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Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Tender Tortora

May 3, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OH- With Phase I of the 2015 USHL Draft set to kick off on Monday night, the Phantoms are already making moves to help their immediate future. Today, the Youngstown Phantoms have announced that they have signed forward Jacob Tortora to a tender for the 2015-2016 season. United States Hockey League teams are allowed to add, or "tender", up to two players that are eligible for Phase I of the upcoming draft to the roster prior to the draft. If a team decides to use one of their tenders on a player, that team forfeits one or both of their first two round selections.

"We are very excited about the signing of Jacob. He possesses the key qualities we look for and value in Youngstown," said Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen. "First and foremost, he is a quality person and comes from a great family. He has high hockey sense, an elite compete level, and is very dynamic."

Hailing from Victor, NY, the 5'6", 150 pound forward spent last season with the Don Mills Flyers Minor Midget U16 program in Toronto. In 52 games this season, the Boston College commit accounted for 31 goals and 37 assists, for 68 points.

The Flyers made the finals of every tournament they played in, and in the League playoffs this season. The Flyers went 3-3 in Finals of those tournaments. Additionally, Tortora was named MVP of the GTHL All-Star Game, and was also named the Most Valuable Player in the OHL Cup Finals.

"Jacob Tortora is one of the top 1999 born players and forwards in the country, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome him into our family next season, " said Phantoms Assistant General Manager Jason Koehler. "Jacob will have no problem making a smooth adjustment into our line up and will provide immediate offense to our club from day one. He should be a player for us that has success here similar to former forwards Austin Cangelosi (Boston College) and Sam Anas (Quinnipiac), and I dare say his game reminds us of current NHL'er and former USHL player Johnny Gaudreau, who's now in Calgary after a great career in Dubuque and at Boston College as well."

By tendering Tortora, the Phantoms surrender their first round selection (16th overall) in Phase I of this year's draft.

Tortora is just the fourth player that the Phantoms have signed to a tender in team history. Back in 2012, Youngstown used both of their available tenders to select Kyle Connor and JJ Piccinich. Connor went on to become the team's all-time leading scorer, totaling 195 points (82g, 113a) in 174 career games. He will skate for the University of Michigan next season, and is a projected first round NHL draft pick in this year's draft. Piccinich suited up in 123 games for the Phantoms, accounting for 30 goals and 43 assists. He was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in last season's NHL Draft, and spent the 2014-2015 season at Boston University. Last year, Youngstown signed defenseman Ty Farmer to a tender, as well. He skated in 39 games for the Phantoms last season, dishing out five assists. Farmer heads to Michigan State University following his USHL career.

"We are confident Jacob will have an immediate impact on our program from day one, both on the ice and in our community," said Noreen.

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