Jack Hextall, center, stands with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, left, and former Calgary Flames player Lanny McDonald after being drafted by the Calgary Flames during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 26, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

After the 2026 NHL Draft, Youngstown Phantom fans should acquaint themselves with the Calgary Flames.

After all, out of the three Phantoms selected over the weekend in Buffalo, the Flames took two of them.

Jack Hextall and Tobias Trejbal were selected in the first and second rounds by the Flames, respectively. Becoming friends in Youngstown, the pair hope to soon call Calgary home.

Ranked as high as the 19th overall prospect by The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari, there was a lot of talk that Hextall would be selected Friday night. Calgary made that happen, taking Hextall at 30th overall.

He’s the first player since Kyle Connor (2015) to get selected in the first round after spending his draft season in Youngstown.

“I kind of told my Dad before Calgary was up, ‘That’s probably my last chance for tonight,'” Hextall told CalgaryFlames.com. “So then I got picked and I was super excited. Just a dream come true. It was just really nice to hug your family after hearing your name called.”

Hextall was raised in the Chicago suburbs, but comes from a Canadian father, Cory, who came to the States to play hockey for the University of Illinois-Chicago. They have family in the Calgary area, so the prospect of playing in Canada is an exciting one.

“I’m half-Canadian, so I think it’d be pretty sick,” Hextall said. “All the fans in Canada are awesome, and they love hockey, so that’d be awesome.”

The next step of Hextall’s journey to the NHL begins this fall at Michigan State University, where he’ll join fellow 2026 first-rounder Chase Reid (Seattle Kraken) on the Spartans’ roster.

Trejbal didn’t have to wait long Saturday to join his teammate.

Calgary ensured its chance to take the 6-foot-4 netminder, sending picks 51 and 68 to Carolina, to select Trejbal in the second round, at pick No. 42.

Watching the draft with his family from his home in Czechia, and a rough idea of the teams who would likely select him, the screen froze right as Calgary was on the clock.

A nerve-wracking moment quickly turned joyous as his phone began to ring. First from his agent, then from Flames senior goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet, one of Trejbal’s biggest advocates in Calgary’s war room.

It didn’t take long for he and Hextall to talk either.

“We made a bet of who would be drafted earlier,” Trejbal told CalgaryFlames.com. “It’s funny we got drafted by the same team. I just talked to him and we were laughing about it. He won. He was earlier. But it doesn’t matter – it’s just a number.”

Trejbal will suit up for the University of Massachusetts Amherst this season.

Michigan-born Evan Jardine turned into Mr. Ohio as the Phantoms forward — bound for Ohio State in the fall — was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the fourth round, 121st overall.

While Friday night was one of anxiety and uncertainty, Saturday was a day of elation for the left-shot forward. Jardine was at the draft in Buffalo, and was a decision he doesn’t regret.

“I didn’t really sleep much the night before, just kind of tossing and turning a little bit, nervous about what was gonna happen. There’s just so much uncertainty, but I think I’m really glad that I went, and I think it was an exciting experience for me and my family, just a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Jardine said. “You’re nervous the whole time, but once your name finally gets called, it’s like a weight off the shoulders, and you’re really excited. I don’t think I stopped smiling for two hours after that.”

Jardine joins a glut of Phantoms already in the Blue Jackets’ prospect pool. Andrew Strathmann (2022-24), Melvin Strahl (2024-25), James Fisher (2022-23) and William Whitelaw (2021-23) are all also in the Columbus system.

“They’ve kind of just shown me the ropes, and since they’ve been here a few years now, it’s nice to have someone that’s doing the same thing you’re doing,” Jardine said. “Coming in as a new guy, it’s awesome.”

The familiar faces don’t end there, as Jardine will also join a group of former Phantoms on Ohio State’s roster. He’s expected to play alongside Ryan Rucinski and Sascha Boumedienne.

While the college game is an adjustment, it’s one that Jardine thinks he’s ready to make.

“There’s not too big of a change, but just really the pace of play, I think is the biggest thing (I’ll have to get used to). And obviously improving my skating, just so that I’m ready for the jump,” Jardine said. “(The guys I talked to at development camp) just kind of say how fast it is and how everything happens so much quicker. I have to be on alert, and I think it’ll be good for me, because I think I’m a pretty smart player and can make plays, but I’ve just got to be able to get used to the pace.”

Additionally, Beckham Edwards, a Phantoms tender who opted to go to the OHL instead, was selected at pick No. 143 in the fifth round by the Detroit Red Wings. Three picks later, defenseman Eric Frossard, who played 21 games in Youngstown, was taken at 146 by the Anaheim Ducks.

PHANTOMS AT NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS

In addition to the five aforementioned players, several other players were invited to the following respective NHL team development camps.

CAMP INVITES

Boston Bruins — Cooper Simpson (F) (2025-26), Kyle Chauvette (G) (2020-22)

Buffalo Sabres — Ryan Rucinski (F) (2023-26), Matous Kucharcik (F) (2025-26), Luke Osburn (D) (2023-25)

Carolina Hurricanes — Charlie Cerrato (F) (2023-24)

Colorado Avalanche — Tory Pitner (D) (2022-24)

Los Angeles Kings — Louie Wehmann (F) (2024-25)

New York Islanders — Justin Kerr (F) (2024-25), Tomas Machu (D) (2021-2024)

Ottawa Senators — Brandon Svoboda (F) (2022-24)

Pittsburgh Penguins — Tiernan Shoudy (F) (2021-22)

Vancouver Canucks — Matthew Perkins (F) (2022-23)

Winnipeg Jets — Sascha Boumedienne (D) (2023-24)