Phantoms add four in USHL futures draft

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms selected four skaters in Tuesday’s United States Hockey League Futures Draft.

The draft pool was made up of the top 1996-born players.

Prior to the draft, the Phantoms surrendered their second and third-round picks when they tendered offers to forwards Kyle Connor and JJ Piccinich.

With their first-round pick Tuesday night, the Phantoms selected defenseman Brandon Carlo from the Under-16 AAA Colorado Thunderbirds with the 12th overall pick.

“We’re thrilled with the draft,” director of player personnel Jason Koehler said. “To get two of the best forwards in this birth class before the draft even began was a great start.

“Then getting Carlo — a big, pro-style defenseman for down the road — in the first round was very valuable.”

In the fourth round, the Phantoms took forward Bryan Lemos from the U16 Rhode Island Saints with the 37th overall pick. The Phantoms returned to bolstering their blue line in the fifth round by selecting defenseman Shawn Brennan from the U16 AAA Cleveland Barons.With their final pick, the Phantoms took Selects Hockey Academy U16 forward Anthony Siderio in the sixth round (67th overall).