Phantoms Reload Through USHL Entry Draft
May 19, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After being quite pleased with how Tuesday's USHL Futures Draft played out, the Youngstown Phantoms' Hockey Operations staff repeated as many rituals as they could remember for Wednesday's Entry Draft.
As a result of multiple trades over the past year, the Phantoms only had one pick in the first four rounds, but by virtue of their second-from-last finish in their first USHL season, they had the valuable No. 2 overall selection. Youngstown would go on to select 18 players on the day, but the immediate focus was necessarily on the first.
With superstition and anticipation in the air, the Phantoms got their man with the prime pick, taking forward John Fritsche of nearby Parma, Ohio. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound dynamo scored 45 points in 55 games last season with the Alpena (Mich.) IceDiggers of the Tier II North American Hockey League.
"John represents everything you want in a hockey player," said Phantoms Head Coach/GM Curtis Carr. "He produces offensively and he's very physical and a high energy player. He's also a leader and will bring a lot of character to our team and will be great in the community."
Added Phantoms Assistant GM/Director of Player Personnel Jason Koehler, "[Fritsche] is an outstanding piece to our championship puzzle for next season. He does all the little things...he hits, competes, battles and blocks shots. John will complement our strong group of returning forwards."
Last season was Fritsche's second in the NAHL, as he appeared in 52 games for Alpena in 2008-09, registering 15 points. John's father Jack is the head coach/GM of the IceDiggers.
"I felt like I could be a high pick in the USHL draft and I made that my goal this season," Fritsche said. "I'll do anything for the team. I'll bring heart, go to the net hard and lead by example. I'm excited to play in Youngstown."
Although Youngstown's next pick wasn't until the second spot in the fifth round (No. 62 overall), they grabbed only the third goaltender of the Entry Draft in Chris Eisermann. The 6-foot-3 netminder from Newburyport, Mass., went 14-3-1 with a .901 save percentage for the New Hampshire Monarchs of the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
After tapping more traditional hockey regions with their first two selections, the Purple and Orange added Jordan Young of Cave Creek, Ariz., to their stable of defensemen. Skating for the Wenatchee (Wash.) Wild of the NAHL, Young had 16 points and posted a plus-15 rating on a team that went 45-10-3 and ran away with a division championship.
Ricky DeRosa of the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers went Youngstown's way in the seventh round (No. 92). The 6-foot-2 center was second in scoring for the organization's Under-18 team, as the 18-year-old from Aston, Pa., netted 15 goals and 17 assists in the Tier 1 Elite League.
Pennsylvania players went back-to-back as defenseman Nilan Nagy from the Pittsburgh suburb of Canonsburg was available in the eighth round at pick No. 107. Standing at an even six feet, Nagy ranked fifth on the NAHL's Traverse City (Mich.) North Stars with 23 assists from the blueline.
At No. 122, Youngstown drafted left-shooting wing Michael Zalewski from the EJHL's Syracuse (N.Y.) Stars. The 6-foot-2 New Hartford, N.Y., native racked up 48 points in 43 contests.
Prep center Quinn Smith arrived in the 10th round from Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut, soon followed by fellow high school forward Mike Ambrosia in the 11th round at No. 152 overall. Ambrosia attended Delbarton School in northern New Jersey. Both Smith and Ambrosia just finished their senior years.
The Maksymum club in the Empire Junior Hockey League provided the Phantoms' 12th round selection, as Jeffrey Stenglein of Rochester, N.Y., hopped aboard Youngstown's train. Stenglein put up 52 points and a team-leading 123 penalty minutes in 38 games on the Tier III circuit.
The Phantoms reached north of the border with the 182nd pick, plucking forward Darcy Greenaway of Lake Forest Academy by way of Odessa, Ontario. Greenaway fired home 19 goals and 27 points in 13 games for the Chicago-based school.
Right-shooting defenseman Alex Temby from Littleton, Colo., rounded out the first phase of Youngstown's Entry Draft at pick No. 197 in the 14th round. His 22 points last season paced all Colorado Thunderbirds rearguards.
With the selection of Temby, the first phase of the USHL Entry Draft was complete, as every team had accumulated 23 players on their active rosters. Each Member Club then had seven picks each in the second phase to bring their totals to 30.
• Discuss this story on the United States Hockey League message board...
United States Hockey League Stories from May 19, 2010
- Gamblers Select a Dozen in 2010 USHL Entry Draft - Green Bay Gamblers
- USHL Completes 2010 Entry Draft - USHL
- Lancers Select 17 Players in 2010 USHL Entry Draft - Omaha Lancers
- Storm Select 13 Players In USHL Entry Draft - Tri-City Storm
- Blend Of Talent, Grit And Youth Highlight Ice Draft - Indiana Ice
- Stampede Add To Roster In USHL Draft - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Phantoms Reload Through USHL Entry Draft - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede Beef Up Roster During USHL Draft - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Storm Acquire Lind, Three Players From Chicago - Tri-City Storm
- Futures Draft Results - Green Bay Gamblers
- USHL Lumberjacks Select Six At 2010 Futures Draft - Muskegon Lumberjacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
