A large number of USHL alumni were invited to the recent Chicago Blackhawks Prospects Camp. The summer evaluation and conditioning camp saw NHL Draft picks of the team and free agent invites hit the ice under the watchful eye of Blackhawks personnel.
USHL.com caught up with a few of the 26 USHL alumni that were invited to the camp to talk about their experience, reflect on their time in the USHL, and about their college hockey careers.
Fredrik Olofsson was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft after splitting the 2013-14 season between the Green Bay Gamblers and Chicago Steel. He will return to the USHL this fall with the Steel.
Luke Johnson was selected by the Blackhawks in the 2013 NHL Draft after two seasons with the Lincoln Stars. He got his first chance to attend the prospects camp this summer. He currently plays college hockey at the University of North Dakota.
Nolan LaPorte was a free agent invite to the Blackhawks Prospects Camp. He grew up in the Chicago area and spent two seasons in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers, including winnig the Clark Cup in 2012. He plays college hockey at Western Michigan University.
Ryan Obuchowski was another invited to the prospects camp. He played two seasons in the USHL with the Indiana Ice and earned a spot on the 2011-12 All-USHL Second Team. He plays collegiately at Yale University.
Alex Lyon was invited to Blackhawks Prospects Game after concluding his freshman season at Yale University. He had two highly successful seasons with the Omaha Lancers that included be named to the 2011-12 USHL All-Rookie Team and 2012-13 All-USHL Second Team.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 13th season as the nation’s only Tier I junior hockey league in 2014-15. A record 35 players were chosen in the 2014 NHL Draft and more than 300 players on team rosters last season have committed to NCAA Division I schools, further establishing the USHL as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com or visit the League’s social media platforms, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/ushlhockey), twitter (www.twitter.com/ushl), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/ushlinteractive). Fans can also watch USHL action all season long, live or on-demand via FASTHockey (ushl.fasthockey.com).
It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.
