Hopefuls include 6 with ties to Valley

June 22, 2012 at 12:03a.m.

Noreen

— NHL draft —

Several hockey players with Mahoning Valley connections are hoping to hear their names called this weekend when the NHL Draft is conducted at Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center.

It’s not likely any of them will be called tonight when the first round is conducted.

Anthony Noreen, head coach of the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League, said forward Austin Cangelosi, who was second on the team in scoring with 59 points, is the Phantom most likely to be drafted.

Others who might be selected include defenseman Chris Bradley who will play for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this fall and forward Dylan Margonari who will skate for Minnesota State-Mankato.

Noreen also said forward JT Stenglein, the Phantoms’ leading goal scorer in 2011-12, and goaltender Matt O’Connor could be selected.

Another possibility is goaltender Michael Houser who attended St. Charles School in Boardman before moving to Wexford, Pa., 10 years ago. Houser’s father, William, is an allergist with a practice in Boardman.

This season, Houser tended goal in 62 of 68 games for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He was honored as the OHL’s top goalie and Most Valuable Player.

Cangelosi made a splash during his season in Youngstown, scoring 29 goals, making 30 assists and finishing plus-18 in even-strength goals.

“His biggest asset is his hockey sense,” said Noreen of Cangelosi. “He sees the game at such a high level, his skating is above average.”

Before the USHL playoffs began, Hockey Prospectus ranked Cangelosi as the 49th-best prospect. Cangelosi’s overtime goal against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders where he backhanded the puck out of the air was an Internet sensation and may have spiked some extra interest.

Noreen says Margonari, a three-year Phantom, was the team’s best two-way player with “elite skating ability.”

A solid penalty killer, Margonari was fourth on the team in scoring with 41 points and finished +12.

Bradley played 54 games, scoring 21 points and was plus-8.

In his second season in Youngstown, O’Connor was a workhorse, appearing in 50 of the 60 games. O’Connor won 28 games, a franchise record.

Although Houser lives about 30 minutes away from downtown Pittsburgh, the 19-year-old goalie said he will not go to the arena unless drafted.

Before the past two NHL drafts, Houser was projected to be selected. Both times he was passed over.

“Going into it, there are no guarantees in being drafted,” Houser said. “It’s human nature to be disappointed and I’ve been through it twice. So I’m trying not to expect too much.

“If I am drafted, it will be a great accomplishment,” said Houser who estimated it would take him 25 minutes to get to the arena to meet his new team’s executives.