The USHL is the top feeder system for NCAA DI hockey. Almost every top USHL player ends up with some level of NCAA scholarship (there is no such thing as the "free or full ride" scholarship anymore). Really good NCAA DI kids usually get drafted into the NHL... hence the Olympic representation. If you want a really good taste of how good the hockey is... most of the USA U20 (World Junior Championship) Team that won a Gold Medal has some USHL tie.

15 of the 19 players on Team USA'a WJC roster were drafted into the NHL and one signed as a free agent. 4 of them were regulars in the OHL and 2 were regulars in the WHL. 4 of them were on USHL rosters at one point and the USNTDP plays games in the USHL. So, while it's not close to Canadian major junior in terms of level of hockey... it's still really good.

My two cents anyway...