Thursday, January 5, 2012

Phantoms Defenseman Commits to St. Lawrence University

Press Release

The Youngstown Phantoms announced that defenseman Eric Sweetman has committed to play collegiate hockey at St. Lawrence University beginning in the fall of 2013.

Sweetman, who turns 18 later this month, has collected four points (2g, 2a) to go along with a plus-five rating while playing in all 26 of the Phantoms’ games thus far this season. The 6-foot, 165-pound native of Woodbine, Maryland was selected by the Phantoms in the sixth round of last spring’s 2011 USHL Entry Draft and been one of the most team’s most reliable players since the onset of training camp.

“There’s never been a time all year – from the very beginning – when we questioned whether or not Eric has deserved to be in our lineup,” said Anthony Noreen, head coach of the Phantoms. “He’s physical, he’s clean, he plays an in-your-face style, his transition game’s good, and he plays our system to a tee. He carries himself the way we want on and off the ice. He’s the prototype of the kind of player we want here.”

Indiana Ice forward Drew Smolcynski is also committed to St. Lawrence University which is a member of the ECAC and located in Canton, New York. The Saints have 10 USHL alumni on the roster this season; Mark Armstrong (Green Bay/Indiana), Rick Carden (Lincoln Stars), Peter Child (Green Bay Gamblers), Jacob Drewiske (Sioux Falls Stampede), Kyle Flanagan (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), George Hughes (Waterloo Black Hawks), Sean Logue (Indiana Ice), Patrick Raley (Chicago Steel), Chris Martin (Indiana Ice), and Gunnar Hughes (Waterloo Black Hawks).

“We don’t just want to make our guys better hockey players, we want to make them better people and see them get a good education,” Noreen said. “If you look at the schools in the ECAC, you’re not sacrificing school for hockey or vice versa. They’re the best of both worlds.”

Noreen said that Sweetman will have the chance to learn under one of the top coaches in college hockey, Joe Marsh, who is in his 27th season behind the bench at St. Lawrence. The Saints have won five ECAC Championships and made eight NCAA tournament appearances under his guidance.

“When Eric talked to us about St. Lawrence, he said, ‘Coach Marsh is really good at developing defenseman. I feel like I’m going to become better under him,’” Noreen said. “And if you’re building a college program and looking for a defenseman out of our league to help you to the next level, Eric Sweetman is perfect for that role.”

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

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