Game played on 11/23/2024.
General Game Notes: In a game where power-plays were ineffective and short handed opportunities were more plentiful than power- play chances, Youngstown went into Omaha and completed the weekend sweep of the Lancers. Kazimier Sobieski opened the scoring for Youngstown, in the second period, with a wrist shot coming down the wall. Omaha answered back just over 2 minutes later on a 2-0 break with two of their best players. Hunter Ramos took a feed from David Deputy and fired a shot short side under the crossbar to even the game. Omaha added another goal with 1:02 left on the clock in the second. Tanner Morgan scored his first USHL goal on a great effort and pass from Sam Sheetz. The Lancers lead was short lived as just 13 seconds later, MIchael Mesic found himself alone for a back door tap in. The game went into the third period in a 2-2 tie. After some back and forth chances Landan Resendes cashed in on a 3-2 rush after taking a feed from Sobieski and firing a shot into the top corner of the net. Adam Benák added an empty net goal to seal the game for the Phantoms.
Mario Fate (C, R, 5’8″, 160, Omaha Lancers, 05/27/2007)
Grade: B
Comments: Mario had a great first shift, He won the puck in his defensive zone and exploded up the ice. He came down the wing and was able to pull the puck and change the shooting angle to release a quick wrist shot from the tops of the circles, hitting the goalie in the shoulder. He continued to pursue the loose puck and back checked into his own zone and laid a big hit on the winger who had pulled up looking to make a play. Mario was a bit of a victim of being a young kid in a tight game. His playing time diminished as the game went along and the score stayed tied. He was unable to replicate his first shift and did not see much ice time as the game went along.
Tanner Morgan (C, L, 5’9″, 180, Omaha Lancers, 07/18/2006, Northeastern)
Grade: B
Comments: Tanner was able to score his first USHL goal on a great feed and effort by his linemate Sam Scheetz. Tanner drove the net and was able to kick a puck up from his skate to his stick and tuck it in the open net to give the Lancers a brief 2-1 lead.
Hugo Daniel (RW, L, 6’2″, 205, Omaha Lancers, 08/18/2007)
Grade: B-
Comments: The young forward attacked the net without the puck and was able to get a rebound chance. He continued to work and used his big body to win back the puck and continue the offensive play.
Jonah Aegerter (C, R, 5’9″, 185, Omaha Lancers, 01/21/2004, Vermont)
Grade: B+
Comments: Jonah was hard on the forecheck, laid a hit, and won the puck from the second defenseman. He attacked the net from below the goal line and tried to wrap the puck far side but was unable to convert. Again, in the second period, he attacked the net from below the goal line trying to wrap the puck but was unsuccessful again. He went to the hard areas all night and was a workhorse doing the dirty work. He broke up plays with his effort on both ends of the ice.
Hunter Ramos (LW, L, 5’9″, 162, Omaha Lancers, 05/09/2005, Lake Superior)
Grade: A-
Comments: Hunter was involved in the majority of the scoring chances created by the Lancers. While on the penalty kill he was able to use his speed to get a contested breakaway shot. Later, while on the penalty kill again, he was able to put a defender on his hip and protect the puck. He held off the defender and attacked the far post but was unable to elevate the puck over the goalie’s pad. Hunter picked off a pass in his defensive zone and took off up the ice. Deputy was ahead of him so he head manned the puck and the two skated in on a 2-1 Ramos got a pass inside the tops circles and quickly released the puck high short side to tie the game at 1-1. He created offensive chances with speed outside and was an offensive threat on the penalty kill.
David Deputy (C, R, 5’9″, 182, Omaha Lancers, 06/25/2004, Miami (Ohio))
Grade: B+
Comments: David was strong on the offensive boards and used escapes to attack seams. He assisted on Ramos’ goal. He faked a shot to hold the goalie before sliding the puck over to Ramos. In the 3rd period he created a scoring chance that would have given the Lancers the lead. David made a move to his forehand in tight but was unable to elevate the puck over the goalie’s pad. He attacked the defender’s triangles with quick stick handles and then used the defensemen as screens to get shots to the net.
Kazimier Sobieski (D, R, 6’0″, 184, Youngstown Phantoms, 04/12/2004, UMass Amherst)
Grade: A
Comments: Kazimier was the best player on the ice in this contest. He used his creativity and movement along the blueline to open up space and get pucks to the net. He was strong in the defensive zone corners on the penalty kill and made hard clears. In the neutral zone he maintained tight gaps and stood up at the lines to play physical and finish checks and the end plays. Sobieski scored the first goal of the game when he received the puck at the blueline and attacked the open space below him. He skated himself into a better shooting position and released a quick, powerful wrist shot high short side. He recorded an assist on Youngtown’s second of the game. Off a center ice faceoff he gained the red line and put the puck in deep giving his forwards a chance to win the puck. His second assist of the game came on the game winner. Off a defensive zone faceoff he skated the puck up the strong side wall for a 3-2 rush. He slowed up when he was inside the attacking blueline and hit Resendes who was coming late as the third guy for a goal. Sobieski was a presence every time he was on the ice and made an impact every shift.
Landan Resendes (RW, R, 5’10”, 183, Youngstown Phantoms, 12/10/2005, Boston College)
Grade: A-
Comments: Resendes came on strong as the game went along. He was patient on the power-play on his offside. Drawing attackers into his and putting the puck through penalty killers to open players. In the second period he was robbed on the save of the game by Omaha’s sprawling goalie. He stuck with it and elevated his game. He seemed to find his legs towards the middle of the second period and was getting involved in the offense. He scored the game winning goal on a 3-2 rush. Landon slowed up as the third man coming into the zone and gave Sobieski a lane to pass. He caught and released the puck and fired a shot to the side of the net the goalie was coming from. From outside the top of the circles he beat the goalie high. Landon added an assist on the empty net goal. He used his speed to skate the puck out of his own end and into the offensive zone before curling up low and having the puck knocked away from him onto the stick of Benák who was able to score in the empty net.
Adam Benak (C, L, 5’7″, 160, Youngstown Phantoms, 04/10/2007)
Grade: A-
Comments: Adam was explosive and shifty. His feet and hands were always moving. HIs teammates looked to get him the puck so he could create. In the second period while playing 4 on 4 hockey, he kept his feet moving and skated around until he was able to find some space. He received the puck and stopped on a dime, took one step and released a shot from outside the tops of the circles. He had the goalie beat but the puck hit the crossbar and went out of play. He scored the empty net goal for his 6th of the year.
Michael Mesic (C, L, 5’11”, 177, Youngstown Phantoms, 08/15/2004, Northern Michigan)
Grade: B+
Comments: Early on Mesic got to the front of the net for a screen on a shot from his defenseman. He created a good screen and was able to secure the rebound and gave himself a second chance opportunity right in front of the Omaha net. Attacking into the offensive zone he pulled slowed down to create a passing lane. He received the puck and quickly shot it on net, hitting the goalie in the shoulder. Michael scored Youngtown’s second goal of the game when he was alone in front and got a pass from Kerr in the corner. He was able to one-time the puck into the open net.
Ryan Rucinski (C, R, 5’10”, 175, Youngstown Phantoms, 12/01/2006, Ohio State)
Grade: B
Comments: Rucinski was shooting pucks on net all night. He ended the game with 5 shots but was unable to score and any of his chances. On the penalty kill he was able to keep the power-play on their heels by using his speed to the outside. While on the penalty kill he was able to win the puck in the slot and get a grade A scoring chances from the hash-marks with his and his penalty kill partner pressing and shrinking the ice on the unsuspecting opponents. Ryan used his speed and quickness to drive the puck wide the whole game to create offensive zone time.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images