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Youngstown Phantoms welcome new coach
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporters
Published: September 21, 2015
As the summer comes to a close, the Youngstown Phantoms are preparing for their season home opener on Sept. 26 at the Covelli Centre against Team USA’s Under-18 squad.
Since August 31, players have been working on their game with new head coach John Wroblewski.
Wroblewski replaced former head coach Anthony Noreen, who took a job as head coach of the Orlando Solar Bears, the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For the past two seasons, Wroblewski served as assistant coach with the Rochester (New York) Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL), the top affiliate club of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Buffalo Sabres.
Before 2009, the Youngstown Phantoms were a member of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) for six seasons. But now the Phantoms are a part of the United States Hockey League (USHL), which is the country’s top junior hockey league, classified as Tier 1. The USHL league includes 17 teams ranging from North Dakota, Iowa and Michigan to Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Wroblewski said his desire to mentor young athletes was one of the main reasons he took the job with the Youngstown Phantoms.
“I really want to take a different course in my career,” said Wroblewski.
“The USHL is at the top of its food chain and doesn’t get picked over from a higher level during the season,” said Wroblewski. “I will be able to work with the team this entire season and cultivate individual athletes on a daily basis and help them to grow as people, players and teammates. I have missed teaching, which is sometimes difficult to do at the professional level because of hectic schedules and constant player movement.”
“We had a number of quality candidates for this position, but John proved to us through the interview process that he was the best man to lead this club moving forward,” said Phantoms General Manager Jason Koehler. “He had an outstanding resume and possessed many of the same values that we want to promote in our young athletes.
“I had heard about John before the interview, but I did not have a previous relationship with him,” said Koehler. “I feel we walked away with the number one guy through the interview process.
“We’re excited that we get to bring Youngstown an outstanding young coach that has had success and experience at high levels.”
Born in Neenah, Wisconsin, Wroblewski played hockey for the USNTDP (National Team Development Program) Under-18 Team (NAHL) and the U.S. Junior National Team (USHL) followed by four seasons at the University of Notre Dame, where he served as team captain. Wroblewski holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame. After college he spent four seasons as a minor league player in California with the Fresno Falcons (ECHL).
Wroblewski began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the U.S. National Under-18 Team (USHL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In Michigan, he worked with some of the top American coaches to advance to the NHL in recent years, including John Hynes (current head coach of the New Jersey Devils) and Ron Rolston (former head coach of the Buffalo Sabres and current head coach for the Springfield Falcons, the AHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes). He also worked with late college coaching legend and Yale bench boss Tim Taylor.
His next stop was Wheeling, West Virginia, where he was an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL).
Prior to his job with the Rochester Americans, Wroblewski was head coach with the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL) in Georgia, where he had two successful seasons and was a co-recipient of the 2011-12 ECHL Coach of the Year award.
During Wroblewski’s time as head coach, the club advanced to the playoffs both seasons, won two Southeast Division titles and had the Eastern Division’s best winning percentage in those two seasons.
“All of our student-athletes aspire to get to the next level, whether that is college or pro hockey,” said Koehler. “John has been there as either a coach or player.
“I’m excited to work with someone that I feel shares a strong passion, energy and commitment to developing players and winning, and will be an incredible coach, teacher, mentor and role model for our players.”
In addition to his desire to mentor young hockey players, Wroblewski said there were other reasons he chose to make the move, including the Youngstown Phantoms’ “strong” and “intelligent” ownership.
The Youngstown Phantoms are co-owned by Bruce Zoldan, chief executive officer of Phantom Fireworks and Troy and Aafke Loney.
Troy played 12 years in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, New York Islanders and the New York Rangers. He won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins. His wife Aafke is the founder and president of Business & Education Connected, which helps students across the U.S. identify career options that align with their skills.
The Loney’s son Ty was a Phantoms player from 2009-2011, earning a Division I college scholarship to the University of Denver hockey team.
“John brings a wealth of experience not only as a coach but also as a player in our league, at the Division I college level and at the professional level,” Phantoms Chief Executive Officer Troy Loney said in a press release.
Wroblewski, 34, and his wife Ashley live in Canfield.
“The Mahoning Valley is an area on the rise,” said Wroblewski. “Ashley and I fully intend on immersing ourselves in the community and calling it our home.”
Koehler said the team is looking forward to continued success with the help of Wroblewski, including winning the USHL Clark Cup, presented to the USHL’s playoff champion, and the Anderson Cup, presented to the league’s regular season champion.
The Phantoms have seen over 100 players commit to NCAA Division I schools. Players Max Letunov, JJ Piccinich and Nathan Walker were drafted by National Hockey League teams. Walker along with alumni Scott Mayfield, Brandon Saad, Jiri Sekac and Andrej Sustr have signed NHL contracts.
The Sept. 26 home opener will kickoff with a banner-raising ceremony prior to puck drop to celebrate the Phantoms Anderson Cup 2014-15 season. The team will play 60 games this season, including 30 games at home.
“At this age, at this level, you truly have to take it one day at a time,” said Wroblewski. “We will implement a growth mindset and teach these young how to be true teammates. When they realize their potential at these ideals, the opportunity for team and individual awards will present itself.”