United States Hockey League:
• No junior league in the world had more NHL Draft picks in 2015: USHL tied the WHL for the most NHL Draft picks with 37; in addition 10 USHL alumni were drafted in 2015
• Notable alumni Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin and Zach Werenski were all selected in the top-10 of the 2015 NHL Draft
• 95% of USHL players receive Division I college hockey opportunities
• The last 5 Hobey Baker winners are USHL graduates
• 11 of the last 14 NCAA Frozen Four MVPs are USHL graduates
• 17 teams located throughout the Midwest
• Junior league since 1979; USA Hockey designated the USHL as Tier I in 2001, America’s only Tier I junior hockey league
Pittsburgh Showcase
• The three USHL teams (Muskegon, Team USA and Youngstown) combined for 22 NHL Draft picks at the 2015 NHL Draft
• Of those 22 picks, 21 will play NCAA hockey next season, return to USHL, or signed NHL contracts
• 5 NHL Draft picks are on the three team rosters:
o Ryan Shea – Youngstown Phantoms (Chicago Blackhawks: 2015 4th round, 121st overall)
o Chase Pearson – Youngstown Phantoms (Detroit Red Wings: 2015 4th round, 140th overall)
o Matej Paulovic – Muskegon Lumberjacks (Dallas Stars: 2013 5th round, 149th overall)
o Joey Daccord – Muskegon Lumberjacks (Ottawa Senators: 2015 7th round, 199th overall)
o Ryan Bednard – Youngstown Phantoms (Florida Panthers: 2015 7th round, 206th overall)
Pittsburgh Penguins
• Pittsburgh has drafted 9 USHL players since 2004
• Pittsburgh has drafted a USHL player in three consecutive NHL Drafts
• 2014 NHL Draft pick Anthony Angello (Omaha Lancers) was 2013-14 Co-USHL Scholar of the Year with Alex Tuch (Team USA). Angello will play at Cornell University this season
• 2015 NHL Draft pick Nikita Pavlychev (Des Moines Buccaneers) played his youth hockey for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights
• 15 Pennsylvania Players currently in the USHL, including Austin Lemieux, son of Penguins legend Mario Lemieux (Omaha Lancers)
Youngstown Phantoms
• Owned by Stanley Cup Champion and former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Troy Loney
• Troy’s son Ty Loney played two seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms and is currently signed to an AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
• All-time leading scorer Kyle Connor was selected in the 1st round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets. Connor will play for the University of Michigan this season
• Recent Phantoms alumni signed to NHL contracts: Nathan Walker (2012-13) signed with Washington Capitals, Matt O’Connor (2010-12) signed with Ottawa Senators, Kole Sherwood (2014-15) signed with Columbus Blue Jackets, Andrej Sustr (2009-10) signed with Tampa Bay Lightning, and Jiri Sekac (2009- 11) is signed with the Anaheim Ducks
• First year head coach John Wroblewski was previously an Assistant Coach with the Rochester Americans (AHL)
• Youngstown will play a game this season at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on October 10, 2015