Exploring the Phantoms' Entry Draft

May 21, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL) - Youngstown Phantoms News Release





YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - While the United States Hockey League employs a "pro-style" drafting process, the reality is that in the USHL, the effects of a given Entry Draft can be felt much more quickly and profoundly than in the professional ranks.

Therefore, in the aftermath of what the Youngstown Phantoms' Hockey Operations staff deemed a good Futures Draft on Tuesday, Wednesday's Entry Draft results will dramatically shape next season's roster as the club tries to make the jump to championship level in its second season.

Judging from the positive mood in the Phantoms' "war room" both during and following the 21-round Entry Draft, the expectation is that the team's sophomore effort in the league will be much different from the first go-around.

To help explain the optimism, Phantoms Assistant GM/Director of Player Personnel Jason Koehler described the attributes of the 18 promising players selected in the Entry Draft and why they are candidates to wear the Purple and Orange in the fall:

John Fritsche - Round 1, No. 2 Overall Position: Forward Height/Weight: 6'0/190 Date of Birth: 9-3-91 Hometown: Parma, Ohio Previous Team: Alpena (Mich.) IceDiggers (North American Hockey League) Koehler Says: "We're really excited to have him. He's an outstanding piece to our championship puzzle for next season. He hits, competes, battles, blocks shots and does all the little things. John will complement our strong group of returning forwards."

Chris Eisermann - Round 5, No. 62 Overall Position: Goaltender Height/Weight: 6'2/200 Date of Birth: 7-28-93 Hometown: Newburyport, Massachusetts Previous Team: New Hampshire Monarchs (Eastern Junior Hockey League) Koehler Says: "We were looking for a quality young goalie who could step right in and compete for the starting job. Chris has seen his stock rise dramatically this past year. Out East, Eisermann is probably the best NHL draft candidate among goalies."

Jordan Young - Round 6, No. 77 Overall Position: Defenseman Height/Weight: 5'10/180 Date of Birth: 5-12-92 Hometown: Cave Creek, Arizona Previous Team: Wenatchee (Wash.) Wild (NAHL) Koehler Says: "Jordan comes from a non-traditional market, but played for the very well-respected P.F. Chang's team. Last year, he walked in and was part of perhaps the best defensive corps in the NAHL as a high school senior. He's a very smart, effective, mobile defenseman who plays bigger than he is. He'll continue to develop and become a Division I college defenseman."

Ricky DeRosa - Round 7, No. 92 Overall Position: Center Height/Weight: 6'2/175 Date of Birth: 2-9-92 Hometown: Aston, Pennsylvania Previous Team: Philadelphia Jr. Flyers AAA Koehler Says: "He was the best player of his age out of Philadelphia last year. He'll do anything to win; he'll battle, compete and will give us a nice energetic presence in the lineup. Plus, he's got good skill to go with it."

Nilan Nagy - Round 8, No. 107 Overall Position: Defenseman Height/Weight: 6'1/215 Date of Birth: 12-20-91 Hometown: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania Previous Team: Traverse City (Mich.) North Stars (NAHL) Koehler Says: "Nilan played for a good program in Traverse City for coach Anthony Palumbo and was a very strong and effective top-two defenseman. As a first-year guy, he was one of the highest-scoring defensemen in the league. We feel he comes right in and can use his size, strength and skill to good effect in this league."

Michael Zalewski - Round 9, No. 122 Overall Position: Center Height/Weight: 6'2/195 Date of Birth: 8-18-92 Hometown: New Hartford, New York Previous Team: Syracuse (N.Y.) Stars (EJHL) Koehler Says: "Michael was one of the top first-year high school players in the EJHL this season. He was the No. 1 center for the Stars and is currently ranked by NHL Central Scouting. He has good bloodlines; his older brother [Steven] was drafted by the NHL's San Jose Sharks."

Quinn Smith - Round 10, No. 137 Overall Position: Center Height/Weight: 5'9/170 Date of Birth: 1-11-92 Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut Previous Team: Avon Old Farms School (Conn.) Koehler Says: "Quinn was one of the top players in prep hockey this year. He was the No. 1 center at prestigious Avon Old Farms last year. We're talking a very speedy, very slick competitor who brings a lot of energy. He plays a smart, two-way game. He's committed to Boston College for 2011."

Mike Ambrosia - Round 11, No. 152 Overall Position: Right Wing Height/Weight: 5'10/170 Date of Birth: 5-25-92 Hometown: Chatham, New Jersey Previous Team: Delbarton School (N.J.) Koehler Says: "Mike was part of a dominant line in New Jersey prep hockey that won a state championship. He is a very good, effective, two-way winger who plays a bigger game than his size would dictate. He has goal scoring ability but can also make plays and create offense. He's committed to Princeton for 2012."

Jeffrey Stenglein - Round 12, No. 167 Overall Position: Left Wing Height/Weight: 6'0/190 Date of Birth: 7-11-93 Hometown: Rochester, New York Previous Team: Maksymum Hockey (Empire Junior Hockey League) Koehler Says: "Jeffrey's a good sleeper candidate for us. He's a power forward who played center in the Empire League and was one of the league's leading scorers and penalty minute guys. He's simply a competitor and we're excited about what he can turn into."

Darcy Greenaway - Round 13, No. 182 Overall Position: Left Wing Height/Weight: 5'10/180 Date of Birth: 1-19-93 Hometown: Odessa, Ontario, Canada Previous Team: Lake Forest Academy (Ill.) Koehler Says: "This guy has consistently produced at an unbelievable level at Lake Forest Academy. He's a pure goal scorer who just fires away. You could almost count on two goals a game from him at the prep school level. He was better than most of the AAA [midget] left wingers out there."

Alex Temby - Round 14, No. 197 Overall Position: Defenseman Height/Weight: 6'0/190 Date of Birth: 11-10-92 Hometown: Littleton, Colorado Previous Team: Colorado Thunderbirds AAA Koehler Says: "Alex was one of the top AAA midget defenseman out there, playing for the Thunderbirds team that advanced to nationals. He has the size, physicality and mobility to be a sharp young defenseman in this league. We were very happy to get him as late as we did."

Brian Harris - Round 15, No. 212 Overall Position: Defenseman Height/Weight: 5'9/185 Date of Birth: 7-19-92 Hometown: Bridgewater, Massachusetts Previous Team: Boston Advantage AAA Koehler Says: "In my opinion, Brian was one of the best midget AAA defenseman in the country. He's feisty, he's skilled, he's everything you want in a smaller defenseman. Coaches Joe Lovell and Joe Bracken from the Boston Advantage team have done a great job with him."

Chris Bradley - Round 16, No. 227 Overall Position: Defenseman Height/Weight: 6'2/185 Date of Birth: 1-1-93 Hometown: Buffalo, New York Previous Team: Buffalo Regals AAA Koehler Says: "Chris was one of the top defensemen in our region playing for the well-respected Buffalo Regals program. He is an outstanding competitor and a character leader. We could see him wearing a letter on one of our jerseys sometime in the future."

Ryan Belonger - Round 17, No. 242 Overall Position: Center/Right Wing Height/Weight: 5'11/180 Date of Birth: 5-5-92 Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin Previous Team: St. Louis Bandits (NAHL) Koehler Says: "Ryan was one of the top young forwards in the NAHL and he fit in well with an older talented group in St. Louis. He is a power forward who generally played on St. Louis' top two lines despite his young age."

Teemu Tiitinen - Round 18, No. 257 Overall Position: Forward Height/Weight: 5'11/170 Date of Birth: 3-21-92 Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia Previous Team: Dallas Stars AAA Koehler Says: "Teemu was born in Finland but has been in the United States for awhile. He played for the TPH Thunder initially, which has been doing a really good job developing hockey talent in the South. He moved over last year to the Dallas Stars program, and I thought he was their top forward. He has speed and energy and you know what you're getting from him every period of every game."

Peter McIntyre - Round 19, No. 272 Overall Position: Left Wing Height/Weight: 6'4/180 Date of Birth: 11-22-91 Hometown: Norfolk, Massachusetts Previous Team: South Shore Kings (EJHL) Koehler Says: "Peter is a pro-style winger who started the season with the Boston Advantage. He's got a pro body and protects the puck well, especially along the boards. He has really developed physically and talent-wise over the past year and looks to be a pro prospect."

Cam Spiro - Round 20, No. 297 Overall Position: Left Wing Height/Weight: 5'11/183 Date of Birth: 12-30-91 Hometown: Hingham, Massachusetts Previous Team: Tabor Academy (Mass.) Koehler Says: "Cam was the best pure goal scorer I saw out East this year. He has an NHL-caliber release to his shot. You get him the puck and it'll be in the net, and that's an ability you can't teach. He's a high-end talent who looks to develop into a top-line forward for us."

J.T. Miller - Round 21, No. 312 Overall Position: Left Wing Height: 6'1/190 Date of Birth: 3-14-93 Hometown: East Palestine, Ohio Previous Team: U.S. National Team Development Program (Under-17) Koehler Says: "J.T.'s obviously a very talented local player who is still part of the National Team program, but we wanted to cover our bases just in case he didn't go straight to college after completing his stay in Ann Arbor."

For a full rundown of the entire USHL Entry Draft, visit www.ushldraft.com. Stay tuned to www.youngstownphantoms.com for additional information on the newest Phantoms throughout the offseason!

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Exploring the Phantoms' Entry Draft - Youngstown Phantoms

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