Staff photo / Brian Yauger Youngstown Phantoms defenseman Carter Murphy sends the puck around the boards during a game at Covelli Centre in Youngstown.

Last week, the Youngstown Phantoms announced that defenseman Carter Murphy was named the team’s nominee for the USHL’s inaugural Gaudreau Award. In honor of former USHL players Matthew and Johnny Gaudreau, the award is meant to recognize the player who best embodies the traits and attributes of the brothers.

The traits, as listed by the USHL on their website include: “Excellence on the ice, spirit of the game, care and responsibility.”

While he didn’t win — that honor went to Sioux Falls forward Ethan Wyttenbach — the 5-foot-8 defenseman was thrilled to be nominated.

Murphy was nominated by his teammates, something that surprised him. The Phantoms have a tight-knit locker room and Murphy thought anyone in that room could have been chosen.

“I was pretty happy, but I also knew, deep down, it could have been any of the guys,” Murphy said. “Obviously, we have a great group, so I was just happy to be nominated, but I knew that it could have gone to all the guys on the team. It’s something I cherished, and my family’s proud of me, but I would have nominated every other person on our team.

“I’m happy I get on everybody’s good side. I don’t complain about much, but when I heard from the guys and that they nominated me for the award, it meant a lot. You see those guys every day. You spend a whole year with them, maybe longer, depending on what you do in the summer, but it’s something you cherish. I’m glad to know that the guys see me in that light and that they respect me, and they nominated me. It means a lot.”

Phantoms coach Ryan Ward spent the season talking about the locker room environment and the positive atmosphere that’s helped shape the team. For Murphy to be chosen by the team says everything, according to Ward.

“I think that just speaks volumes for the type of kid that Carter is,” Ward said. “The award is voted on by the players in the locker room. I gave them the memo, and it was their job to put everything together, and write a page about Carter and why he’s our nominee. To me, there can be no higher honor than knowing that your teammates picked you for that award.”

In his rookie season, Murphy put up 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) with the Phantoms. Taking to the USHL is never easy for a rookie, especially on the blue line, but the Texas native stuck with it and came out better.

“I mean, it’s a really hard league, especially for any first-year defenseman,” Ward said. “I think Carter has handled adversity really, really well. He has a very contagious personality, a very positive work ethic and with that, he was able to handle some of the lower points of his season with grace, and never really losing confidence. I think that’s a major part of the adjustment period to the league for a young player. You’re able to bounce back a little quicker when you don’t lose confidence through hard times.”

Murphy has pro hockey pedigree, which never hurts either. Murphy’s father Curtis had a 17-year professional career spanning across the globe, suiting up for the Minnesota Wild for a game, their AHL affiliate in Houston, and stops in Russia, Austria and Switzerland along the way.

Having that extra knowledge has been helpful as Murphy has adjusted to the USHL game.

“That’s definitely a little edge I have on some people,” Murphy said. “You hear stories, especially my dad being through juniors, he definitely helped me just kind of ease my mind. There’s hard times in juniors and there’s high times. He’s always been with me. He makes it easier. He tells me the good, but he keeps it real with me too. It definitely helps someone who’s gone through it and kind of knows what I’m dealing with. It makes it a lot easier. He’s been very helpful with just using my mind through the hard times.”

Harder times are coming as the playoffs are set to begin for the Phantoms this weekend. Murphy and the Phantoms await the winner of the Muskegon-Cedar Rapids series to find out who they’ll host for round two.

The Phantoms’ postseason run kicks off either on Friday or Saturday depending on the result of Tuesday’s game. If Muskegon wins, the Phantoms host the Lumberjacks on Friday and Saturday in the first two games of a best of five series.