Phantoms acquire defensemen in trade

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms acquired defensemen Michael Callahan and Jason Smallidge from the Central Illinois Flying Aces in exchange for forward Alex Barber and defensemen Andrew Petrillo and Zach Metsa in a trade Wednesday.

In addition to the current players involved in the trade, the Phantoms have acquired forward prospect and affiliate player Gabe Malek and Central Illinois’ second-round selection in the 2018 Phase 2 USHL Draft. Central Illinois receives prospect defensemen and affiliate player Brandon Cimino along with the Phantoms’ first-round pick in the 2018 Phase 2 USHL Draft.

Callahan hails from Franklin, Mass., and is in first season in the USHL after a successful career at Roxbury Latin Prep School in the Boston area. Callahan is committed to Providence College and participated in both the USA Hockey Top Prospects Game in Buffalo, N.Y. in September and most recently last month in Kearney, Neb. at the USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game with fellow Phantoms Curtis Hall, Max Ellis, Ivan Prosvetov, and Samuel Salonen. Callahan is 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and is a left shot.

Smallidge is in his second season in the USHL and played previously at St. Thomas Academy in Minnesota. The 6-2, 190-pound right shot had a 1-1-2 line in 23 games this season for the Flying Aces and was the club’s first round pick (13th overall) in the 2016 USHL Phase 2 Draft. He is originally from Eagan, Minn. and is committed to play college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

The 6-0, 200-pound Malek is from Wallingford, Pa., and was the Flying Aces’ sixth-round pick (86th overall) in the 2017 Phase I USHL Draft. Malek played last season with the Philadelphia Junior Flyers U16 team and this season is playing with Belle Tire’s U16 team based in Detroit. Malek is currently uncommitted to a college and will be placed on the Phantoms’ Affiliate List.