Visiting from youth hockey board - college question!
I have older children who are playing sports in college. My youngest is the only hockey guy. He is 13 - an 08. If lets say for example we would love for him to go to a nescac (middlebury, colby, bowdoin) and play hockey, how does that occur? he is currently on an elite EHF team in top 4-5 team and is the top D for his team and one of the top in the league. He is going to repeat 9th grade. Do people who play at nescacs all play junior hockey for 1, 2, 3 years? how does that work? He will be 19 when he graduates hs. curious. and for the record I know he could hate hockey in a year and quit or get injured and be done. He will go to a private day school possibly boarding. Also, extra credit for intel on a good hockey/prep school experiences.

It’s a legitimate question that many parents ask. There are different routes for each player. One thing I will tell you as having one son playing D1 and the other going through prep is that you should plan on your son being a 21 year old freshman at either a D 1 program or D3. If he repeats freshman year he will most likely only have 1 year of juniors after he graduates. It’s a complete grind, but if he wants it the reality is he will be in college until he is 25 or 26.

Would he be boarding or say student? Where are you located??

Willing to consider boarding or day. Located in suburb of Boston west of city.

Getting way ahead of yourself. The next few years are important but 9th and 10th grade are like an abyss.

Worry about playing for a good school, or full season team if that’s your thing, and then you will quickly see how things play out.

What is he getting invited to. How is comparing against his peers. The progression is pretty natural. Schools will reach out. Junior teams will reach out and if offers come after then you kind of know the path.

I just think people loose sight of those important years between 15-18 looking too far ahead.

Good luck.

Just want as much intel as possible. Thanks

Unrealistic dream. Time to focus on something that you can realistically achieve.

Send him to prep but to play NESCAC he’s got to be an A student with a high SAT and has to go to a very good prep school. Be prepared to pay a lot.

That is not true. Google NESCAC banding system. You don’t have to be an A student.

If he’s not a minority he will have to get A’s.

I am white and have 5 siblings who played sports at an HYP ivy. I played D3. My son is minority. All of my children are A students and already go to private schools with no financial aid.

Wow. Real success story. You must be so proud.

A lot to unpack here. I agree with a prior response. Jumping way ahead of yourself. In all sincerity, focus on a one step at a time. You have to get to the D1 to NESCAC decision first - if you are lucky enough to have that kind of problem, good for you.

My kid just moved in. His recruitment was all over the place. Two or three D1 schools, one top school as a preferred walk on, some NESCAC schools, good D3. We ended with a really good D3 school. He played prep, played as a freshman. All the good stuff. It is a wild journey let me tell you that.

Find a school that he will be comfortable with should hockey not work out. If he wants to go (assuming it’s him not you that want him to go there) to a NESCAC school, understand that these schools vary considerably from academic entry requirements to athletic standard. But they are hard to get into. Just because they are the preferred choice for every parent that has to see his son’s realistic opportunities downgrade from D1 to D3, the GPA really does matter.

I am not trying to be an ass but the reality is that there are so many talented kids out there. Take one step, breathe, relax and enjoy the ride.

First advice I could give is don't repeat unless he needs it academically. Repeating for hockey will help in 9th/10th and then hurt in 11th/12th. Better off staying in grade, graduating and then if needed, go play juniors for a year. Playing against kids so much younger and then hoping to jump righ to college is a mistake.

Depends on the kid - some kids need to repeat because they are physically not ready to play prep hockey until they are a repeat Jr.

At 13 he's still young enough to take-up lacrosse. If he's not athletic he can go D-3, if he can run and has some stick skills go D-1 and no Juniors or repeat years . . college at 18 graduates a D-1 athlete at 22. Hockey is a foolish path.

You clearly have no knowledge of D1 lacrosse.

If they are not ready until they are a repeat junior then they won't be playing college hockey unless you count club hockey.

Repeating will look like a good decision for now, then his last two years, not so much. That is unless he is just competing which again means it will be time to hang em up.

Not really true, especially for defensemen. More late bloomers make it at defense than kids considered top players at Freshmen and Sophomores in high school. Part of it is a size issue but usually it's the kids who keep working at their game and don't get showered with 'can't miss' accolades.

Says the Dad of a big slow-footed defensemen

Says the dad of a kid who never saw D-I varsity ice until his senior season and then 10 months later made a top USHL team while all the heavily touted kids in the region went on to play Club hockey.

Check your notes, a 'stud' 14 year old defensemen rarely makes it.

you are all so full of ****, it is hilarious...