Youngest Staal brother set for pro debut

Jared Staal has been signed to an amateur tryout contract by the San Antonio Rampage, the American Hockey League club announced Friday.

San Antonio is the minor league affiliate for the Phoenix Coyotes. Phoenix selected Staal, who turns 19 in August, in the second round of the 2008 NHL entry draft.

The Coyotes obtained the pick in a 2007 trade that sent Oleg Saprykin to Ottawa.

Staal scored 19 goals and 33 assists in 67 games for the Sudbury Wolves this season, his third with the Ontario Hockey League club. Sudbury was eliminated from the OHL playoffs on Monday.

Staal will still be eligible to return to junior hockey next season.

The player's three older brothers all compete with Eastern Conference NHL teams. Eric, the eldest at 24, is with the Carolina Hurricanes, Marc plays for the New York Rangers and Jordan is a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

San Antonio has eight games remaining in its schedule. The club did not say when Staal was expected to play his first game.