Photo Credit: Neutralzone.net
Owen McLaughlin is a local product as he is from Phoenixville, PA. He started the year playing for Mount St. Charles, where he posted 16 goals, and 38 assists in 34 games played. McLaughlin did manage to play the US National team in the USDP where failed to register a point. For his efforts, he was drafted by the Flyers in the seventh round in 2021, and he will be making his Flyers Developmental Camp debut in a few weeks.
Flyers Developmental Camp will be like a homecoming of sorts for this local product. This young 18-year-old in McLaughlin is committed to Sioux City in the USHL for the 2021-22 season, and he will play for Penn State University in 2022-23.
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McLaughlin knows that he is ways away from making an imprint with the orange and black, but the Flyers have gone down the high school route before with drafting Noah Cates in 2017. He likes to shoot, and does it well. Now it’s time to become a solid two-way player, and hopefully he is able to do that with the Sioux.
“He’s a talented kid at the high school level. Obviously he’s going to have a little bit longer path. But a highly skilled kid at that level, going to have to put on some weight and get stronger. He’s going to a good place obviously close by here, and we’re excited to see where he can get to.” – Flyers Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr
This hometown native in McLaughlin lit it up for Mount St. Charles Academy U18 AAA in 2020-21 where he tallied 16 goals, and registered 38 assists for a total of 54 points in 33 games played. He has committed to Penn State University for the 2022-23 season, but this season it appears he will continue to play for USNTDP team in the USHL.Â
McLaughlin is a highly skilled forward that leaves defenders in the dust. His stickhandling is one of his best attributes, and he sees the ice very well. McLaughlin is a good playmaking Center that can play the Wing if need be.
“Tom Minton from our office (director of analytics and hockey information) covers a lot of the Boston and New England area and saw him at Mount Saint Charles. The fact that he’s from this area is even better. He’s going to Sioux City next year in the USHL and then to Penn State. Making the jump from the high school level. He’s going to have to put on weight and get stronger. I know (Penn State head coach) Guy Gadowski very well. When guys come out of there, they’re bigger and stronger. So he’s going to a good place. Obviously, it’s close by to here, and we’re excited to see where he can get to.”– Brent Flahr
In reality McLaughlin can take his time with his development. The window for him would be 5-6 years, as he is coming right out of high school primarily. McLaughlin is a young 18-year-old that stands at 6’0 and weighs 165 pounds. Patience will be needed for this young man, and hopefully it pays off in the end.
