Helena forward Bloom makes NCAA commitment

The Helena Bighorns of the NA3HL are pleased to announce that Top Prospects forward Tyler Bloom has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for St. Michael’s College.

Bloom, 20, just completed his second and final season playing junior hockey in the NA3HL for the Bighorns. The 6’0/170 lbs. native of Helena, MT, led the Bighorns in scoring during the 2022-23 season with 55 points (27 goals, 28 assists) in 41 games played.

Bloom also recorded seven points in eight Fraser Cup Playoff games as the Bighorns won the Frontier Division and advanced to the Fraser Cup Championship Tournament. He was also selected to and played in the 2023 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournament for the Frontier Division team where he had one goal in two games.

"The coach at Saint Michael's (Damian DiGiulian) is friends with my coach in Helena (Damon Hanson) and watched some games and offered me," said Bloom to Colorado Rubber Magazine. "The school has everything I need from a solid hockey program to academics that will challenge me. I got to speak to a lot of guys on the team and it seems like a super close group of guys. I am very excited to spend the next four years there. School was always the end goal and hockey is a great means to get there. Truly excited to get an education and get to be able to play a sport I love so much."

During the 2021-22 season, Bloom appeared in 42 games for the Bighorns and had 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists).

"Over the past two years, I can say that I have learned the most about hockey than I ever have in my entire life. The coaches and owners gave me everything I needed to succeed and grow as a player. The small things, like letting us have extra ice to practice and watching one-on-one film to critique your shifts, were huge."

Bloom left home in Helena to play AAA hockey in the NAPHL with the Colorado Springs Tigers for his 15U and 16U seasons and relished his time coming home to skate for the Bighorns.

"Growing up watching the Bighorns, they were the heroes of the town, so it was awesome to become a role model for some of the younger kids," said Bloom. "The team is just surrounded by people that have helped me out in the past or even coaches that coached me at all different ages. The community is so close and helps the team out so much. It makes all the guys on the team want to give it their all for home games."

Click here for an NA3HL college commitment list