Youngstown, Ohio­­­---The Youngstown Phantoms are proud to announce the signing of 2008-born forward Jack Hextall to a tender agreement. His signing will officially be marked as Youngstown's 2^nd round draft selection in the upcoming 2024 USHL Phase I Draft.
 
Hextall, a 5'11", 173-pound right-handed center from Rolling Meadows, IL has played 50 games for the second-ranked (Hockey Power Ratings) Chicago Mission 15-only team, helping them to a 47-7 record. In those contests, Hextall has amassed 24 goals and 48 assists for 72 points. In 2022-2023, Hextall skated in 58 games for the Windy City Storm U14, scoring 32 goals and 61 assists for 93 points. Hextall has long been considered one of the best American-born prospects in the 2008 birth year, attending the 2023 USA Hockey Select 15 Player Development Camp.
 
Head Coach Ryan Ward shared his enthusiasm on the Phantoms inking Hextall to a tender:

    Jack is one of the best 2008-born hockey players in the world. We are thrilled to have Jack and the entire Hextall family join our program. Jack is a player who plays a complete 200-foot game. He is     smart, drives plays, sees the ice extremely well, and is a dual-threat who can pass or shoot. He is a powerful skater with a competitive drive and will to win that is exceptional. He's a leader and will     be a perfect fit to put on the Phantom jersey. We are ecstatic that Jack chose to play in Youngstown and look forward to him continuing to make Youngstown the premiere place to play junior hockey     in the world.

From Hextall on his signing with the Phantoms:

    I'm very humbled and excited for the opportunity to play for Youngstown. I love everything about the organization, from the ownership, to the staff, to the players, and everything in between. My     visit to Youngstown exemplified how much of a family the organization is and how much commitment goes into being one of the best developers in the USHL. I'm excited to play for an organization     that believes in me and I look forward to being a part of the family. I can't wait to be a Phantom.

Hextall is the 13^th tender signing in team history, joining Little Caesars 15-Only center Beckham Edwards, who tendered with the Phantoms last month. Youngstown used two tenders last season, bringing Sascha Boumedienne and Zach Morin into the fold. Each USHL team is permitted the use of two tender signings per season, trading in their use of a draft pick from either Round 1 or Round 2 in the USHL Phase I draft that would follow the season.
 
The Phantoms are back at the Covelli Centre to host the Omaha Lancers tonight, Friday January 5^th.  Get your tickets to see these future STARS by calling (330) 747-PUCK!
 
Youngstown's Phase I Tender History (Draft Year)
2012: Kyle Connor, JJ Piccinich
2014: Ty Farmer
2015: Jacob Tortora
2016: Curtis Hall, Max Ellis
2017: Trevor Kuntar
2018: Ben Schoen
2019: Davis Codd
2023: Sascha Boumedienne, Zach Morin
2024: Beckham Edwards, Jack Hextall