Past, Present and Future @YTownPhantoms Selected to Top Prospect Game

Forty-two players were selected to participate in the 2014 CCM/USAHockey All-American Prospects game to be held in late September. Among those selected were three current Phantoms and one Phantoms alum.

This is a huge honor as the prospect game gathers some of American hockey's top-talent to showcase their games in front of scouts from all around, including the NHL. All the players selected to participate are potential early-round NHL Draft picks.



Phantoms players selected to participate this year include standouts Kyle Connor and Chase Pearson, affliliate goaltender Ryan Bednard and former Phantom Steven Ruggiero.

Connor

You'll recall that Kyle Connor was selected to represent Team USA in the IIHF Under 18 World Championships earlier this year with the red, white and blue winning the gold medal in that event. The Phantoms' top scoring foward also earned himself a spot at the National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid just last month.

Connor's 2013-14 season saw him break the all-time Phantoms single season high-water mark for points, recording 31 goals and 43 assists. His 74 points beat out the previous franchise leader, Mike Ambrosia, who had notched 65 in the 2011-12 season. 

Fellow forward Chase Pearson hasn't been seen much in a Phantoms uniform, having only been added to the team's roster for the final two games of last season. That's not to say he hasn't earned his spot, which he certainly has. At 16, Pearson was able to put up 8 goals, adding 15 assists for the Cornwall Colts (CCHL) before being selected by the Phantoms in the Phase I USHL Entry Draft in 2013.

Pearson

Pearson is no stranger to individual accolades, either. The Phantoms in selecting him, recieved a player that won team MVP honors at the 2011 Bauer Youth Hockey tournament held in Chicago, IL. The then-Atlanta Fire member was among some 7,000 youth hockey players participating at that annual event.

Goaltender Ryan Bednard, a Phantoms affiliate-list player, is one of only three goaltenders that were chosen to participat in this year's event. The 6'4" goalie has posted solid numbers throughout his youth, tallying GAAs under 2.00 and save percentages over .900 in both seasons in which he played in more than 10 games.

Ruggiero

While defenseman Steven Ruggiero no longer wears the purple and orange, his 41 game performance in 2013-14 and his selection to the USHL's US National Team Development Program speaks volumes about his talent. Ruggiero notched 5 points in that campaign for the Phantoms while only taking 22 minutes in penalties. Scouts have taken notice of the Penn State commit's disciplined play and rewarded him accordingly.

Congratulations to each of the players!