General | 7/6/2023 10:45:54 AM

The United States Hockey League announced that the Youngstown Phantoms have been named the 2022-23 USHL Organization of the Year as determined by a vote of league member clubs.

The award marks the first time the honor has been presented to Youngstown, which joined the league in 2009-10.

"Bruce Zoldan (my co-owner) and I are humbled and honored to receive this award," said Murry N. Gunty, Co-Owner of the Youngstown Phantoms.  "To be selected by our fellow owners makes this award even more special.  We are lucky to have the best staff, coaches, GMs, fans and billets in the league, all of whom contributed to our success this year and our winning of this award."

Youngstown, which hosted the 2023 USHL Cleveland Classic outdoor game vs. Cedar Rapids (played at FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns, Feb. 23), posted 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 in three straight games to claim its first-ever Clark Cup.

The Phantoms had a franchise record of 5,624 fans in attendance for the Clark Cup-clinching game vs. Fargo to end the season.

The Phantoms, who saw a USHL record six of their players selected in the 2023 National Hockey League Draft, embarked upon an ambitious community-service campaign throughout the season that included visiting the local Akron Children’s Hospital around Christmas time to interact with patients, attending local OH WOW Science Center’s Fun Day, along with going to local schools to read during the Right to Read Month and partaking in gym classes and ball hockey courses. 

Game promotions saw a significant increase in themed nights and with a return of Sci-Fi night / Star Wars night. Along with other themes, including Princess Night, country night, a School Day Game which saw over 4,000 students attend and a White Out for one of the home playoff games, game promotions consisted of multiple door giveaways such as rally towels and water bottles, Look-a-Like cameras, slingshots and Egg Russian roulette.

                                                                                 - 30 -