Hockey is an international sport, and that's very much reflected in the Youngstown Phantoms' roster.

It creates an interesting dynamic. Players from drastically different backgrounds, getting plenty of lessons on and off the ice.

When the Phantoms score, it could be a player from Ohio. It could also very well be a player from Japan or Belarus. With six international players on the roster, it's a global atmosphere.

"We got Russians, Czechs, a guy from Japan. It's pretty cool, all the cultures we learn and different languages we pick up on," said Canada's Reilly Funk.

The language barrier is very real, especially at first.

"I like drink tea in Russia. American people no drink Russia," said Georgi Merkulov from Russia, a comment that picked up plenty of laughs.

But they all speak the same language on the ice.

Hockey's a game, so even if you don't know the language and you know how to play the game, it's pretty easy to play," said Artyom Borshyov from Belarus.

They're all here for the same reason, but they all made sacrifices along the way, moving half a world away in some cases to chase a dream.

"I left my house when I was 15 as a kid, so I kind of like grew up by myself. I had to rely on myself. I could not rely on other people that would do that work for me," said Borshyov.

"The first couple weeks kind of different not seeing your family or having the home-cooked meals you usually are," said John Beaton from Canada. "Once you get to the rink, everything kind of goes away."

"For me, Georgi, Ando, & Jan, it's really hard to communicate with our friends and families because my time difference is like eight hours, so I can only text and message my friends or family in the morning or late, late at night," said Borshyov.

"Coming down here, it's nerve-wracking. You're coming down, far from home, you're leaving your family. You obviously miss the people back home and what you had, but you're going for a new opportunity. I met so many good guys. Already making plans to hang out in the summer, and you create that bond for the rest of your life," said Funk.

"We like teaching each other, learn from other person. I feel like we kind of grow up together," said Jan Kern from the Czech Republic.

In reality, this is the same type of locker room a lot of these kids will eventually see at the college or professional level. So this league is preparing them for life off the ice as well.

"You get to the NHL level or higher levels, it's no different than it is here," said Phantoms assistant coach and director of scouting Nick Peruzzi. "You're going to have multiple languages in the locker room. You're going to have people from different parts of the world. This league does a great job, in my opinion, better than any league in the United States, of preparing these young men for that next step."

A step they're all taking together here in Youngstown.

The Phantoms are back at home this Friday and Saturday night, February 14th and 15th, to take on Muskegon.