Jack Phelan is on a long road in his hockey career, one that he hopes will include a Red Wings sweater in his future.
Phelan, 19, was a fifth-round pick of the Red Wings in this year’s draft and has already committed to play college hockey at Wisconsin.
A Second Season in the USHL
But the 6-2, 185-pound defenseman had a year in Sioux City in the USHL first.
“The plan was always to play two years in the USHL,” Phelan said.
“I’m sure there’s a chance for me to go this year (at Wisconsin). But when I committed to play for Wisconsin, I always had a two-year plan. I think it’s good to come back and have a year of experience under my belt and, you know, grow as a player.
Red Wings director of amateur scouting and assistant general manager Kris Draper said adding strength is a key part of Phelan’s development.
“For 17- and 18-year-olds, that’s a common theme for a lot of these boys,” he said. (Phelan’s) going to play another junior year, going to school. This gives him time to do exactly what he needs to do and that is to gain strength.
Phelan will look to be more of an offensive presence in Sioux City this season after recording just one goal and four assists in 59 games last season.
“I want to be bigger, stronger, faster,” he said. “The guys are getting better and better every year. I have obviously need to be more offensive and find holes to jump and, um, you know, join the rush and, uh, be more active on the blue line.
A Hockey Family
Phelan is a native of Hinsdale, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, where he played travel hockey with twin brother Danny.
“It was super cool,” said Jack Phelan. “Obviously lucky to play with a twin and to be able to play at a high level is also good.”
Danny Phelan will play for Buffalo Jr. Sabers this winter. Both are defensemen, as is the younger brother, Michael, who will play for Waterloo of the USHL this summer before starting his college career at Arizona State next year.
Last year was Jack Phelan’s first away from home, which took some getting used to as well as moving from Chicago to South Dakota.
“I love it,” he said. “It’s a little slower paced than Chicago, but hockey is a real growing game there. I like it there. Um, you know, my teammates are great, the coaches are great and my billets are great. So, yeah, definitely, looking forward to going back there soon. “
Early Impressions of the Red Wings
Phelan made an impression on Red Wings scouts early.
“Kevin Gibson and Mark Mullin, it’s a right-shot D that they want to hop on right away,” Draper said. “They keep talking about him. He really needs to get stronger but he’s smart, he’s got a little bit of size, he moves well. He is a wise protector. That’s what our guys want. I’ve seen him too and that’s how they describe him and that’s who he is.
Draper and other Red Wings brass got a chance to see Phelan at a prospect camp last month.
“It was super cool,” Phelan said. “You’ve got Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper, Dan Cleary and Nick Kronwall there. It’s great to talk to them. You can learn so much from a camp like that in just five days.”
Training camp in Sioux Falls is about a month away. In the interim Phelan has been going to the gym, skating two days a week and working on sharpening and developing skills that he hopes will lead to a winged tire on his chest in the future.