The USHL will host its Phase I USHL Draft dedicated to 2002 birth year players not committed to the National Team Development Program or the Canadian Hockey League this evening. 

The word "draft" can mean a lot of things to a great hockey player. Regardless of where you live/play, what your future plans are and if you think junior hockey is in your future, the USHL Draft is an important day. 

-Does it mean you will end up on that team? Not necessarily.
-Does it mean you are better than the players drafted below you? Not necessarily.
-Does it mean you've played well enough to play at the next level? Yes. 

And at the end of the day, it is nice to have your hard work recognized by USA Hockey's only Tier I junior league.

Each year, we project the top 25 players by birth year for the draft. We recognize that this is a very deep birth year in Minnesota...but we also don't see a franchise first-round NHL draft pick either.  Hence the reason we do not have an A+ ranking for any of the players.

Once a player has been drafted, gets a bunch of props from his school, buddies, youth coaches, etc what happens next is important to understand. The USHL is much different than a college - each team is its own business unit trying to win games and fill seats and remain profitable. Top flight talent is nice to have in your system, but if it never shows up - it carries the same value as a 31-day old broken hockey stick. 

Drafting Minnesota players can be tricky.  Depending on how much service time an organization thinks it can get out of a player is almost as important as how many goals and assists he will have once he gets there.

A drafted Minnesota player should go to its USHL camps. The experience and competition are top-notch. An added bonus, just about every Division I school is represented in the June circuit of camps.

Let's be honest, very few 16-year-old players make a large impact in their first year in the USHL. Besides Kieffer Bellows (52 points in 2014-15), there have been very few first-year Minnesota players that have made an impact in the league as a 16-year-old. 

Once drafted, there is no guarantee that your rights with that team will remain intact. After the Summer Camp (June) and Main Camp (August) teams are required to trim their rostered players and affiliated players to a certain number. Like any pipeline, teams will keep players based on ability level, future ability level and how that player fits best into their future. 

Minnesota players have great options besides the USHL. In the Fall they can play in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League followed by high school hockey, with both scouted heavily by Division I and NHL coaches and scouts. In the Spring, players that remain affiliated with a USHL team can play. Players that are 17 can participate in the Minnesota Hockey Festivals that lead to USA Hockey national camps.

If you thought the path to this point was uncharted, junior hockey is as uncertain as the youth process. One thing is certain if you can play, a team will find you.