Learning about the USHL

This evening, I finally got around to digging a little deeper into the United States Hockey League, the league of the Des Moines Buccaneers. While I've enjoyed the games and had a basic understanding that the teams in the league have no affiliation with teams of the NHL, I wanted to understand more about the program and what draws these kids from all over the country, even continent, to play in these midwestern towns. I was very pleased to read the following on the USHL website:

Because the USHL gears itself toward putting players in college and helping them earn scholarships, the emphasis on education is foremost for all teams. Individual teams' academic coordinators work to make sure players have the academic capability to succeed in the classroom as well as on the ice. For players who are still in high school, teams work closely with local school officials to develop class schedules that keep players on pace for graduation and college entrance requirements.

I'd seen and heard news stories about players moving on to major university programs in the past but hadn't realized how successful the teams are at putting these guys into those programs. At the USHL site, I started to count the number of college commitments that were produced last year but got a phone call at seventy something. The USHL site also lists players who have gone on to play in various prefessional leagues here and in Europe. Over forty-five players on that list have made it to the NHL ranks. That's a pretty good number, especially when you consider how hard it is to make it into any professional sport.

Besides the players, the coaches and officials are working on their game as well. I don't see them tracked on the website but do understand that they use this as a stepping stone up through the ranks as well.

I'm glad Des Moines has a team involved in a program like the USHL.