Staff file photo / Brian Yauger Phantoms forward Ryan Rucinski awaits a pass during a December game against Muskegon last season. Rucinski will be the team’s captain this season.

For years, college-bound hockey players were just that. They couldn’t attend rookie camps in the fall, and if they wanted to attend development camps in the weeks following the draft, they’d have to pay their way through. Any sort of financial help could jeopardize their college eligibility.

With the NCAA loosening restrictions on eligibility over the last few seasons, USHL players who have been drafted by NHL teams now have plenty of opportunities to work with the teams that drafted them, and, in the case of Madison’s Caleb Heil (Tampa Bay Lightning), even play in preseason games.

Phantoms forwards Ryan Rucinski and Cooper Simpson, draft picks of the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, respectively, both took part in the Prospects Challenge earlier in the month. Rucinski took part alongside now-teammate Matous Kucharcik, who joined the Phantoms this season.

“That was a super fun experience to be there with the team and wear the jersey and play a couple games,” Rucinski said. “It was awesome. I’m obviously really grateful that we were able to do that being in the USHL this year, and it’s definitely an experience I’m going to remember for forever and was super grateful.”

It’s been a big month for the Ohio State-bound forward, as Rucinski was also named the Phantoms’ captain for the 2025-26 season. It’s an experience he’s excited for, and one the prior captains have helped prepare him for.

“Definitely, super excited to take on a bigger leadership role this year,” Rucinski said. “We’ve got a lot of guys on this team that can help lead, but I think it’ll be a great kind of experience for me.

“With (Andrew Strathmann) and Coleson (Hanrahan) last year, those were two great leaders that helped me. “When I was a younger guy, (Strathmann) kind of brought me under his wing, helped me out a lot that season, and then Coleson last year was just an unbelievable leader. He was actually my roommate, so I learned a lot from him being at the rink and at home with him.”

Dynamic forward Cooper Simpson, who already has four points in two games this season (ONE goal, 3 assists), spent time with the Bruins this offseason.

“It was awesome,” Simpson said. “I’m super grateful for that opportunity, but you’re playing against college kids or kids that signed an NHL or AHL deal or have played in those leagues. You kind of look up to those kids, but you gotta realize you’re in the moment competing with them, so you take off what they give and what you learn from them, but you also got to showcase yourself and when you bring to the table.”

During the tournament, Simpson played alongside Riley Duran (2018-19, 2020-21), who got him ready for the Youngstown experience, but having played against Youngstown a handful of times over the last two seasons, Simpson knew what he was getting into.

“Obviously, they’re super skilled every year, but they also have a mentality that works super hard and also gets better every day,” Simpson said about playing against the Phantoms in the past. “They’re also super gritty, so they always put you on your toes. You never know what’s going to come at you.”

This year, he’s looking to grow as a player, but most importantly, he’s looking to win hockey games.

“Obviously, I want to win as many games as we can and make a playoff push and hopefully win the Clark Cup. That’s my goal,” Simpson said. “But also I just want to have a good year and grow my game into a 200-foot player and also just grow as a person and just be a better player all-around.”

Former Phantoms Shane Lachance and Jack Malone also participated in the Prospects Challenge, representing the New Jersey Devils, as well as Chase Pietila, who represented the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Other former Phantoms who participated in rookie activities with their respective NHL teams include Martin Misiak (Chicago), Trey Taylor (Dallas Stars), Adam Benak (Minnesota Wild), Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens), and David Gucciardi (Washington Capitals).

It’s not just players who are getting the benefits. Phantoms coach Ryan Ward attended the Sabres’ development camp over the summer with Rucinski, Kucharick, and former Phantoms defenseman Luke Osburn.

For a program determined to produce as many professional-caliber hockey players as they can, getting up close with an NHL team is the best way to do it.

“More than anything, like, forget the on-ice stuff, I think philosophically-speaking, it’s important to see different people about what they do or how they view player development, or what they look for in junior hockey players coming into those camps, how they run the training camp, or even making the translation from junior to college to pro and how they run their day-to-day, what they expect their players that are playing junior hockey to do and what’s important to them,” Ward said. “Any real insight into how things are going and how I can help, we can help prepare our guys to take that next step. At the end of the day, we’re here to promote our players to the next level and make sure they’re ready, and I think anytime you get a peek behind the curtain is important.”

NEXT UP

Sitting at 2-0-0-0 after the Fall Classic, the Phantoms kick off a two-game weekend set against the US National Team Development Program tonight. They stay on the road the weekend after against rival Muskegon and return to Youngstown on Oct. 10 to open a series against Cedar Rapids.