Youngstown signs high-ceiling forward Jackson Conroy for 2026-27

Youngstown added another 2010-born cornerstone to its pipeline, signing Jackson Conroy to a USHL Standard Player Development Agreement for the 2026-27 season after selecting him 121st overall in the ninth round of the 2026 USHL Phase I Draft. The move fit the Phantoms’ recent pattern of securing younger talent early and giving it a runway inside an established junior program, rather than waiting for the market to tighten around a player with real upside.

Conroy, a Dorval, Quebec native born Aug. 13, 2010, brings the kind of production that makes that approach make sense. Elite Prospects lists him at 6-foot-1 and as a center, and says he most recently played for Bishop Kearney Selects 15U AAA. In 62 games there, he scored 33 goals and added 33 assists for 66 points, a balanced total that points to both finish and playmaking touch. He was also drafted 52nd overall by Rouyn-Noranda in the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft, a sign that major junior evaluators have already keyed in on his profile.

Youngstown sees more than numbers. Co-general manager Jason Deskins pointed to Conroy’s vision, offensive instincts, one-on-one ability and confidence with the puck, describing a player who can create scoring chances and raise the level of the skaters around him. That type of description matters for a team that is not just collecting prospects, but shaping them inside a program built on development. The Phantoms say their history includes more than 150 NCAA Division I commitments and 29 NHL draft picks, a résumé that gives credibility to the idea that Conroy’s best hockey may still be ahead of him.

The signing also says something about Youngstown’s timing. The 2026 USHL Phase I Draft, held May 4, was limited to 2010-born players, with each team making 15 selections and the order set by the previous regular season standings. Youngstown finished first in the USHL Eastern Conference in 2025-26 with 43 wins and 91 points, and it has already added other 2010-born players to SPDAs, including Jack Hair, Noah Drouin and Nikita Oleksiienko. Conroy now joins that group as one of the organization’s more intriguing young bets, with training camp next and a clear path to turn raw scoring ability into a USHL contributor.