NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There wasn’t much of a party Thursday in Level Green.

That’s because a significant portion of the small community in western Westmoreland County was celebrating in the Music City.

Brandon Svoboda, who graduated from Penn-Trafford barely a month ago, took his first steps towards his career choice Thursday when he was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the third round (No. 71 overall) during the NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena.

The self-described two-way centerman was largely at a loss in trying to explain the moment.

But the bright, gleaming smile he offered spoke volumes.

“I don’t even know what I’m feeling,” said Svoboda, a center with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL). “Words can’t even describe it. I’m just so excited to share this moment with my family and friends that came along. I’m just so excited to be part of the Sharks organization.”

The Sharks were pretty eager to get Svoboda in their midst as they traded up in order to select him. They dealt the 94th (third round) and 100th (fourth round) overall selections in order to take Svoboda.

“Looking at a player like Svoboda, who really took big steps the second half of the year, we really like his development path,” Sharks director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse said via conference call. “We really like where he started (and) where he ended up. For a guy like him, if you wait around and try and wait and hope you’ll get guys, I feel like in my past experience, you miss on him.

“In our opinion, it’s a low risk/high reward (selection) because we’re really excited about Brandon.”

Svoboda, who got into dek hockey in Murrysville and then took up skating in Delmont before joining the Penguins Elite program, wasn’t caught off guard by the Sharks’ aggressive maneuvering.

“I wouldn’t say surprised,” Svoboda said. “I believe in my abilities.”

A sturdy 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, the right-hander has the skating ability of a smaller man.

“If you’re an NHL team and you see a 6-foot-3 centerman that can skate like the wind and has very good skill and competes like he does, that’s a very, very exciting prospect,” Phantoms coach Ryan Ward told the Tribune-Review in May.

During the 2022-23 season, Svoboda appeared in 59 games and had 26 points (16 goals, 10 assists) while helping the Phantoms win the Clark Cup, the first championship in the history of the franchise.

In addition to Svoboda, six of his Phantom teammates were selected during the draft including forward William Whitelaw, who, while wearing his Columbus Blue Jackets jersey, crashed in on Svoboda’s media availability and gave him a big hug.

— Youngstown Phantoms (@YtownPhantoms) June 29, 2023

Along with Svoboda and Whitelaw, Phantoms forward Martin Misiak (Chicago Blackhawks), goaltender Jacob Fowler (Montreal Canadiens), defenseman Andrew Stratman (Blue Jackets) and forward Matthew Perkins (Vancouver Canucks) heard their names called Thursday.

“It shows how great of an organization Youngstown is and how much work we put in every single day,” Svoboda said. “Obviously, it pays off winning the Clark Cup and getting drafted by a high-class organization.”

Svoboda is slated to return to the Phantoms for the 2023-24 season and then attend Boston University beginning with the 2024-25 campaign. So his route to the NHL will take some time.

“Obviously, Boston (University) is a pretty high-end school,” Svoboda said. “They put a lot of guys in the NHL.”

Like a lot of hockey players from Western Pennsylvania, Svoboda’s interest came from a common source.

“Sidney Crosby,” Svoboda said. “Obviously, being a hometown kid from Pittsburgh, growing up playing in the ‘Little Penguins’ program with him, getting a bunch of free gear from head to toe, just watching him, the way he leads off the ice, he’s just an incredible dude.”

Svoboda’s celebration Thursday was nothing short of incredible.

“As soon as they announced my name, I couldn’t believe it,” Svoboda said. “I’m so excited. I don’t even have any words to describe anything right now.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)