HALIFAX -- Playing in the National Hockey League is the ultimate goal for many hockey players, but for every Sidney Crosby or Nathan MacKinnon selected first overall, there are thousands of Canadian hockey hopefuls who don't hear their name called on NHL draft day.

While 217 players are drafted into the league each year, not having their name called doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a young prospect’s NHL dreams, and four Maritimers are showing that hard work pays off on the biggest stage.

Dartmouth’s Matthew Highmore, Moncton’s Philippe Myers, and Zack MacEwen and Ross Johnston, both from Charlottetown, all beat the odds and are now representing the Maritimes on NHL rosters.

Highmore, a 24-year-old forward, had a stellar QMJHL career with the Saint John Sea Dogs before being signed as a free agent by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017. He made his NHL debut in 2018 and has played 53 career games with the Blackhawks as of Wednesday.

Myers, 24, starred with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and represented Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2017. The defenceman made his NHL debut in 2019, signed a three year, $7.65 million contract with the Flyers last December, and has played 75 career games with the team as of Wednesday,

MacEwen, 24, played his junior hockey with the Moncton Wildcats and Gatineau Olympiques before making his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks in 2019 and has appeared in 26 career NHL games as of Wednesday.

Johnston, 26, also played in the QMJHL for Moncton, Victoriaville and his hometown Charlottetown Islanders before breaking into the NHL in 2016, and has appeared in 80 career games with the New York Islanders as of Wednesday.

Those who know the players best say they are proud of the obstacles they overcame to accomplish their ultimate goal of playing in the NHL.

“Two words; surreal and very emotional,” says Dave Highmore of watching his son Matthew's journey to the NHL. ”Sometimes it seems real, and sometimes it seems like a dream.”

Despite obstacles including going undrafted twice, Dave says his son never lost sight of his overall hockey dream.

“Matthew as a young child did not like to lose,” says the elder Highmore.

Hockey analyst Craig Eagles says all four players have shown a high level of commitment to make the NHL as undrafted free agents.

“Each and every one of those players personifies work ethic and character,” says Eagles, who hosts the Quick Shift podcast. “Blue collar players that never gave up on their dream.”

According to former NHL scout Paul Gallagher, the draft is still the main pipeline to the NHL.

“If you weren’t drafted, the opportunity basically came on the word of someone else,” says Gallagher.

Gallagher says all four players clearly worked hard, but it also takes a bit of luck to have coaches believe in them, especially if they haven’t been drafted.

“A coach somewhere along the line recognized they could be valuable to them, even if they were not drafted,” explains Gallagher.

Eagles says it’s an example for other young hockey players, especially those in the Maritimes, to follow,

“Keep the dream alive and no matter what your postal code is, if you put your work in and you have that skill and never give up, you can accomplish anything within the game of hockey,” says Eagles.