LOOK: Amazing Underwater Photos Of Dogs
Rick Santorum's Wife Sued Doctor For $500,000 In 1999
(Getty Images)
FanHouse brings you full coverage of the 2009 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Washington, D.C.
As the Frozen Four begins late Thursday afternoon, there will be 22 players showcasing their skills that have been drafted by NHL teams. While many of the others will be, as the NCAA says, "going pro in something other than sports", a good number of them will showcase their talents in an effort to join a growing population. Every year, more and more college players end up getting a shot at the NHL. Not only that, but a greater number of them are making a real name for themselves when they get there.
Let's Play Hockey, a publication based in Minnesota, has unearthed some very interesting statistics regarding college players making it to the NHL.
They have found 279 players who played in at least one NHL game this season came out of college hockey. Among them are guys like Zach Parise (University of North Dakota), Thomas Vanek (Minnesota), Dany Heatley (Wisconsin), and Martin St. Louis (Vermont), who have already established themselves as NHL stars.
61 former NCAA players have made their NHL debut this season. In addition, eight of the top 33 rookie scorers in the NHL are products of the college game. Included in that list are Blake Wheeler (Minnesota), T.J. Oshie (North Dakota), and Ryan Jones (Miami).
While Michigan has produced the most NHL players, this list isn't just limited to big-time Division I schools. 47 NCAA programs have alums who played in the NHL this season, ranging from schools like Michigan (25 players), Boston College, North Dakota, and Wisconsin (16 each), all the way down to Niagara, Northeastern, Brown, Army, and even Division III Norwich (one each).
Each of the Frozen Four teams has alums on this list. Bemidji State has two, Miami three, Vermont has six, and Boston University leads this group with 13.
One negative this recent surge in pro prospects playing college hockey has is it's increased greatly the number of early departures to pro hockey. The departures aren't limited to drafted players, as free agents are leaving all over the place, too.
We can't fault kids for taking the offers they're given, but there is no arguing that as more kids leave school early, the product becomes somewhat diluted. It also makes life exceptionally difficult for coaches, who are charged with keeping programs competitive (stressful enough for most), but also have to be part-psychic to sense which kids will take off early for the pros.
Congress Agrees On Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Extension
Most Inmates In Honduras Prison Fire Were Not Convicted
'Colbert Report' Abruptly Suspends Production For The Week
Scott Brown: Elizabeth Warren Has Assumed The 'Mantle Of Oppressor'
WATCH: Fox News Host Makes Shocking Comment About Black Rep.
Relintless: Knicks Run Winning Streak To Seven Games
RECOVERING THE RECOVERY: A Good Sign For American Jobs
SEC Official: Common Wall St. Conversations Carry 'Troubling' Potential For Abuse
Oklahoma Senate Approves 'Personhood' Bill
Kennedy Launches Campaign
Santorum Called Himself A 'Progressive Conservative' In 1990
Source: Michigan Governor To Endorse Romney
More iPads Reportedly Seized In China
A Tale Of Dual Tracking: Trying To Modify A Loan As Bank Forecloses
National Group Seeks To Shape Walker Recall Contest
Jimmy Carter Casts Movement As 'Relatively Successful'
Should Homeless People Be Sheltered Or Diverted? Obama Budget Renews Debate
Over 1,000 Old Detroit Rape Kits To Be Tested
Semi Truck's Tires Explode Through Front door, Land In Kitchen
Canadian Businessman Convicted Of Raping woman In New York Hotel Room
Actress In Controversial China Political Ad Apologizes
Santorum Releases Tax Returns
Montana Supreme Court Collides With U.S. Supreme Court Over Citizens United
