The quality and reputation of the junior program(s) he spends his 2 - 3 year with. Hands down.

HS parents should worry far less about attracting interest from college coaches at 16 and 17, and more on attracting top junior programs. The higher the better.

In Tier I and II, the program is the important thing. If he gets regular minutes on a good team, he will have his choice of offers - Div I for USHL, Div I and III for NAHL. Success at that level leads directly to success in college. College coaches know that, and that's where they spend the bulk of their time.

In Tier III, it's absolutely the quality and integrity of the coach. If you're watching Twitter right now, you're seeing the 2000s finally getting their commitments, even from losing programs. The coach has to be out there pumping your kid's tires. In the EHL, team owners are actually fined if their coaches don't get commitments for their kids.

But, beware. If you think Prep coaches are lying *******s, junior coaches have their PhDs in Deceiptful Practices. NCDC, and the rest of the USPHL, especially. Can't tell you how many kids I've heard of that were told by NCDC coaches they were absolutely projected to be top 6/top 4, show up in camp, compare notes, and find out there were 39 other kids told the same thing. More than 50% either didn't make the team, didn't dress, or got cut. This year, especially. Go on Elite Prospects and see how many players received games. Go look at the Protected Lists and se how many EHL kids' prior team was NCDC (and no, my kid didn't get cut, we knew that and didn't fall for it).

I'm dead serious, unless your kid is a 1%er playing Prep, forget college when your kid is in HS. Focus on juniors.

And if he is a 1%er playing Prep, move him to the U at 17, 18 at the latest. That's the path now to getting serious D-I minutes at a top program. Not Prep.