Branish, a 20-year-old forward from Castle Pines, CO, is in his third season with the 87’s organization and second year with the EHL team. This season, Branish has 19 points (3g, 16a) through 28 regular-season games.
Head coach Adam Houli spoke about Branish’s commitment and his development with the organization.
“This is why we do what do and it’s why the 87’s exist, for the development of players like him. For him to walk through that ladder, he’s one of a few players to go from Premier to 18’s and to the EHL, is unbelievable,” Houli said. “He’s been an unbelievable player this year, he’s really taken everything in stride to develop, so nobody has deserved a commitment like he has, and I’m so happy he was able to find the school he wanted.”
Roger Williams University is a Division III program located in Bristol, RI. The team will begin its inaugural season later this Fall and will compete in the Conference of New England; the Hawks will be led by head coach Chris Hall.
Branish spoke about his commitment and the prospect of playing for a new collegiate program, “I think Chris Hall is really building something good and I think he’s finding the right guys for the team and I’m really excited about my next four years there,” he said.
The Colorado native joined the 87’s in the 2022-23 season where he played 10 games for the 18u team and 28 games with the EHL Premier squad. That year with the EHLP team, he recorded five goals and 22 assists for 27 points. In the postseason, he recorded eight points (3g, 5a) in eight games to help the 87’s clinch its second EHLP championship.
When discussing his commitment, Branish acknowledged that season as a critical year for his development.
“It’s a credit to all of the coaches here, they’ve done a great job each year I’ve been here, and I loved playing both EHLP and 18u, it was a really good experience for me,” he said. “I got a lot of ice time that year and I think that was my biggest year of development in my whole career. They’ve done a great job producing talent and I’m very thankful for the coaches who helped get me here.”
Branish joins a growing list of players who went from the 87’s youth program to its junior teams before committing to an NCAA program.
Houli spoke about Branish’s path through the 87’s organization and one of the factors that helped him secure the commitment to Roger Williams.
“It’s the ability to be creative, get ice time where you need to get ice time, whether it’s at the Premier level or the 18u level, and that’s what we do when we recruit,” he said. “For him to acknowledge that makes us feel better as a program as we continue to prepare for future players. Having that ability to be creative with ice time and be able play different roles on each team, having to play a different style on each team, that was the biggest thing.”
Branish has forged a decorated career with the 87’s in his three seasons with the program. On top of winning an EHLP championship, Branish also played for the EHL All-Star team this season as the league’s best players defeated Elmira College, 3-1. As the 87’s batte for the top seed in the South Division, Branish has an opportunity to win a second championship before going to college.
Tyler is also the second Branish brother to commit to an NCAA program as an 87. His older brother, TJ, played two seasons with the EHL team and won a championship before going to Franklin Pierce University.
“It was an option that maybe I’d get to play with (TJ) at Franklin Pierce but it didn’t go that way. I think it’s really special that we’re both going on our own journeys, but hopefully I’ll follow in his footsteps in that I do well at the college level,” Tyler said.
The 87’s would like to congratulate Tyler as he prepares to advance his hockey career to the Division III collegiate level.
