Flyers draft Spring City native McLaughlin in 7th round

The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t have to look too far for their seventh-round pick in the NHL Entry Draft Saturday.

Spring City native and The Hill School product Owen McLaughlin was selected with the 206th overall pick by the hometown Flyers.

The 18-year-old Chester County native began his hockey career with the Valley Forge Minutemen before playing at The Hill School. He moved to Mount St. Charles Academy in Rhode Island in 2020-21 and scored 54 points (16 goals, 38 assists) over 33 games last season.

The 6-0, 165-pound center is scheduled to play in the USHL for the Sioux City Musketeers next year before going to Penn State in 2022-23.

McLaughlin learned he had been drafted by the Flyers while he was flying to Iowa for a Sioux City preseason camp.

“Being a Philly kid, it was thrilling,” McLaughlin said Saturday, via Flyers senior director of communications Zack Hill. “I was on a plane when I found out, so it was a pretty nerve-racking plane ride. But to hear Philly took me and is taking a chance on me, it’s super exciting.”

A part of the U.S. National Development Team, McLaughlin has played in 11 games with the juniors and under 18 teams.

McLaughlin is seen is a long-term prospect by the Flyers.

“Talented kid at the high school level,” Flyers assistant general manager Brent

Flahr said Saturday. “Obviously, he’s going to have a little bit longer path, but a highly skilled kid at that level. He’s going to have to put on some weight and get stronger. I know Guy Gadowsky at Penn State very well and I know guys, when they come out of there, are bigger and stronger. He’s going to a good place and obviously he’s close by here. We’re excited to see where he can get to.”

THOMAS NASH - MNG FILE Hill School product Owen McLaughlin was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 7th round of the NHL entry draft Saturday.