Phantoms make 30 selections in two USHL drafts

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

This week, the Youngstown Phantoms hockey team made 30 selections as the USHL conducted two drafts.

The first eight picks came on Monday during Phase 1 of the 2014 USHL Draft.

Defenseman Ty Farmer, who was tendered last month, was the first pick.

Four forwards, two defensemen and one goaltender were the other selections.

Forward Grant Cruikshank, who played last season for the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals U16 team, was the second pick. Defenseman Alec Mahalak of Detroit Compuware U16, was taken third.

“The first steps that you go by to build a team, when you come into the futures draft, is to get the best prospects,” said Jason Koehler, the Phantoms director of scouting and player personnel.

Koehler said these selections might not make the team for two seasons.

“For the most part, we are saying at least a year down the line before we see these guys with us,” Koehler said.

In the Phase 1 stage of the USHL draft, only players born in the year 1998 are eligible. When a team drafts a player, it maintains the rights to that player for three years and can add him to the active roster at any time during the season.

In Tuesday’s Phase 2 draft, the Phantoms added 22 players to their protected list.

Every team’s protected list includes players drafted in both phases, affiliate players from the past season and players who were tendered.

“Step one is to take a look at our veteran status on the team, and put the puzzle together that way,” Koehler said. “It’s also important to look at our affiliate list and see if we have areas covered.

“Then we focus on immediate needs with this draft and hopefully get an idea for rights and retention on certain players.”

Draftees will be invited to the Phantoms’ tryout camp from June 11-15 at The Ice Zone in Boardman. At the end of camp, head coach Anthony Noreen will selected 23 players for the fall roster.