Staff photo / Brian Yauger. Phantoms defenseman Cal Huston skates through a pair of Team USA defenders during the second period of Wednesday’s game.

YOUNGSTOWN — While Wednesday’s game started as a back-and-forth contest, once the Youngstown Phantoms found their groove, they controlled the game. The Phantoms took control in the second period, taking down the US National Team Development Program U17s, 8-3.

“I thought we played a bad first period,” Phantoms coach Ryan Ward said. “I thought the second third were much better. I thought we executed some stuff and I thought special teams were good again.”

The U17s struck early, with Easton Johnson beating out Phantoms netminder Owen Lepak just 54 seconds into the game.

A few minutes later, Team USA nearly made it 2-0, but Phantoms forward Logan Anderson cleared the puck from the crease and into the neutral zone.

That save led to the Phantoms generating shots on the offensive end, culminating in a goal from forward Jakub Hes. But less than a minute after Hes tied the game, the U17s pushed back. This time it was Nolan Fitzhenry, putting Team USA back up ahead.

Leads in the first period weren’t long-lasting however, and the Phantoms proved that three minutes removed from Fitzhenry’s goal. Set up by Richard Zemlicka, Phantoms forward Kazumo Sasaki found the back of the net, scoring his fifth of the year, and tying the game at 2-2, a score which would hold for the rest of the period.

While the first period was relatively even, the second period was anything but. The Phantoms’ offense exploded in the middle frame, outshooting the U17s 18-4, three of those shots resulting in goals.

It started early in the second period, with defenseman Carter Murphy extending his point streak to six games. Murphy scored his fourth goal of the season to give the Phantoms the lead.

A few minutes later, Zemlicka scored his first goal as a Phantom, beating out Team USA’s Nate Chizik.

“He’s just a man,” Ward said of Zemlicka. “He’s heavy. His personality is awesome. He’s a Phantom. He likes being here, we like having him. I think he’s going to just keep getting better and better. Remember, he’s learning a new system, learning new teammates, learning a new culture. I’m really excited about him, and I think he’s going to play a big time role here down the stretch.”

Forward Logan Anderson, who assisted on Hes’ goal in the first, capped off the middle period by putting away Sasaki’s shot off the rebound.

After a pair of penalties late in the second period, Team USA started the third period with a 5-on-3 power play. They capitalized, with Carter Meyer beating Lepak on the two-man advantage.

Just like the first period however, Meyer’s goal was met with a quick response.

With a one-man advantage, Phantoms captain Ryan Rucinski re-extended the lead to a three-goal edge with his 18th of the season.

That lead grew again near the midway point of the period, with Malachi McKinnon potting his 14th of the year. He was assisted by Cooper Simpson and Jack Willson, who both also earned helpers on Rucinski’s goal.

With 6.4 seconds left in the game, the Phantoms pinned one more on the board. Brayden Thompson got his first goal in a Phantoms uniform to cap the game off. Thompson has been playing defenseman all season, but lined up at right wing on Wednesday.

“He got in on the forecheck, he was above pucks, he hustled back, scored a big goal there in front,” Ward said. “For us, we look at it like next man up. He’s a good teammate, and he battled. It’s not easy, obviously, when you play the back end the whole year. … Those guys, the versatile guys who are willing to do whatever the team needs, are important.”

This was the Phantoms’ second game against the U17s this season, and scored at least seven goals both times. The U17s have played five games in 2026 and have surrendered at least seven goals in all of them.

The Phantoms are back at it on Friday for a three-game series with Muskegon. Friday’s game is set for a 7:05 puck drop at the Covelli Centre. Saturday and Sunday’s games are in Muskegon.

ALL-AMERICANS

Three Youngstown Phantoms players were selected to the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game in Plymouth, Mich.

Forwards Jack Hextall and Evan Jardine as well as netminder Tobias Trejbal all were chosen to represent the Phantoms. The three missed Wednesday’s game to prepare.

“We’ve said from day one that we want to be a destination to play junior hockey, the premier place,” Ward said. “Every year, we have guys in different big games and playing in World Championships and World Juniors. For us, it’s great. It’s a credit to the players. They do a wonderful job. They come here, they get better, they work hard, and they’re not a flash in the pan. You look at (Jardine), you look at (Hextall), you look at (Trejbal), all three of them are going to be NHL draft picks, and at the end of the day, that’s what we want to help them do. We want to help them get to that level, and we’re proud that they represent our organization so well in events like that, and we are certainly are excited for those guys.”

Hextall and Jardine will suit up for Team Blue, with Trejbal suiting up for Team White.

The game is scheduled for today, with a 7 p.m. puck drop. It can be watched on NHL Network.