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Speculation swirled all summer about whether Tyler Sheehy, a forward from Burnsville High School in Minnesota, would return to the Blaze for his senior season or opt to play for the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL. Sheehy ultimately decided to stay in Minnesota, but now, after a strong Elite League season, sources have told SBN College Hockey that Sheehy will forgo his final season of high school hockey to play for the Blackhawks. He will skate this weekend with the US NTDP U18 team when they take on the Fargo Force of the USHL, and play an exhibition game against North Dakota. Starting next week, he will transfer to a high school in Iowa and play the rest of the year in Waterloo.
Sheehy, a late '95-born birthdate, came into the fall projected as the top high school senior in the state of Minnesota, and only increased that reputation with a dominating performance in the Upper Midwest Elite League. He put up 21 goals and 33 points during the league's regular season, which were both tops in the league.
He was at one time committed to Ohio State, but chose to re-open his recruitment this past summer after the Buckeyes fired head coach, and Burnsville hockey legend, Mark Osiecki. Sheehy is also on the radar for this summer's NHL Draft. Sheehy was given a 'B' rating in NHL Central Scouting's preliminary rankings, and has improved his draft stock with a strong Elite League season.
Sheehy also would have been the runaway favorite to take home Minnesota's Mr. Hockey Award, presented annually to the state's top high school player. His departure leaves the field wide open, but also looking like one of the weakest Mr. Hockey classes the state has seen in some time.