General | 12/12/2025 11:00:00 PM
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Former Youngstown Phantoms forward Trevor Kuntar made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, Dec. 12.
Kuntar played three seasons with the Phantoms, tallying 49 goals and 44 assists in 148 games from 2017-20. He was named to the All-USHL Second-Team after recording 28 goals and 25 assists in 44 games with the Phantoms during the 2019-20 season. He continued his career at Boston College, where he played three seasons, and played two full years in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Providence Bruins. He was playing with the Sabres’ affiliate, the Rochester Americans, when he received the call-up.
The Boston Bruins selected Kuntar in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft.
About the USHL
The United States Hockey League (USHL) and its 16 teams are committed to being the world’s leading 16–to 20-year-old junior hockey league. During the 2024-25 season, USHL alumni held over 50% of NCAA Division I roster spots, and over 25% of NHL players had USHL experience. With 10 first-round selections and 49 total picks in the 2024 NHL Draft, the USHL has developed the most draft choices of any junior hockey league since 2012.
Elevated through the recently announced Declaration of Excellence with the NHL and USA Hockey, the league’s player-first approach, including a 2:1 practice-to-game ratio and a schedule with 92% of games played on weekends, provides its players with the optimal environment for athletic and personal growth, creating pathways for the next generation of stars like Kyle Connor (Youngstown Phantoms), Macklin Celebrini (Chicago Steel), Matthew Knies (Tri-City Storm), Adam Fantilli (Chicago Steel) and Jeremy Swayman (Sioux Falls Stampede).
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