Three Youngstown Phantoms draft picks were selected to play for USA Hockey at the 2022 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament August 9-13 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Center Drew DellaSalla and defensemen Finn McLaughlin and Tory Pitner made the U.S. Under-17 Men's Select Team that will compete against Czechia, Germany, Slovakia and Switzerland in the annual tournament.
The three Phantoms draft picks earned the right to represent the red, white and blue based on their play at the USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp the past week in Amherst, N.Y. The six-day showcase featured the top 2006-born players in the United States.
DellaSalla, from Rye, N.Y., had six goals in the camp, including one in Wednesday's All-Star Game. He was the organization's third round pick in the 2022 USHL Phase I Draft. The Mid Fairfield Junior Rangers product scored seven goals and 25 assists in 30 games played for Brunswick School in prep hockey during the 2021-22 season.
McLaughlin had a goal in the camp, but was consistently noticeable in terms of breaking pucks out of his own end and walking the blue line in the attacking zone. The dual citizen played for the Windy City Storm 15O in 2021-22, scoring 15 goals and 32 assists in 75 games. McLaughlin was drafted by Youngstown in the second round of Phase I with the 24th overall pick.
Pitner, Youngstown's first round pick in Phase I, scored two goals during the Select 16 camp. From El Cerrito, Calif., Pitner played mistake-free hockey and impressed with his skating, size and hockey sense. Pitner played the 2021-22 season for South Kent Selects Academy, scoring 11 goals and 31 assists in 53 games.
The 2022 USA Hockey Select 16 Player Development Camp showcased the organization's talent and depth at the 2006 birth year. Ten Youngstown picks were at the camp, including the three who made the team for the Five Nations Tournament. Forward Brecken Smith and defenseman Luke Osburn joined the aforementioned trio in the All-Star Game. Forwards Easton Jacobs, Ryan Rucinski and Grant Young, and defensemen Evan Sofikitis and Landon Stringfellow were also at the camp.
