Phantoms draft 2 defenders, 6 forwards

May 5, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Youngstown

The Youngstown Phantoms took their another step in replacing the 13 players departing from this year’s regular-season championship team by drafting eight players in Monday’s 10-round USHL Phase I draft.

The Phantoms surrendered their first-round selection Sunday when forward Jacob Tortora signed a tender to join the team for the 2015-16 season.

Tortora, who already has committed to Boston College, is a 5-foot-6 forward from Victor, N.Y. He scored 68 points last season for the Don Mills Flyers Minor Midget program in Toronto.

“Jacob Tortora is one of the top 1999-born players in the country,“ said Phantoms assistant general manager Jason Koehler. “Jacob will have no problem making a smooth adjustment into our lineup and will provide immediate offense.”

The Phantoms drafted two defensemen and six forwards.

Defenseman Jack Rathbone, of West Roxbury, Mass., was taken in the second round. He played for Dexter Prep last season, scoring seven points in 31 games.

The other defender is Chris Trouba of Auburn Hills, Mich., a fifth-round pick who skated for Compuware. His brother Jacob is a defenseman for the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets.

Brad Cocca of Mississauga, Ont., was taken in the fourth round. The Harvard recruit was a teammate of Tortora and scored 69 points in 61 games.

James O’Brien of Hingham, Mass., was taken in the sixth round. The 6-0, 180-pound forward was a teammate of Rathbone at Dexter Prep.

Also selected were: Craig Needham, Medford, Mass.; Simon Boyko, Mississauga, Ont.; Neil Shea, Marshfield, Mass.; and Quinn Martin, Sante Fe, N.M.