Men's Ice Hockey | 4/22/2026 12:00:00 PM
The Youngstown Phantoms have signed Austin Hall, a 5’10”, 165-pound forward from Honeybaked 15U AAA to a United States Hockey League (USHL) tender agreement for the 2026-27 season.
Hall led his Honeybaked squad with 69 goals and 117 assists in 89 games last season. Additionally, the forward from Livonia, Mich. had 16 goals and 22 assists in the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) this year, tallying nine points in three MAHA playoff games. Last year, Hall had 46 goals and 88 assists in 70 AAA games for Honeybaked 14U and 32 points in 21 MAHA games.
“Austin is a high-end offensive player who has proven he can perform and produce in the biggest moments,” said Phantoms co-General Manager Jason Deskins. “His ability to create offense, his instincts with the puck and his competitiveness make him a great fit for how we want to play. We’re excited about his future and what he brings to our group.”
The USHL tender process allows teams to sign up to two 2010 birth-year players in exchange for their first- and second-round picks in the 2026 USHL Phase I Draft. As a result of their tender signing this year, the Phantoms forfeit their first-round pick in Phase I of the USHL Draft. Each tendered player will join their respective team's roster the next season and play at least 55% of the team's regular-season games.
Hall is the tenth player to sign a USHL Phase I tender agreement this season. Previously signed tenders include: Dominik Bednar (Sioux City Musketeers), Zaac Charbonneau (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Dominik Stefan Domonkos (Tri-City Storm), Liam Fournier (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Blake Wilichoski (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Chris Pinko (Des Moines Buccaneers), Matty Lynn (Omaha Lancers), Quinn Kaiser (Madison Capitols), and Dylan Delgado (Sioux Falls Stampede).
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world's leading junior hockey league. This season, more than 50% of NCAA Division I men's hockey players and nearly 25% of NHL players have USHL experience. The USHL has developed more than 285 direct NHL Draft picks since 2020, and eight of the last 10 Hobey Baker Award winners, including Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel).
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league's player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 90% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Auston Matthews (NTDP), Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede), and Johnny Gaudreau (Dubuque Fighting Saints).