Draft | 6/10/2024 11:22:39 AM

The United States Hockey League takes a team-by-team look ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.
 
Six Youngstown Phantoms players were selected during the 2023 NHL Draft including: Martin Misiak at 55^th overall to the Chicago Blackhawks, William Whitelaw at 66th overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jacob Fowler at 69th overall by the Montreal Canadiens, Brandon Svoboda at 71st overall by the San Jose Sharks, Andrew Strathmann at 98th by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Matthew Perkins at 119th overall by the Vancouver Canucks.

The Phantoms have had 31 players selected in the NHL Draft since their first season in 2009-10 and the top overall pick during that span has been Kyle Connor, who was selected in the first round, 17^th overall, by Winnipeg in 2015.
 
Luke Osburn | Defenseman
Central Scouting Rank: #87
College Commitment: University of Wisconsin

In his rookie season in the USHL Osburn played 60 games for the Phantoms, scoring 8 goals, the most of any rookie defenseman, and 15 assists for 23 total points. Luke earned USHL Defenseman of the Week honors in Week 23 and was selected to play in the USA Hockey Chipotle All-American Game. Following his junior hockey career Luke is committed to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin.
 
Tory Pitner | Defenseman
Central Scouting Rank: #90
College Commitment: University of Denver

Tory Pitner has played two seasons with the Phantoms and was a part of their 2023 Clark Cup Championship team. Pitner played in 50 games for Youngstown this year and led all Phantoms blue-liners in scoring with 24 points (8G-16A). Pitner captained Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, won a Bronze Medal with Team USA at the World Junior "A" Challenge, was selected to play in the Chipotle All-American Game and earned USHL Defenseman of the Week honors in Week 6.  Following his junior hockey career Pitner is committed to play college hockey at the University of Denver.
 
Kuzma Voronin | Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #156
College Commitment: N/A

Voronin played six games for the Phantoms during the 2022-23 season racking up 4 goals and 1 assist in 5 games. He played the full 2023-24 season in Youngstown tallying 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 52 games played. The Yaroslavl, Russia native added a goal during the Phantoms 2024 playoff run, as well.
 
Charlie Cerrato | Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #175
College Commitment: Penn State University

Cerrato began his USHL career playing for the NTDP from 2021 – 2023. While playing for Team USA the Fallston, Maryland, native racked up 9 goals and 20 assists for 29 points in 54 games. Cerrato joined Youngstown for the 2023-24 season where he led the Phantoms in assists at 38 and added 12 goals on top of that for 50 points and a 1.11 PPG average. Cerrato was a member of the 2023 World Junior A Challenge team helping Team USA win a Bronze Medal. Following his junior hockey career Cerrato is committed to play college hockey at Penn State University.
 
The USHL has had 50-or-more players selected in each of the last six NHL Drafts, with a league-best 57 chosen in 2022 and 2018. In all the USHL has seen 1,041 of its players selected in total, including four first-overall picks, with at least one player taken in each draft but one dating back to 1981