Youngstown Phantoms blank Fargo to claim first Clark Cup title
A stout defense, stellar goaltending, and one shot lifted the Youngstown Phantoms to a 1-0 win over the Fargo Force in Game 3 of the 2023 Clark Cup Final Friday night at the Covelli Centre.
Youngstown swept the best-of-five series three-games-to-none, earning the first Clark Cup title in club history.
“These guys deserve it,” Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward said. “A group of kids that comes to the rink every day and has fun and works their tails off. I don’t have any words. They are the most deserving group of kids I’ve ever been around. Best staff in the world. You don’t want it to end, but if it was going to end, it’s got to end like this.”
Fargo carried play for most of the first period but got outshot 6-5 in the frame.
Youngstown’s Justin Varner had the best scoring chance of the frame, a back-to-front play that resulted in a stunning save from Matej Marinov (23 saves).
Youngstown nearly opened the scoring in the second period
The Phantoms warmed to the task in the second period, outshooting Fargo 12-9, narrowly missing a 1-0 lead when Andrew Strathmann shot off the crossbar on a mid-period power play.
Early in the third period, Youngstown broke the ice, providing all the offense Jacob Fowler (22 saves) would need.
Andon Cerbone scored game-winning goal
Forecheck pressure from Kenta Isogai forced the Fargo defense into a blind pass, which Andon Cerbone stole.
Using a defenseman in front of the net as a screen, Cerbone ripped a wrister past Marinov’s glove and into the twine for the game’s lone marker.
“Bringing him in in December changed our team,” Ward said. “Andon Cerbone did a great job for us. I love the kid. Can’t wait to see him have a ton of success.”
With his 22 saves, Fowler recorded the second shutout in Phantoms’ playoff history. “Fowls has been unbelievable all year,” said Ward. “His poise, how he leads from the back. Unbelievable kid. He’s going to make some NHL team extremely happy soon.”
Youngstown’s winning streaks
With the win, Youngstown moved to 6-0 all-time when they could clinch a playoff series at home.
It was also the fifth straight win for the Phantoms, setting a season high.
Fargo became the eighth Anderson Cup champion in the last 11 years that failed to win the Clark Cup.
“We’re bonded forever on this May 19,” Ward said. “We had a group of people who were linear and unified in what we were trying to do here. A little belief and work ethic can change the world, and these kids certainly did that.”
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This story was originally published May 20, 2023 at 2:18 AM.