Phantoms select Saads in draft

YOUNGSTOWN — Highly-regarded forward Brandon Saad was selected by the Youngstown Phantoms in the sixth round of the United States Hockey League Entry Draft on Wednesday.

Saad (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), a forward who turns 17 in October, scored 29 goals and 18 assists for the Phantoms in 2008-09.

The Phantoms played in the North American Hockey League last season.

Saad was one of 17 players taken by the Phantoms in Wednesday’s draft, and was the third player selection procedure conducted by the league over two days.

The Phantoms took players in an expansion draft and a futures draft on Tuesday.

The futures draft was limited to players born in 1993.

The Phantoms have 30 players from the three drafts to form their roster for the 2009-10 season.

Also selected was Brandon Saad’s brother, George Saad, from the 2008-09 Phantoms team. George Saad scored 12 goals and seven assists in 51 games last season. He turns 19 in November.

The Phantoms’ first-round pick and the No. 5 overall selection in the draft was defenseman Dan Senkbeil of the San Jose Jr. Sharks U-18 team.

The Phantoms selected six defensemen on Wednesday, 10 forwards and one goaltender.

The other defenders taken were J.D. Carrabino of Millbrook Prep in the second round; Ben Paulides of San Jose Jr. Sharks U-18 in the fourth round; Jean-Laurence Beauchemin of Russel Stover U-18 in the ninth round; Brandon Russo of Salisbury Prep in the 14th round, and Zach Sarig of Philadelphia Jr. Flyers U-18 in the 16th round.

The goalie was Brandon Komm of Northfield Mt. Hermon in the 13th round.

The forwards taken were the Saad brothers; Dean Pawlaczyk of Traverse City North Stars and Michael Henderson of Surrey Eagles, both in the third round; Cody Strang of Madison Edgewood High School in the fifth round; Andrew Lamont of Philadelphia Jr. Flyers in the seventh round; Thane Heller of Gunnery Prep in the eighth round; Andy Huff of Honeybaked Midget AAA in the 12th round; Matt Harlow of Noble & Greenough Prep in the 17th round, and Tyler Rehm of Philadelphia Jr. Flyers in the 18th round.