USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantom Philes: Draft Week On The Horizon

Published on May 11, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - These are the Phantom Philes, a weekly comprehensive look at Youngstown's stop on the road to the National Hockey League.

Even with the Green Bay Gamblers and the Fargo Force set to clash Wednesday night in a winner-take-all Game Five of the Clark Cup Final, the 2010-11 hockey season has already begun for the other 14 United States Hockey League Member Clubs.

Preparations for the upcoming campaign will reach critical mass next week, as the USHL will conduct no fewer than three separate player drafts in three days - events that will shape next year's teams to a tremendous extent.

First on the league schedule is the Expansion Draft on Monday, May 17, as the USHL goes about the business of building its two newest teams, the Dubuque (Iowa) Fighting Saints and the Muskegon (Mich.) Lumberjacks.

Here's the procedure: each of the 13 non-expansion teams, excluding Team USA, will have to submit the same undisclosed number of veterans (players who've dressed for 10 or more USHL games) to protect from the clutches of the Saints and the Lumberjacks. Each pre-existing club will be allowed to lose only one unprotected player.

Next Tuesday brings the Futures Draft, and with it comes six rounds of selections with only players born in 1994 eligible to be taken. This draft will follow a "snake" format, as the teams will pick in reverse order in alternating rounds. As determined by a random drawing earlier in the year, the Phantoms will select 12th in the first round.

Finally, the USHL Entry Draft arrives Wednesday, with the Lincoln Stars holding the first pick by virtue of their last-place finish this season. Youngstown will also be in position to acquire an impact talent as they possess selection No. 2.

The pool of eligible players for the Entry Draft consists of young hockey players born in 1990 or later.

The number of selections for each team is fluid. Every Member Club will pick until they have claimed 23 players (consisting of protected veterans and club-controlled affiliates under the age of 18), which will complete the first stage of the draft. The second stage will then commence, with each team selecting until they have reached 30 players, at which point the draft ends.

If a team has already reached its allotted total in either the first or second stage of the draft, they will "pass" on their subsequent picks until the rest of the teams have caught up.

For additional information and frequently asked questions regarding the draft process, log onto www.ushl.com and click the "Draft" tab on the red menu bar. Remember to check www.youngstownphantoms.com next week for updates on all the newest Phantoms!

PHEELS LIKE THE PHIRST TIME:

Help the offseason move along quickly by looking back at the Phantoms' first season in the USHL. This week, Youngstown stretches its winning streak to three in their return home from a four-game trip:

Thursday, November 5, 2009: YOUNGSTOWN 4, DES MOINES 3

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Add a game-winning goal and the No. 1 star to Rich Young's quickly growing USHL portfolio.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound first-year forward played big indeed Thursday night, putting the Phantoms ahead to stay with 3:15 to play as they claimed their first-ever home win, 4-3 over the Des Moines Buccaneers at the Covelli Centre. Youngstown (5-4-1), winners of three in a row, will host the Buccaneers (4-5-0) again tomorrow at 7:15 p.m.

On the game-deciding play, Brian Dowd centered the puck for Brett Gensler, who fired a shot-pass toward the goalmouth, where Young deposited his second of the season. The Phantoms led 3-2 to start the third but Des Moines' Danny Heath snuck in the backdoor to tie the game near the period's midway point with the Bucs on their fifth power play.

Youngstown rallied from an early deficit for the third-straight game, this time overcoming a 2-0 hole through 20 minutes courtesy of even-strength goals by Des Moines' Mike Fink (14:20) and Chris Stafne (19:55). The Phantoms roared back in the second, though, outshooting the Bucs 17-11 and pumping three goals past goalie Charles Williams to grab the lead.

Set up by Andrew Lamont from behind the goal, Jefferson Dahl pounded a one-timer over Williams' shoulder to make it 2-1 seven minutes into the middle frame. It was Dahl's third goal in his first game back in action after missing four due to a shoulder injury.

Ryan Jasinsky converted Scott Mayfield's short rebound from the right side of the crease to tie the score at 11:39. The Richmond, Va., native's second completed the rally and came mere minutes after his left skate broke behind the Bucs' net, leaving pieces strewn about the ice.

Youngstown took its first lead on another follow-up chance with 4:34 left in the second, as Nick Czinder nailed his third under the crossbar from between the circles.

Jordan Tibbett earned the win to even his record at 3-3-0, making 26 saves. The Phantoms won the shots-on-goal battle 35-29, their highest total since Oct. 10 at Des Moines when they rifled 42 at the goaltending combination of Eric Mihalik and Williams.

Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid1048782 for full box score.

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from May 11, 2010


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