Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

Former Farmington netminder John Lethemon commits to Michigan State

Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey
Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

As the high school hockey season gets underway, one of the top standouts in recent years just committed to a Big Ten program.

John Lethemon, the goaltender that led Farmington to a Division 3 state title last spring, has committed to Michigan State, per an announcement by the USHL.

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After making headlines for his incredible high school season in 2013-14 (like when he stopped 60 shots in a huge upset win over Cranbrook in the state playoffs), Lethemon was drafted sixth overall in last spring’s USHL Draft. He is playing for the Chicago Steel this year, and he currently holds a 3-2-1 record.

Lethemon was MiHockeyMag’s ‘You Should Know’ featured player in the July 16, 2014 edition. You can see that by clicking on the image below (the photo is from the 2013 high school hockey captains’ photo shoot).

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From the USHL release:

Chicago Steel goaltender John Lethemon has committed to play college hockey at Michigan State University following his USHL career.

Lethemon has posted a 3-2-1 record with a 3.10 GAA and .907 SV% thus far in his first USHL season with the Steel.  He earned his first USHL victory in his second career start when he made 34 saves in the 2-1 win against the Tri-City Storm on October 11th.  He recorded a season high 36 saves in the 4-3 victory against the Omaha Lancers on November 14th. 

The Northville, Michigan native will only be an hour from his hometown when he begins his college career at Michigan State University.  He came to the Steel after being selected sixth overall in Phase Two of the 2014 USHL Draft.  Lethemon played high school hockey at Farmington High and competed in the Michigan Development Hockey League (MDHL) prior to his time in the USHL.

Lethemon will be joined by Steel teammate Zach Osburn who is also committed to Michigan State University.  Eight other current USHL players are also committed to the school – Brennan Sanford (Des Moines Buccaneers), Mitch Eliot (Muskegon Lumberjacks), David Keefer (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Jerad Rosburg (Sioux City Musketeers), Mason Appleton (Tri-City Storm), Cody Milan (Tri-City Storm), Marcel Godbout (Waterloo Black Hawks), and Ty Farmer (Youngstown Phantoms).

Michigan State University is a member of the Big Ten Conference and has 19 USHL alumni on the roster this season; Travis Walsh (Muskegon/Sioux City), Josh Jacobs (Indiana Ice), Mackenzie MacEachern (Chicago Steel), Carson Gatt (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Matt DeBlouw (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Michael Ferrantino (Omaha Lancers), Joe Cox (Muskegon Lumberjacks), J.T. Stenglein (Waterloo/Sioux City/Youngstown), Matt Berry (Muskegon Lumberjacks), Thomas Ebbing (Chicago Steel), Jake Hildebrand (Cedar Rapids/Sioux City), Ed Minney (Team USA), Villiam Haag (Muskegon Lumberjacks), David Bondra (Chicago Steel), Ryan Keller (Sioux Falls Stampede), Brett Darnell (Sioux Falls Stampede), R.J. Boyd (Indiana/Chicago), Connor Wood (Des Moines Buccaneers), and Dylan Pavelek (Team USA).