BOX SCORE

BRIGHTON, NEW YORK – The Youngstown Phantoms (16-6-1-1, 34pts) got three-point efforts from Cooper Simpson and Jack Hextall, a pair of power play goals, and a 20-save performance from Tobias Trejbal as they downed the Tri-City Storm 3-1 Thursday night at the Tim Horton's IcePlex as part of the 2025 USHL American Cup.

"Playing a team four times in a row is tough," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "Tri-City has a good coach and is going to be ready to play against us. Obviously getting a quick start on the power play was a positive. I didn't like our third period, they were kind of taking it to us. Hopefully we can learn from that tomorrow and have a better effort for a full sixty (minutes)."

Youngstown opened the scoring at 8:03 of the first period. Ryan Rucinski slid a pass from the high slot to Simpson, who had camped out below the right dot. Simpson fired a one-timer that beat Michal Pradel (30 saves) to the short side, putting the Phantoms ahead 1-0. Simpson and Rucinski both extended their scoring streaks to 11- and 8-games respectively on the play. Hextall converted a power play goal of his own from nearly the same spot later in the period. A shot from Simpson came off the pad of Pradel and right to Hextall's tape in the right circle. Hextall quickly pumped the rebound back into the cage and found twine at 14:20, netting his eighth of the season.

The Phantoms carried their 2-0 lead into the locker room at the first intermission, adding on late in the second. Moments after escaping the penalty box, Simpson led a 2-on-1 down the ice with Malachi McKinnon. Simpson drew in the defense and then centered to McKinnon, who made no mistake with the one-timer, firing to the net at 17:28 for his eighth of the year. Youngstown surrendered a shorthanded goal to Mason Jenson just under a minute later, but that was the only dent in the armor of Trejbal, who won his fourth straight decision.

Youngstown and Tri-City wrap up the 2025 USHL American Cup Friday night at the Tim Horton IcePlex with a 6:00pm Eastern puck drop. The Phantoms will then return home to take on The U18's Saturday night.

By The Numbers
Shots – 33
Saves – 20
Power Play – 2/6
Penalty Kill – 2/2
Goals – Hextall, McKinnon, Simpson
Assists – Hextall (2), Rucinski, Simpson (2), Willson