Indians earn split with Phantoms

The Soo Indians are in a battle for top spot in the North American Hockey League's North Division and every point is precious come this time of year.

With the US National Team Development Program hot on their heels, the Indians were looking to inch closer to solidifying top spot in the division and guaranteed home ice advantage through the playoffs leading up to the National Championships in Bismarck, North Dakota at the end of April.

With that in mind, the Indians took to the ice on the weekend for a pair of home dates with the Youngstown Phantoms at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Centre.

On Friday evening, the Indians used a pair of third period goals to seal a 5-2 victory. Goals by Drew Satterley and Jim Pentecost in the third period capped off a win that saw the Indians blow a 2-0 lead then recover with three unanswered goals.

Satterley and Pentecost each added an assist in the game. Rickey Akkerman, R.G. Flath and Matt Jones had the other Indians goals. Jones also had an assist in the win. Jason Kearney picked up the victory, stopping 29 shots.

Mike Maltese and Anthony Canzoneri scored for the Phantoms while Tom O'Brien took the loss in goal, stopping 38 Indians shots in the game.

Saturday night was a bit of a different story.

After a scoreless first period, the Indians struck early in the second as Ray Kaunisto converted a feed from Jones on a 2-on-1 to give the Indians a 1-0 lead 3:31 into the period.

Just 41 second later the Phantoms tied the game as Derek Roehl beat Kearney at 4:12.

The Indians had a chance to move ahead near the midway point of the period but Joseph Bacon was turned aside by Jerry Kuhn on a shorthanded breakaway. Later in the period, Bob Collar gave the Phantoms their first lead of the weekend converting an opportunity past Kearney.

In the third period, the Indians did have some chances to tie the game but were turned aside by Kuhn in the Youngstown goal. In all, Kuhn stopped 24 Indians shots in being named the game's first star.

A pair of late goals, by Marc Menzione at 18:30 and Roehl into an empty net at 19:26, sealed a 4-1 victory to help the Phantoms to a split with the Indians.

Following the loss on Saturday, Indians coach Joe Shawhan commented that the effort in the 4-1 loss was not what he expected.

"That was a poor effort," Shawhan said. "That was a very poor effort. We were very soft. I made a bad line change on the faceoff right after our first goal and that kind of set the tone for the rest of the way."

Shawhan added that, while he thought Kuhn did make some quality saves in goal for Youngstown, the Indians also had some chances where they didn't make the most of them.

"(Kuhn) made one really good save on Buckley near the end (of the third period)," Shawhan said, "but other than that we shot the puck right at him."

The Indians now have all week to prepare for what will likely be their most important games of the regular season to this point.

Next weekend, Mar. 11 and 12, the Indians will host the USNTDP for a pair of games at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Centre.

The difference will be, instead of hosting the Under-17 team which normally competes in the league, the Indians will be hosting the Under-18 squad, which features forward Phil Kessel.

The young forward is expected to be the top when in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and recently committed to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers next season. Game time on both nights is 7 p.m.

Of note, the Indians are the only junior team to have beaten the Under-18 squad this season with a 3-2 victory on January 14.