Late post this week due in part to some great news coming out recently involving some standout Phantoms. As you probably have already seen on this website, reliable defenseman and captain Dave Donnellan has verbally committed to Western Michigan University. Would've loved to include some glowing quotes offered up by WMU assistant coach Mark Fackler, but as per NCAA recruiting regulations, team staff can't officially comment on athletes until they sign on the dotted line. Since that won't happen until National Letter of Intent Day in April, coach Mainhardt's compliments will have to do! Let's all wish Dave the best in Kalamazoo.

Two other Phantoms are still looking for their future schools, but that cause could be greatly aided by their respective appearances in the upcoming USHL All-Star Game at Indianapolis' Pepsi Coliseum. Phantoms' leading scorer Taylor Holstrom and power forward pro prospect Nick Czinder will both represent Youngstown at the annual Tier I talent showcase Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Read more about it here in this week's PHANTOM PHILES; good luck to both Taylor and Nick as they will help the East Division All-Stars (Team CCM) upend the West's Team Reebok.

If you're reading this, you likely already know the Phantoms dropped both games last weekend at home to an incendiary Fargo Force club that is quickly rising to challenge Omaha for the top spot out West. If not for a pair of superb performances turned in by Fargo G Ryan Massa, perhaps I'd be recapping a two-game sweep for Youngstown today. But goaltending is a huge part of the game of hockey and can turn a game on many an occasion.

So before the Phantoms try to stop a five-game losing streak this weekend against Team USA, let's enjoy the high- and lowlights from last week's competition.

Friday, January 8: FARGO 4, YOUNGSTOWN 2

Friday's tilt got off to an ideal start for the hometown Phantoms, as F Tom Serratore flipped F Adam Berkle's rebound into the open cage fewer than five minutes after the opening faceoff.

Three unanswered Fargo goals later, F Brett Gensler drew even with F Jefferson Dahl for the team's goal-scoring lead by throwing a loose puck past Massa from the low slot for his 11th of the campaign. The timely score made it 3-2 Force heading for the third...

...where the visitors would put their seventh-straight win on ice. F Ryan Demers' blind backhand pass found the twig of F Nate Condon in front for a tap-in insurance marker 2:21 into the final frame.

Saturday, January 9: FARGO 3, YOUNGSTOWN 2

Another game, another first goal for Youngstown, this time courtesy of USHL rookie F Andrew Lamont, who popped a sick wrister into the top-right corner of the net at 1:10 of the first, the earliest Phantoms' tally of the season.

The Phantoms' impressive run of 16 consecutive successful penalty kills came to an end late in the first when Fargo F Matt Leitner was set up by F Chase Grant to tie the score 1-1.

Deja vu struck the Covelli Centre once more in the second frame, when the Force deposited two goals just five seconds apart to jump on top 3-1 for the second time in two nights. Following F Garrett Allen's go-ahead PP marker at 13:48, F John Stampohar rifled a hard, high snapper off a left-wing rush to set a Fargo team record for quickest two goals.

The Phantoms and Force stuck to Friday's script again before the end of the second, as evidenced by Lamont's serpentine rush that finished with his second tally of the contest from between the circles, pulling Youngstown to within a goal.

There would be no further scoring in the third, but a clutch stop by Phantoms G Matt Mahalak kept his club in the game down to the final seconds.