CEDAR RAPIDS – It was a surprise.

Erik Foley figured his hockey season was well over last April. Then he got an unexpected phone call from Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson.

The Riders had some injuries and other issues and needed someone up front at forward for their United States Hockey League playoff series against Dubuque. Kid, you’re in.

“I really didn’t expect it, but I had a great time with the guys. It was really fun,” Foley said. “It helped me a lot going into this season. The playoffs, that was such a fast game when we played Dubuque. It’s playoff hockey, so it’s a lot tougher.”

Foley held his own individually, though the RoughRiders ended up being eliminated. The 17-year-old winger from suburban Boston used that experience as a springboard for what he hopes is a big 2014-15 season.

He had three goals last weekend in a pair of Cedar Rapids victories, beginning to show talent that has him rated by NHL Central Scouting as a possible second or third-round draft pick this coming summer.

“I came into this season expecting to play a lot,” said Foley, who came here from Tabor Academy prep school in Massachusetts. “The intensity in the regular season is down a little bit from the playoffs, I have noticed. But having that experience last year helped me out a lot.”

Foley doesn’t claim to have the most individual skill in the world, though he’s a good skater. He is what you might call the quintessential power forward.

Or a budding quintessential power forward.

“When he starts to use his body more to his advantage, yeah, that’s how I would describe him,” said Carlson. “He’s got a lot of ability, he’s a really good kid. It’s just about getting better every day. Everyone here has great potential. It’s about how hard you work, listen, execute and learn. He’s got a bright future, if he wants to get after it.”

“He has been able to finish at every level,” Tabor Coach Gerry Dineen recently told SB Nation. “He has a pro release on his shot. The sky is the limit.”

Foley played last month in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, an event featuring 42 of the top American players eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft. RoughRiders goaltending teammate Ryan Larkin also was a participant in the game, which was played at First Niagara Center, home of the Buffalo Sabres.

Their coach was former NHL great Ed Olczyk, who gave Foley his phone number and told him to call if he ever needed anything. Olczyk is a big booster of the USHL, having three sons who have played in the league.

The draft is very real for Foley, who has committed to Providence College. He knows a professional career is well into the future, something he can’t think about much right now, though that’s difficult at times.

“It really doesn’t mean anything to me,” he said. “It’s great getting the recognition, but the draft is a ways away. I’ve still got, like, 50-some games to play here. The focus is on this season. Then after the season, I’ll worry about the draft.”

He was asked about his goals and aspirations this season.

“I’ve got to work on my defensive zone (play),” Foley said. “That’s going to be a big part of my game. Coach Carlson has really been working with me on it. That’s coming along. Then I’m really looking forward to getting drafted, I hope. That’s my goal, though you never really know because anything can happen. There is still a lot of work left to be done.”

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