Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Phantoms Defenseman Chooses Princeton University

Press Release

The Youngstown Phantoms announced that defenseman Kevin Liss has committed to attend Princeton University beginning next season.

Liss has collected four points (1g, 3a) in 16 games during his second USHL with the Phantoms while being one of the team’s top shutdown defensemen. He scored his first career USHL goal on October 22nd vs. Team USA. The 6-0, 200-pound defenseman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania dished out three assists and posted a plus-five rating last season in 42 games as a USHL rookie. Liss also was a co-recipient of the USHL Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2010-11 season. He maintained a 4.0 grade point average at Ursuline High School in Youngstown during the season before returning to Upper Saint Clair High School in his hometown. Liss was also a member of the National Honor Society and received a Certificate of Merit by the state of Pennsylvania for his exceptional performance on both the College Board SAT (2120) and ACT (31) tests.

“We as an organization could not be more proud of Kevin,” Head Coach Anthony Noreen said. “Kevin said from the beginning that he was not going to sacrifice education for hockey, or hockey for education. He wanted a place that had the best of both worlds and Princeton University certainly has that.”

“It’s great for our guys to see someone who plays the game so hard and gives so much in the weight room and on the ice every day, but who also gives just as much to his academics,” Noreen said. “Kevin does a great job of leading by example.”

Liss will be joined at Princeton University by Phantoms teammate Mike Ambrosia who is also committed to the Ivy League school. Omaha Lancers forward Johnathan Liau and Sioux Falls Stampede forward Kyle Rankin are also committed to Princeton at the conclusion of their USHL careers.

Princeton University is a member of the ECAC and has nine USHL alumni on the roster this season; Andrew Ammon (Lincoln Stars), Jack Berger (Des Moines Buccaneers), Matt Farris (Sioux Falls Stampede), Will MacDonald (Indiana Ice), Eric Meland (Lincoln Stars), Alec Rush (Tri-City/Sioux Falls/Lincoln/Omaha), Michael Sdao (Lincoln Stars), Aaron Ave (Omaha Lancers), and Tucker Brockett (Chicago/Tri-City/Lincoln).

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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