Phantoms Hire On-Site Player Development Director, Karl Linden

Linden Hired to Lead the Player Development Department

Youngstown, OH – The Youngstown Phantoms, in conjunction with Black Bear Sports Group and
Phantom Fireworks, are pleased to announce the hiring of Karl Linden, of "Konquer Hockey," as the
organization's player development director. Linden comes to the Phantoms from the Windy City Storm
youth organization and is known as one of the top up-and-coming development coaches in the hockey
circuit.
Co-General Manager's, Jason Deskins and Ryan Kosecki stated "Our goal of being the premier
organization in junior hockey comes with a substantial commitment and investment in our players.
Having Karl on-site in Youngstown collaborating with them every day is invaluable to their development.
Karl will work with our players individually, and in small groups that are specific to their position, which
will compartmentalize and specialize in each player's personal development. Having him available to our
team daily will create an impact that is unique to junior hockey and invaluable to our players and their
pathway to professional hockey."
This hire follows other significant additions made by the organization to bolster on and off-ice
development for all Phantoms players and prospects. Player development has been a point of emphasis
for the organization, and this further exemplifies this commitment from ownership, management, and
the hockey operations staff. Linden's path to Youngstown and the USHL has come with stops with the
South Kent Selects, and the Windy City Storm youth programs along with creating his development
company, "Konquer Hockey." He has been on staff with the Phantoms Head Coach, Ryan Ward, at both
stops.
Ward stated "Having worked with Karl, I fully understand what his hire means to our organization and,
more specifically, to our players. Karl has created a curriculum that is specialized, detailed, and cohesive
with the club's philosophy on player development. He is a fantastic coach, and his work is innovative,
strategic, and transferrable. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited we all are to have Karl in
Youngstown developing our players for the next steps in their journey."
Linden will be responsible for all player development, including content creation, coordination and
delivery for the Phantoms and will spend his time working with the players over video on fundamentals,
techniques, and mechanics of applied skills along with being on the ice with them for individual, group,
and team development sessions.
Linden stated "I am humbled and honored to join the Phantoms. I am grateful to our ownership group,
management staff, and coaching staff for putting their trust in me to develop our players. It is amazing
to be with a program that prioritizes player development and invests in providing the necessary
resources for players to reach their full potential. I am ecstatic to get started and look forward to seeing
our players grow their game to levels they did not know were possible."

The Phantoms open the season on September 30 th vs the NTDP at the Covelli Center. To purchase your
tickets, CALL (330) 747-PUCK (7825).