Indians Split With Phantoms

It was a tale of two teams over the weekend as the Soo Kewadin Casino Indians did battle with the Youngstown Phantoms in North American Hockey League action.

The Michigan Soo Indians, who entered the weekend in a slump as they posted a 0-3-1 record over their first four games including a loss in their home opener for the first time in team history, have had a rocky start to the 2004-05 season, but were looking to turn things around against the Phantoms.

On Friday evening, the Indians picked up a solid performance from goaltender Troy Redmann, who stopped 25 Phantoms shots, en route to a 3-0 victory, their first of the young season.

Kellen Chamblee, Tiger Marcotte and Tommi Maata each scored for the Indians in Friday's win.

Jerry Kuhn was solid in the Youngstown goal despite the loss, stopping 36 shots.

Despite the win on Friday, the Indians were like a different team on Saturday evening as the Phantoms bounced back to record a 4-1 victory and earn the weekend split.

The opening period saw the Indians take the play to the Phantoms early peppering Kuhn in the Phantoms goal but coming up empty handed.

The Phantoms, building off of their goaltender's solid play, picked up their game in the second half of the opening period and their hard work paid off. Owen Meyer gave the Phantoms their first lead of the weekend by scoring on the power play at 15:09.

Rob Rassey, who picked up three points in the win, put the Indians in a deeper hole late in the period when he scored on another Phantoms power play with just 12.5 second left in the opening period to send the game into the second period with the Phantoms up 2-0.

After a scoreless second period, the Indians came out in the third period with something to prove. An early power play for the Indians proved to be of no help as the Indians had chances but nothing that would beat Kuhn.

Rassey then scored at 4:26 to put the Phantoms up 3-0. Just four seconds after Rassey gave the Phantoms their three goal lead, the Indians managed to get the goal back as Ray Kaunisto scored to give the Indians some life.

Despite 17 shots in the period, the Indians could not crack the armour of Kuhn again and Marc Menzione put the final nail in the Indians coffin with an empty net goal at 19:19 to seal the 4-1 victory.

Kuhn in all stopped 33 Indians shots for the win, while Redmann stopped 21 in the loss.

Following the loss, Indians coach Joe Shawhan said he is disappointed with the effort his team has put out early on this season.

"(Right now) we're a bad hockey club," Shawhan said following Saturday's setback. "We're not playing with any grit. When your desire is low, things aren't going to work.

"Our goaltending has been good," he continued, "but we aren't playing with any desire."

Shawhan has already begun to shake up his roster in hopes that a few trades will help spark the team. On Monday he shipped Nick Biondo to the Bozeman IceDogs in exchange for forward Ryan Ward, who suited up for the Indians in the games against Youngstown.

Also, veteran Indians forward Matt Buha is on the trading block as the Indians look to change things in hopes of lighting a fire under a hockey club that has yet to find its stride.

The Indians will look to get back on track next weekend as they hit the road to take on the Cleveland Barons on Saturday and the US Under-17 team on Sunday.

Next home action for the Indians will be Oct. 15 and 16 when the Toledo IceDiggers are in town to face the Indians at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Centre.