Ice Hockey Advice from those who have BTDT

[Anonymous]

Realistically, what is the path from mites to college hockey? Doesn't even have to be D1 hockey ... I would be thrilled if my hockey-loving kid played DIII hockey in the NESCAC, for example.

My husband and I were both college athletes, and we both had a very positive experience and would love to see our son play a sport in college, but we know very little about hockey. My kid's unexpected obsession for the sport has my questioning what we are getting into. I hear about people from our rink sending their kids away from home at 15, 16, and 17 to live with billet families, then taking gap years to play junior hockey, before they can even start playing in college.

Tell it to me straight! Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, what is the path from mites to college hockey? Doesn't even have to be D1 hockey ... I would be thrilled if my hockey-loving kid played DIII hockey in the NESCAC, for example.

My husband and I were both college athletes, and we both had a very positive experience and would love to see our son play a sport in college, but we know very little about hockey. My kid's unexpected obsession for the sport has my questioning what we are getting into. I hear about people from our rink sending their kids away from home at 15, 16, and 17 to live with billet families, then taking gap years to play junior hockey, before they can even start playing in college. [b]

Tell it to me straight! Thanks.

This is one path. Boarding school to college is another. It also depends on the strength of the club. We knew a family who stayed with a club which maybe had one player get to the college level every 5 years or so. It was obvious their kid wasn’t the size or level of player to play post his club team, though they kept saying that was the goal.And he’s not a good enough student to attend a college that has a club level hockey. They seemed very naive in their approach. A

So if he loves hockey at the mite level great, but take it year to year. The amazing hockey players really are a rare player.

[Anonymous]

Let him play because he loves it. Don’t focus on playing in college.

[Anonymous]

Are you in the DC area? Playing Team Maryland? What level? All the elite players I know left the DC area in order to get to college hockey. Many go to boarding school. If you have the money for it and he's really that good, that would be the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Not making any projections yet about how good he’ll be at that time. Just curious what the road looks like if that’s the right direction someday so we can set our expectations. It sounds like if your kid still loves hockey at ~15 and if your kid is exceptionally good and if your kid wants a chance to play college hockey, then they move to a billet family or boarding school. And in the meantime, they need to play at the highest level they can just to stay in the game?

[Anonymous]

The worst sport for travel parents. Worse than gymnastics, worse than swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realistically, what is the path from mites to college hockey? Doesn't even have to be D1 hockey ... I would be thrilled if my hockey-loving kid played DIII hockey in the NESCAC, for example.

My husband and I were both college athletes, and we both had a very positive experience and would love to see our son play a sport in college, but we know very little about hockey. My kid's unexpected obsession for the sport has my questioning what we are getting into. I hear about people from our rink sending their kids away from home at 15, 16, and 17 to live with billet families, then taking gap years to play junior hockey, before they can even start playing in college.

Tell it to me straight! Thanks.

I have a HS senior who has played hockey since he was 4-years old and is interested in playing in college. As others have said, its very early in the game for your kid, but its great that he's having fun. Its a great sport. There are actually many paths to college hockey, but the two principal ones are: (1) playing "junior" hockey, which is amateur hockey for boys of any age from 16-20, or (2) going to a prep school (most, but not all, are in New England). Not many boys will be able to play NCAA hockey (either D1 or D3) as an 18-year old. Most college coaches will want boys to play at least a year or two of juniors after HS (even after prep school) in order to allow for additional physical development. There is not comparable junior system for girls, so they will generally head straight for college.

My kid has played in Virginia his entire "career," but many of his former teammates and local opponents have left and gone elsewhere (either NJ, New England, Minnesota or Canada). This is not something you need to worry about for a while. Depending on what happens this season, its possible that my son might defer his college admission for a year to go play juniors to see whether there is a good college/hockey fit for him.

The top two teams in the DMV are the Washington Little Capitals and Team Maryland. These are so-called Tier 1 clubs. But there are plenty of good Tier 2 clubs around as well. My kid has played Tier 1 for a long time (which typically will involve more travel and be more expensive), but I don't think its necessary to go to Tier 1 until you kid is a Bantam (13), or even a Midget (15).

Also, when the time comes, don't overlook ACHA (American College Hockey Association) hockey. It is not run by the NCAA, but is a great experience for many kids at the college level.

[Anonymous]

Don’t try to get on this path. Nasty kids, nasty parents. Academics down the drain, vast majority of kids who play are not on full scholarships, vast majority of the kids at the top won’t make it to college (even those who sign commitment letters). Even D3 colleges require your kid to play multiple years of juniors, so, looking at starting college 2-4 years late.

Vast majority of kids who make it have an in…pro player relative, etc. or extremely wealthy parents who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Player on player sex abuse is common and covered up in the upper tiers, so that’s fun too.

Finally, as a mite parent, you sound like a cuckoo talking about D1 hockey…that’s like 1 kid every 2-3 years from DC and you have years before you know if your kid is actually any good.

My advice is to find a tier 2 club that your family likes and where your kids has friends and stay there and let him play high school too. Then, if he still likes it, he can play club hockey in college.

[Anonymous]

such a garbage sport. tell your son to pick something else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t try to get on this path. Nasty kids, nasty parents. Academics down the drain, vast majority of kids who play are not on full scholarships, vast majority of the kids at the top won’t make it to college (even those who sign commitment letters). Even D3 colleges require your kid to play multiple years of juniors, so, looking at starting college 2-4 years late.

Vast majority of kids who make it have an in…pro player relative, etc. or extremely wealthy parents who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Player on player sex abuse is common and covered up in the upper tiers, so that’s fun too.

Finally, as a mite parent, you sound like a cuckoo talking about D1 hockey…that’s like 1 kid every 2-3 years from DC and you have years before you know if your kid is actually any good.

My advice is to find a tier 2 club that your family likes and where your kids has friends and stay there and let him play high school too. Then, if he still likes it, he can play club hockey in college.

Some of this is true: (1) there is not a great deal of scholarship money, (2) getting to play NCAA hockey is a longshot for most; (3) having money is a big advantage, (4) playing juniors prior to college is the norm.

But: (1) this is true of most sports; (2) its hard, because there aren't many programs/spots, but you know this going in; (3) hockey is expensive, and it can be hard for many, and (4) going to college a year or two later is not a huge deal, and can be very helpful for some kids (ever hear of a gap year)?

Tier 2 youth hockey is great, and local HS hockey can be great fun for the kids. As I mentioned above, your kid doesn't have to leave the area to play through HS, and club hockey in college is great.

such a garbage sport. tell your son to pick something else

Who peed in your cornflakes? Hockey is a fantastic sport, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

NP, but eye opening post and responses. Thanks to all who have posted and anyone else who can provide just general comments about hockey as a youth sport -- even if you don't have a collegiate dream for your DS/DD.

My kids are still just at learn-to-skate age, and they like that, but I have some relatives (including a former D1 goalie) who are really encouraging me to nudge my kids into it. I personally don't have any experience with the sport other than as a casual fan of the NHL, so it's all new to me.

[Anonymous]

Another NP grateful for this post.
DS is just starting hockey and absolutely not NCAA-bound or anything, but he just seems to really love it.
Glad to hear there's a path through Tier 2 and high school and the opportunity to continue to play in college clubs.
One of my best friends has a husband who still plays on local club teams as an adult and loves it. That's all we're hoping for for DS - just a sport he really enjoys playing.

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, I don't think it's "cuckoo" at all to ask these questions when your son is a mite. Even though hockey is a late specialization sport, I would wager that a significant majority of the kids on our son's NCAA D III hockey team were in a competitive program starting at the mite level. There is more than one path, but getting in the right program from the beginning is the most common.

[Anonymous]

PP here with the rising HS senior. One important note is that hockey does not have to be super costly, especially for young kids just starting out. At that age, the equipment is not terribly expensive (it gets much worse as the kids start to need adult sizes), and house leagues are not too bad as far as costs and don't really have any travel expenses. If your kid progresses and wants to play travel, it can get somewhat more expensive, as there is more ice time, and even Tier 2 teams may have a few out of town tournaments, but its not too bad relative to other travel sports. It gets worse with Tier 1 and older kids, as the equipment starts to add up, as do the travel costs. But as others have mentioned, you can play hockey into your 50's and 60's, so it can be a life long sport. I am looking forward to bringing my son out with my (very bad) team this season. He can only help us!

[Anonymous]

Watch those teeth!