Staff file photo / Brian Yauger. Phantoms forward Jesse Orlowsky looks for the puck during a game last season at the Covelli Centre.

When traded to Youngstown last year, forward Jesse Orlowsky had a lot to learn.

While it was his second season in the USHL, not counting a two-game stint in 2023-24, his rookie year in Waterloo was hampered by a knee injury.

As such, Orlowsky spent a lot of his first season in Youngstown trying to recover and reacclimate to the game.

“It was a lot of learning, a lot of ups and downs, but I think I did finish the season pretty strong,” Orlowsky said. “I played with and around some really good players, so I learned, learned a ton, which was really good for me.

“(In my rookie year) I had to get knee surgery, so I played about 25 games. I had a little feel for the league, but I was just getting over that hump of getting fully comfortable.”

Entering year two with the Phantoms, however, Orlowsky is poised for a breakout year. At the team’s main camp, the 6-foot-3 forward from Brooklyn shined.

“Jesse’s one of probably the brightest spots (at the team’s main camp),” Phantoms head coach Ryan Ward said. “He had a really hard year. He had to reinvent himself a little bit, he had to work on his body, and I think the amount of maturity that he’s shown is exactly why you don’t give up on people. Jesse was outstanding at camp, (one of the) top three forwards (we had there). The guys respect him, he’s worked his ass off so far this summer and you can tell he was outstanding. I think Jesse coming back is going to play a role in leadership, and he’s poised to have a significant jump in production.

“He’s such a good kid, and honestly, I’m so proud of him with how hard he worked, and you just see how he’s developed as a human being on and off the ice. His commitment to his off-ice training, you can already see. I’m super proud of Jesse. He deserves a ton of credit, great family, and we’re excited that you know he’s back here, and he’s taken a big step.”

At camp, Orlowsky noted that his comfort level had increased quite a bit compared to last season. Now that he doesn’t feel like he’s still learning the ropes of the league, Orlowsky can get back to just playing hockey.

“I’m at that comfort level that every hockey player kind of looks forward to here, so it’ll be definitely a little lighter on me,” he said. “It’ll be nicer to kind of just fully play, have a lot of fun and not worry about those other things, where it’s learning how to play (in a new system), who the coaching staff is, learning about the new players and stuff like that. It should be a really enjoyable time and a good experience for me to play hockey the way I know how to play hockey.”

Orlowsky’s physical-power forward skillset is one that’s going to be relied upon more this season.

Off the ice, Orlowsky will also be relied on as a veteran. Having gone through an adjustment period last year, he knows as well as anyone how to manage the ebbs and flows of a season.

“I want to get my body physically ready, get my skill level up there, build confidence, just like be prepared for the next level and have some fun,” Orlowsky said. “I really enjoy playing hockey and want to try to be the best player out there every time.

“(As a leader) I think the biggest thing for me is to be myself and be a good person. I’m obviously a little older than some of these kids, so they’re routinely just going to look up to me. I try to play the right way, work hard and set a standard for everyone else. It’s pretty simple. Be true to yourself, be true to everyone else. I know the standard that Youngstown looks for, so I just do my best to replicate it, be a good person to everyone and set a nice example for the kids younger than me.”

Orlowsky is committed to Harvard for the 2027-28 season. With his jump to college looming, Orlowsky wants to get the most out of this year in Youngstown.

“(I’m looking forward to) playing at the Covelli Centre and playing for those fans that we owe a lot to,” he said. “Last year should have been a lot better towards the end, and I think there’s a lot more we can give. I believe in our team this year, or what it will be, and I think it’ll be a really enjoyable time, just being the best players we could be and winning for those fans that we owe a lot to.”