The Sioux Falls Stampede have acquired goaltender Aiden Wright, who spent part of last season with the Youngstown Phantoms
The Sioux Falls Stampede have acquired goaltender Aiden Wright and a 2025 USHL Phase I ninth-round pick from the Youngstown Phantoms in exchange for a 2025 Conditional Phase II first-round pick, 2025 Phase I second-round pick and a 2026 Phase II third-round pick.
Wright, 18, spent part of the 2023-24 season in the USHL after being acquired mid-season from the NAHL's New Hampshire Mountain Kings. In 22 appearances, Wright posted a 13-5-2 record with a 2.59 goals-against average, a 0.902 save percentage, and one shutout.
With the Mountain Kings, the Wake Forest, North Carolina, native recorded the 11th-best save percentage (0.923) to go along with a 2.88 goals-against average in 23 outings.
Wright's play in the second half of the 2023-24 season with Youngstown caught the attention of several Division I programs. In April, he committed to the University of Vermont.
For Sioux Falls, the Wright acquisition made a lot of sense after the team parted with Caleb Heil earlier in the offseason. The UND commit was sent to the Madison Capitols. The Herd drafted three goaltenders in the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft, including Ryan Manzella, who had a solid year in the NAHL last season. However, Wright gives the Stampede a goaltender with USHL experience.
The Phantoms had three goaltenders for two spots this coming season. With Melvin Strahl committed for the 2024-25 campaign and Owen Lepak set to break in after an outstanding season with the NAHL's Maryland Black Bears, Youngstown was able to stock up on some draft picks in favor of a player who could make regular starts elsewhere.