Youngstown Phantoms Hire Deskins, Kosecki as Co-GMs, VPs

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League and Black Bear Sports Group have hired Jason Deskins and Ryan Kosecki as co-general managers and co-vice presidents of hockey operations for the Phantoms. 

Deskins joins the Phantoms from his role as assistant general manager and director of scouting with the Omaha Lancers, also of the USHL. He joins the Phantoms after helping lead the Lancers to a second-place overall finish in the Western Conference in the 2021-21 season. Deskins previously was the assistant GM and head scout of the Black Bears and is also the current head coach of the Honeybaked Midget Minor program in Detroit where he has led the team to a national championship.

Kosecki is currently assistant general manager and scout for the Maryland Black Bears and will continue with the dual roles. He helped lead the Black Bears to the team’s first-ever playoff appearance, series win and appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals. Previously, he was an assistant coach with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. He also coaches the highly ranked Fox Motors 2005 team. 

The Phantoms also announced this week the installation of a new dedicated fitness and workout room in their home rink, the Covelli Center. This is the first full-time fitness facility in the history of the Phantoms. It will allow the players to enhance their development in the same building where they practice and play games.

“We wish to thank Coach Brad Patterson for the fine work he did the past two years while performing the role of head coach and general manager,” says Keith Primeau, president of hockey operations for the Phantoms. “We are thrilled to have Jason and Ryan on board so Brad can return full-time to coaching where he has achieved great success over the years for the Phantoms.” 

“Given our poor performance on the ice the past two years, particularly on the defensive end where we were consistently among the worst in the league, we felt we owed it to our players, fans and our whole organization to make meaningful changes to our staff, our recruiting team and our overall player development process,” said Murry N. Gunty, co-owner of the Phantoms and CEO of Black Bear Sports Group. “Jason and Ryan have achieved great success in both junior and youth hockey and we believe that they will do great things for the Phantoms going forward.”

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.