Trethewey goes from Penguins Elite to Penguins' pick
Defenseman Charlie Trethewey was 13 years old when he moved from his family's home in Maryland to Mt. Lebanon to live with his paternal grandfather and play in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth program.
Trethewey played in the program for two years, and his family moved to the area near the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in the meantime.
Things came full-circle for Tretheway on Saturday when he heard his name called by the Penguins in the third round of the draft, 73rd overall.
"It was just an unbelievable feeling," Trethewey said of the feeling. "I'm kind of at a loss for words, and I'm just ready to get started."
Trethewey, still only 17 years old, is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed defensemen who last played in the U.S. National Team Development Program. He recorded six goals, 14 assists and a plus-1 rating in 63 games with the program, and two goals, seven assists and a plus-16 rating in 24 USHL games with the program.
"I would say I'm a two-way defenseman," Tretheway said of his game. "Great gaps and blowing up plays. And then when I get the puck, a good puck-mover and I love to put the puck in the back of the net."
The Elite Prospects Draft Guide also praises Tretheway's "explosive mobility, shooting, and physicality. He matches fast attackers of the rush, then flattens them with a big hit. His head is on a swivel defensively, and he constantly plays inside contact around his net, getting underneath sticks, and pushing opponents out of his goaltender’s sightline."
Penguins vice president of player personnel Wes Clark said that they liked Tretheway's "upside" as a two-way defenseman.
"He makes a really good first pass," Clark said. "Strong defensively, intelligent, competitive. Like the path. It's obviously a bonus when he comes up through the junior Penguins program."
Tretheway will be moving to college hockey next season, joining Boston University, a school he said "felt right in my heart."
"I felt like it was the best place for me to get to the next level in my hockey career," he said of Boston University. "The coaching staff was really supportive."
Tretheway will get to come home for the Penguins' development camp next week in Cranberry. He's hoping that in just a few years, he can suit up for his childhood team in real NHL games.
"It's an unbelievable feeling to go to a hometown team for me and represent the Penguins," he said. "I'm going to be so close to a lot of family, and I just can't wait to get started."
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
6:40 pm - 06.28.2025DowntownTrethewey goes from Penguins Elite to Penguins' pick
Defenseman Charlie Trethewey was 13 years old when he moved from his family's home in Maryland to Mt. Lebanon to live with his paternal grandfather and play in the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth program.
Trethewey played in the program for two years, and his family moved to the area near the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in the meantime.
Things came full-circle for Tretheway on Saturday when he heard his name called by the Penguins in the third round of the draft, 73rd overall.
"It was just an unbelievable feeling," Trethewey said of the feeling. "I'm kind of at a loss for words, and I'm just ready to get started."
Trethewey, still only 17 years old, is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed defensemen who last played in the U.S. National Team Development Program. He recorded six goals, 14 assists and a plus-1 rating in 63 games with the program, and two goals, seven assists and a plus-16 rating in 24 USHL games with the program.
"I would say I'm a two-way defenseman," Tretheway said of his game. "Great gaps and blowing up plays. And then when I get the puck, a good puck-mover and I love to put the puck in the back of the net."
The Elite Prospects Draft Guide also praises Tretheway's "explosive mobility, shooting, and physicality. He matches fast attackers of the rush, then flattens them with a big hit. His head is on a swivel defensively, and he constantly plays inside contact around his net, getting underneath sticks, and pushing opponents out of his goaltender’s sightline."
Penguins vice president of player personnel Wes Clark said that they liked Tretheway's "upside" as a two-way defenseman.
"He makes a really good first pass," Clark said. "Strong defensively, intelligent, competitive. Like the path. It's obviously a bonus when he comes up through the junior Penguins program."
Tretheway will be moving to college hockey next season, joining Boston University, a school he said "felt right in my heart."
"I felt like it was the best place for me to get to the next level in my hockey career," he said of Boston University. "The coaching staff was really supportive."
Tretheway will get to come home for the Penguins' development camp next week in Cranberry. He's hoping that in just a few years, he can suit up for his childhood team in real NHL games.
"It's an unbelievable feeling to go to a hometown team for me and represent the Penguins," he said. "I'm going to be so close to a lot of family, and I just can't wait to get started."
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Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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