Youngstown Phantoms, USHL cancel season
The United States Hockey League (USHL) has canceled the remainder of its season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The Youngstown Phantoms are members of the league, which is the premier junior league in the country. Though 50 games, they were in fifth place with a 20-22-6-2 record. Their roster includes goaltender Dominic Basse, a sixth-round draft pick in 2019 by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Previously, the USHL had postponed play.
“The decision was not an easy one to make, but was a necessity in order to keep our athletes, staffs and fans in all 16 of our communities safe amid the international health risk,” USHL commissioner Tom Garrity said in a statement. “While we believe our product is the best junior hockey that fans can view, we also understand the health of our athletes, employees, fans and communities is more important during this time.”
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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