USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Gauthier, Mackey Highlight Phantoms' 15-Player Draft Class

Published on May 23, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms thought long and hard before making their ninth overall selection in Tuesday's United States Hockey League Entry Draft. They eventually decided on center Frederik Gauthier, barely edging out defenseman Kyle Mackey.

Fifteen picks later, Mackey became their second-round pick.

"To have Mackey sitting around in the second, we were shocked," Phantoms director of player personnel Jason Koehler said. "We even contemplated trading up to get him. We're thrilled with how our first two picks worked out - with our whole draft really."

The Phantoms selected a total of 15 players in Tuesday's USHL Entry Draft - seven forwards, seven defensemen and one goaltender. Head coach and general manager Anthony Noreen said that he and his staff could not have scripted their draft any better.

"Overall we're extremely happy and excited with our draft. We can't wait to see what these guys can do when they get to Youngstown," he said. "This was a great chance for us to fill some holes and I think a big credit has to go to Jason Koehler and the job he did this year scouting."

Gauthier, a 17-year-old native of St. Lin Laurentides, Quebec, played this past season with Coll�ge Esther-Blondin Phenix of the Quebec Midget AAA league. The mammoth 6-foot-4, 214-pound pivot was named the QMAAA's Most Valuable Player after putting up 26 goals, 25 assists and 51 points in only 39 games in 2011-2012.

"Frederik is a guy we expect to come in here and be an immediate impact guy," Noreen said. "He gives us another great top-line centerman and we think he could be a high NHL pick.

"He's also a Harvard commit and we've had a lot of success here with Ivy League players. I think it's a testament to the kind of guys they are on and off the ice."

Mackey, 17, was one of three players the Phantoms took out of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program along with sixth-round pick forward David Seward and 20th-round selection defenseman Matthew Nuttle. The Jr. Sabres program produced three players on the Youngstown roster last season - defenseman Chris Bradley and forwards Pat Conte and Zach Evancho.

Mackey, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound blue liner from Derby, N.Y., put up 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points to go along with 58 penalty minutes in 61 games for the Jr. Sabres Under-18 AAA team last season.

"Kyle was a player we really coveted and we feel very confident that he's going to develop into a strong, top-two-caliber defenseman here," Koehler said. "We believe he could walk in and be just as good as our first-year defensemen last season such as [Daniel] Renouf, [Eric] Sweetman and [Ryan] Lowney. He should have a very seamless transition."

The Phantoms surprised many in the ninth round when they selected forward John Padulo from the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The tenacious winger was tied for third on Muskegon in scoring last season with 14 goals, 19 assists and 33 points along with 107 penalty minutes, but the 'Jacks chose not to place the 20-year-old on their initial protected list.

The Phantoms also drafted a pair of Ohio-born players in forward Kiefer Sherwood (seventh-round, 99th overall) from the Ohio AAA Blue Jackets U16 team and defenseman Tommy Parran (21st round, 309th overall) from the Cleveland Barons U18 AAA team.

Koehler said that with the 15 players drafted Tuesday along with the Phantoms' returning players and four 2012 USHL Futures Draft picks, should make for a very interesting camp, which begins June 14 at the Ice Zone in Boardman.

"We did a very good job of getting quality, high-end talent in here and supplementing what we already had," Koehler said. "We're very happy. I don't think we lack depth at any position and it's going to be a hell of a battle at camp in June."

Below is a complete list of the Phantoms' 2012 USHL Entry Draft picks.

Phase I

Round 1 (Ninth overall): Center Frederik Gauthier - College Esther-Blondin (QMAAA)

Round 2 (24th overall): Defenseman Kyle Mackey - Buffalo Jr. Sabres (U18 AAA)

Round 3 (39th overall): None (Traded to Tri-City)

Round 4 (54th overall): Defenseman James Mazza - New York Bobcats (AJHL)

Round 5 (69th overall): Forward Ryan Schwalbe - Shattuck St. Mary's (Prep)

Round 6 (84th overall): Forward David Seward - Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)

Round 7 (99th overall): Forward Kiefer Sherwood - Ohio AAA Blue Jackets (U16)

Round 8 (114th overall): Defenseman Tommy Davis - Delbarton High School (N.J.)

Round 9 (129th overall): Forward John Padulo - Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Phase II

Round 15 (219th overall): Forward Michael Szmatula - Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)

Round 16 (234th overall): Forward Mac MacSorley - Stratford Cullitons (GOJHL)

Round 17 (249th overall): Defenseman Alex Carle - Kimball Union Academy High School (N.H.)

Round 18 (264th overall): Defenseman Cameron Heath - Cranbrook High School (Mich.)

Round 19 (279th overall): Goaltender Colin DeAugustine - Pittsburgh Hornets (U16 AAA)

Round 20 (294th overall): Defenseman Matthew Nuttle - Buffalo Jr. Sabres (U16 AAA)

Round 21 (309th overall): Defenseman Tommy Parran - Cleveland Barons (U18 AAA)

Season tickets for the 2012-13 season are on sale now. For a limited time, season ticket plans for all 32 home games next season start at the low price of just $160, but only if fans lock in by July 31. Call the Phantoms office 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest Phantoms news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com .

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United States Hockey League Stories from May 23, 2012


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