Ku qor sii socodka faqradan - Xilli ciyaareedka ka baxsan, Higgins waxaa loo doortay 14aad guud ahaan Montreal Canadiens ee 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Wuxuu noqday ciyaaryahankii ugu horreeyay ee ECAC Hockey ee lagu soo xusho wareegga koowaad ee NHL Entry Draft tan iyo Normand Lacombe 1983
(Buffalo Sabres ayaa isaga soo xulay 10aad guud ahaan). Markii uu dib ugu soo laabtay Yale hal xilli ciyaareed oo kale, wuxuu hagaajiyay 41 dhibcood 28 kulan, isagoo hogaaminaya kooxdiisa gool dhalinta sannadkii labaad oo isku xigta. Higgins wuxuu kasbaday ECAC Player of the Year (oo ay wadaagaan goolhayaha Cornell Big Red David LeNeveu) iyo sharafta Kooxda All-Star ee Koowaad; waxaa sidoo kale gobol ahaan loo aqoonsaday Kooxda NCAA East All-American.