Photo courtesy of the Youngstown Phantoms / Andrew Strathmann, left, poses with Jacob Fowler after the pair won gold with Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge earlier this month.
A pair of Phantoms brought gold to Youngstown, as defenseman Andrew Strathmann and goaltender Jacob Fowler helped Team USA take first place in the 2022 World Junior A Challenge.
Team USA was one of six teams involved in the tournament, competing alongside Czechia, Latvia, Sweden and two Canadian teams, a Canada East team and a Canada West team.
Team USA finished the tournament with a 5-0-0-1 record, including a 5-2 win over Canada East in the championship game, with Fowler earning “player of the match” honors in two games, including the championship game.
In the title game, the goaltender stopped 24 of 26 shots and posted a .923 save percentage.
“It was honestly pretty surreal,” Fowler said. “My mind went blank (in the final moments). …As soon as that clock hit zero, it was an incredible feeling and something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
Throughout the tournament, Fowler posted the second-highest save percentage of any goaltender and the highest of goaltenders who played at least three games with a .918. He also made 78 total saves and posted one shutout.
Strathmann registered one assist during the tournament but was a vital part at the back for a side that allowed 10 goals in six games.
“It was just a little blurry,” Strathmann said of the final seconds of the league game. “Time flies, and then all of a sudden you’re in the locker room celebrating gold with all the boys, which I’ll never forget for sure. Great moment.”
Being teammates with the Phantoms, albeit for a short time so far this season, has given the pair a bit more chemistry at the back, which for a goalkeeper-defender duo has major benefits.
“We had the best players from almost every USHL team on one roster, but it would be hard to say I trusted any of them more than I trusted (Strathmann) on the ice,” Fowler said. “I see him in front of me every day in training and in every game. It would be hard to say that he didn’t have the most confidence in me and that I didn’t have the most confidence in him during all the tournament because we had this chemistry, and I think it will go even better throughout the season.
Strathmann mentioned how being together there as teammates for two different teams really strengthened their bond.
“Going there and having someone by your side that you can go to and talk to when you need to is great and I think our bond has definitely been strengthened a bit better. Just being together for a few weeks there and have no one else (that you know).
At the latest standings, Strathmann is ranked 40th by TSN’s Craig Button and 56th by the FCHockey scouting service. This projects him towards the second or the beginning of the third round.
Fowler is the 97th ranked prospect by FCHockey, throwing him between the third and fourth rounds.
Both players were able to showcase their skills in front of NHL scouts while representing their country. For Phantoms coach Ryan Ward, it’s really something special.
“I think any time you get the chance to play for your country and don the red, white and blue, it’s a huge honor,” Ward said. “For these two guys in their draft year, gaining such experience and being able to play at the international level is something they will never forget.
“Obviously for them to win gold together as teammates and be on Team USA is something that’s a huge honor and probably something that’s rarely topped in your field and I think those two They go through it as teammates and for those two to play a big part in it is a huge, positive experience for them.
Now that they’re back with the Phantoms, it’s time to move from a gold medal to a Clark Cup.
“I think we’re doing a lot of really good things,” Fowler said. “We have a fairly young group. I think we have a very good coaching staff and a really, really talented team. I think the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together we’ve just made some acquisitions with a few new businesses so I think the team is getting to where we knew it could be and we’re starting to play the game and style with which we know we can succeed.
“I think it can be quite an exciting time. We’re going to be a tough team to beat in the Eastern Conference and then hopefully in the Clark Cup Finals.
The World Junior A Challenge has hosted many future stars over the years. Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets), Evgeny Kuznetsov (Washington Capitals), David Pastrnak (Boston Bruins) and 2021-22 Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) all wore the colors of their respective countries as part of the tournament.
Other Phantoms to have participated in this tournament since its inception in 2006 are
Scott Mayfield (2010 MVP), Kyle Connor (2013, 2014), Chase Pearson (2013 with Canada East, 2015 with Team USA), Brett Murray (2015 with Canada West), Curtis Hall (2017), Jack Malone (2018) and Trevor Kuntar (2019). All were subsequently drafted by NHL teams.
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