Tyler Harkins was selected last night by the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders, in the United States Hockey Leagues entry draft, 365th overall. This makes the St. Ed's graduate the FIRST Ohio High School player to ever be drafted into the only Tier 1 league operating in USA. The USHL is the primer proving grounds for NHL draft picks, who are retaining their NCAA eligibility. The USHL consequently is also the home to the Highest number of NCAA division 1 committed players each year. The USHL proudly displays on their home page that there are currently 222 USHL Alumni in the NHL and this year the 16 team (17 as both USA 17u and 18U play a shared split schedule) has 291 college commitments. That is 291 out of 425 total players. The players who compose the USHL are regarded as the top 1% of all players in any given birth year. The last Ohio HS player to reach the USHL was also the first to make it right out of High School. Nolan Culver, was an undrafted free agent, who made the USHL Youngstown Phantoms out of their main camp in 2011. Prior to that Alden Hirschfeld another Sylvania product was a member of the Phantoms team when they elevated from the NAHL to the USHL. Hirschfeld went on to a storied carrer with the Ohio University of Miami Red Skins and now a professional career. Tyler, congratulation on being drafted in the USHL draft. Wishing you much sucess in the years to come.
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