Staff file photo / Brian Yauger Phantoms forward Mikey Burchill chases down the puck during a game in February against Chicago. Burchill scored the team’s first of the season on Wednesday.

It took a little bit to get going, but the Youngstown Phantoms made the most of their debut, taking down the Tri-City Storm 4-3 in overtime in the season-opening contest of the 2024-25 campaign.

Tri-City controlled much of the first period, outshooting the Phantoms 16-2 and getting two goals to show for it. AJ Lacroix and Ilya Morozov each connected with the back of the net for the Storm.

The second period could not have been more different than the first. Youngstown came out of the gate on fire in the second, and it paid off with three goals.

Mikey Burchill gets the honor of scoring Youngstown’s first goal of the season. Now wearing a letter, the USHL veteran was a key play driver on Wednesday and his goal set the tone for the contest.

The duo of Adam Benak and Jack Hextall is already delivering. The highly-touted summer acquisitions have a budding chemistry and it paid off with a Hextall one-timer goal in the second period.

Add in Michael Mesic, another summer acquisition, and the Phantoms’ top line is looking primed for success this season.

Conner de Haro, also donning a letter this season for the Phantoms, gave the team its first lead of the evening, closing out the second period with a goal.

Colby Woogk knotted the game back up at 3-each and forced overtime, but Benak set up Kuzma Voronin for the game-winning goal in the extra frame to give Youngstown its first win of the season in Cranberry.

The Phantoms play again today at 3 p.m., as they take on the Sioux City Musketeers.