Maine Hockey Journal

Winkler leaving Junior Pirates for USHL’s Youngstown

LEWISTON — The Portland Junior Pirates Premier team will have to replace three key players from last year’s squad.

York native and Northeastern recruit James Winkler will join the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League according to Shawn Hutcheon, a correspondent for the Fourth Period Magazine and the Lowell Sun. Jake McCarthy, a UMass recruit has signed with the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League and goaltender Shane Starrett is reportedly heading to the South Shore Kings Premier team according to Joshua Boyd of USA Junior Hockey Magazine.

The 6-foot-2, 194-pound Winkler was a 17-year old rookie this past season where he had 13 goals and four assists in 44 games as a forward. It was reported last week Winkler was on the Phantoms 30-man roster. He was originally drafted by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the third round of the 2013 Phase II Draft and his rights were traded last season to the Phantoms.

McCarthy, a Dedham, Mass. native started last season with Muskegon before joining the Junior Pirates where the defenseman had a goal and two assists in 17 games.

“Jake is a player that I’ve been recruiting for the past several months,” Spruce Kings General Manager Mike Hawes said in a press release. “He’s a big player who skates well for his size and doesn’t mind the physical side of the game. He has a good skill set and thinks the game well and will come in here and be able to play in all situations for us this season as he develops for his transition to NCAA Division I hockey.”

Shane Starrett started last season in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Lincoln Stars before joining the Junior Pirates. With the Junior Pirates, the Boston University recruit solidified the Junior Pirates in goal where he went 8-11-0 with a 3.22 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.

The Portland Junior Pirates organization will take part in the USPHL Summer Showcase this weekend at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass.

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