General | 7/5/2023 4:51:43 PM
Youngstown Phantoms President Andrew Goldman has been named the 2022-23 Dave Tyler United States Hockey League Executive of the Year.
Named President of the Phantoms in 2018, Goldman helped lead Youngstown to its first Clark Cup Championship in 2022-23.
“I am humbled to be selected by our partner clubs in the USHL as the Executive of the Year,” said Goldman. “I am incredibly lucky to have the support of two amazing owners, Bruce Zoldan and Murry Gunty, and to work with a fantastic staff in both the Front Office and in Hockey Operations. Winning the Clark Cup this season was only possible due to the hard work of our staff and each and every member of that staff plays a role in my having received this award. I am equally grateful to the entire Mahoning Valley for supporting the team as you did this year and I look forward to continuing to help grow hockey in Northeastern Ohio. Finally, I want to thank our players, their families and our billet families who make everything we do possible. I am looking forward to another exciting season beginning in September.”
The Phantoms had a regular-season record of 38-19-4-1 in finishing in second place in the Eastern Conference before going on a playoff run that saw them defeat Cedar Rapids and Chicago and then sweeping regular-season champion Fargo Force in three straight games to claim the Clark Cup.
Youngstown experienced attendance growth of 27% this year compared to the previous season and enjoyed sponsorship growth of 35% in 2022-23. The Phantoms had attendance of over 4000 students at its School Day Game with which is not only a hockey game but a focus on STEM with participation by schools, museums, the Army and Air Force and local businesses. The first-ever outdoor USHL game that was put on by a team and not the league - The Cleveland Classic- was played vs. Cedar Rapids at First Energy Stadium and the first Phantoms sellout at Covelli Centre – took place during Game Three of the Clark Cup Final with over 6,000 fans in attendance.
Goldman, a native of Potomac, Md., was responsible for hiring Jason Deskins and Ryan Kosecki as General Managers in June 2021 with the intention of infusing the Phantoms lineup with youth and skill. He worked with Deskins and Kosecki to hire Ryan Ward as the Head Coach of the Phantoms following the 21-22 season and Ward led the organization to a Clark Cup Championship in his first season with the team.
Youngstown had several of its players who were recognized for their one-ice success in 2022-23, including goaltender Jacob Fowler who was named 2023 Clark Cup MVP and USHL Goaltender of the Year and six players from the organization who were selected in the 2023 NHL Draft: Martin Misiak (Chicago, 55th overall), William Whitelaw (Columbus, 66th overall), Jacob Fowler (Montreal, 69th overall), Brandon Svoboda (San Jose, 71st overall), Andrew Strathman (Columbus, 96th overall) and Matthew Perkins (Vancouver, 119th overall).
“I am thrilled that Andrew has been recognized with this award for his outstanding work with our Youngstown Phantoms,” said Co-owner Murry N. Gunty. “Andrew has been instrumental in all operational, financial and hockey aspects of our club, helping transform the organization from the bottom of our division when he took over into Clark Cup Champions.”
The award, named in honor of Dave Tyler, whose leadership and dedication were key to the USHL and junior hockey in the United States, is presented annually to an executive from a USHL Member Club to recognize the efforts and contributions to his or her organization. The award is voted on by USHL Member Clubs.
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