the USHL comes or even if the current Phantoms stay you will see a group of local talent in the next few years without a doubt. The USHL is the quickest, best and cheapest way to grow hockey in this town period!!
March 26, 2009 at 5:42 p.m. permalink suggest removal
USHL chief cites league’s top quality
Let me get this straight. We have a local owner who built the ice zone in hopes of bringing top level hockey to the area. Then he got a team that has made the playoffs 5 out of 6 years of its existence and played for the championship the last two years. Now he wants to bring to us the top level of junior hockey in America and oh, give the Chevy Center a 5 year deal for naming rights too. Well given all the facts I think it makes sense to pass up that deal and leave the center empty for a year. Maybe some white knight from out of town who we know nothing about will come and save us. Better yet we can get REO Speedwagon and Styx or Gallagher or maybe even Elvis.
March 26, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. permalink suggest removal
USHL chief cites league’s top quality
Well said farmboy. You are obviously someone who knows hockey and should be taken seriously.
March 26, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. permalink suggest removal
iwantprohockey
Why don't you move to the the hotbed of hockey (Phoenix) to live the dream? If you are good you go to the AHL then the pros, Division 1 college to the pros or USHL to the pros. The ECHL is not a pro feeder by any stretch of the imagination.
March 26, 2009 at 2:21 p.m. permalink suggest removal
USHL chief cites league’s top quality
Valleyred, you are a joke if you call Jeff Christian (who I like and is a good player) a star. He played 3 or 4 games for a bad Penguins team. Compare that to current Phantom Brandon Saad. He is only 16 years old and was drafted last year by the OHL in the top ten. Two years from now when he is eligible he will be taken as one of the top 5 picks in the NHL first round. That is a star. He plays in our own back yard and there will be many others like him if the USHL comes. Why is Mario Lemieux who knows a little about hockey part owner of a USHL team in Omaha? The Phantoms who are not in high school are heavily involved in the community and the USHL would be expected to do the same. Maybe they won't go out for 30 beers with you after the game and hit on girls but that may not be a bad thing.
March 26, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Hockey at Chevy remains in limbo
I think all you naysayers should do a little more research before you make your decision. If the ECHL is so great why did 3 teams fold this year in the middle of the season? Why is another team wanting to move here if they are doing so good? Do we want another team that will be here for three years and leave? The USHL is the top junior league in the country. I bet that any USHL team could compete with the "pros" in the ECHL. The USHL has kids that go right to the pros where the ECHL has mediocre 4th line NHLers who are playing their last hockey before they retire. Go on USHL.com as do some homework and you will see this is the way to go. That is unless you know nothing about hockey and want to get drunk while watching fat old guys fight only to be traded after being here for a week. If you like the movie Slapshot then the ECHL is for you but if you are a true fan the USHL is the wave of the future. Be careful what you wish for!!!
March 26, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. permalink suggest removal