Athlete Profile: Tim Harrison, Calgary Flames

 

Every year, hundreds of the world’s most talented young hockey players funnel into a redressed NHL arena with their friends and families donning their nicest ties and hope in their hearts. They sit in anticipation for what could be hours waiting to hear their names called.

It’s the dream for any hockey player to be drafted by an NHL team for a chance to pursue a professional career. That dream is becoming a reality for Duxbury native Tim Harrison, who was selected in the 6^th round of the NHL Entry Draft in June.

Harrison didn’t expect to be chosen, so he didn’t make the trip to New Jersey to join his fellow hopefuls. However, that didn’t stop him from watching with his family, seeing the names of hockey’s elite young talents get selected one by one.

 Then, in an unexpected turn, the program returned from a commercial and he saw his name on the screen. Before he had a chance to process it, his phone rang. Calgary Flames General Manager Jay Feaster was on the line informing Harrison that he’d been drafted and welcomed him to the organization.

Within a week, he was on a plane to Alberta for the Flames’ rookie development camp. Calgary is a franchise in the midst of a rebuild, which means the team has a deep and talented farm system of developing players. Harrison had the chance to skate alongside some of the best prospects in hockey.

 “The speed and physicality was brought up a couple notches, but I felt as if I held my own,” Harrison proudly commented.

 "The Flames organization and fans know how to treat the players well,” said Harrison of his trip. The rookie development camps are typically open to the public, which gives fans the opportunity to scout out the youngsters who hope to crack the NHL roster.

 In the fall, Harrison will be a freshman at Colgate University, a Division I program in New York. It’s becoming increasingly rare for hockey players to play at the college level directly after high school without playing juniors first, which signifies just how talented Chris is.

 “I'm going to continue to work hard on and off the ice in order to make an impact at Colgate University because it’s an unbelievable opportunity,” Harrison said,” And hopefully I can crack the flames lineup when the time is right.”

 Harrison joins David Warsofsky (Marshfield) and Charlie Coyle (Weymouth) as South Shore hockey players to be drafted.