There used to be HS powerhouses for hockey and now they’ve all but died out... makes no sense. But somehow, they got us to buy into this club/prep scam and we are -hook, line and sinker.

on the flip side there are kids like mine who could actually benefit My kid is a solid player but I don't think college hockey is in his future. With the top players making the jump to prep/clubs instead of our local school he actually has a better chance to play varsity.

People say high school is "dead" but in my town we have 25 on varsity, 25 on JV and the rink is still packed during games. It's just different kids.

Generally, yes the hockey is better. If you pick the right school, your kid will be well ahead of the game for his entire life. In short prep, well the right prep, is certainly an investment that will pay dividends if you can pull it off & your kid has the grades to get in and the drive to perform not just on the ice but in the classroom.

Bottom line is the preps are really good schools and if you take the hockey aside really prepare your kid to do well in college. Have you seen the facilities at these schools? Make it a point next time to drive through them and just soak it in. Oh there's the Astronomy observatory next to the hockey rink, next to the biosciences wing, across from the makerspace, down the hall from the theater and over to the Art building. Take the bus down to the marina where I'm pretty sure the school(Tabor and St George's do) has a sailboat the kids can sail to the Carribean on spring break. Now go contrast that to whichever High School you like that was retrofitted from a 1956 Asbestos build out.

In addition, they do work to get your kids into the top schools(placement rates don't lie) more so than most public/Catholic high schools and the aid received is very generous. If Elitist=the best then I don't know why people have a problem with it. Why wouldn't you take advantage of any and all opportunities available?

People see the sticker price and say that it's not for me. Don't you get that's exactly the rouse?

This argument is about 30 years late. When I was a kid, you had to go prep to get noticed. Nowadays, prep, private, public, it doesn't matter. Unless you're one of the 6 best kids in the state, you're going to have to go play two years of junior hockey just to play Division 3.

Here's a look at the numbers provided by Neutral Zone.net, as of 2016..

70% of Division 1 college freshmen were 20-22 years old (about half are 21/22 and half are 20/21)
92% of Division 3 college freshemen are 20-22 years old (72% are 21/22 and 20% are 20/21)

Where do they come from?

D1 - 97% come from Jr hockey. 37% from USHL. 16% from BCHL (Canadian Jr A), and 6% from our local USPHL.
Only 1.4% come from Prep School.

D3 - 91% come from Jr hockey. 31% from our local EHL Premier. 13% from local USPHL. 12% from NAHL. 11% from NA3. 10% from EHL 2nd division.
About 7% came from Prep School.

Wow. I knew it was bad but didn't realize it was that bad, especially the D3 numbers. Just a completely broken system. How did it go so far off the rails from other sports? More importantly, can it be fixed?

I talked to a local D3 coach recently and even he had no idea how it got this way. In the end, it comes down to $$$.

My son was courted by several junior teams (tier I and tier III) and a few very good D-3 coaches and had a few whiffs of D-1. Every D-3 coach said, "there is no reason I should take an 18 year old when I can get 20 year old men - they are bigger, stronger and faster usually." And my kid was 6'3" 190. And they all wanted to wait until he was bigger (thicker). The hockey system is screwed up.

To poster who only has to pay $14K per year ($56K for 4 years), please spare us from your financial analysis trying to tell us how smart your decision is. Good for you with your financial aid - end of story.

Well, it is smart decision and more people should do it- and I'll say when the story is ended.

Right.....:sleeping: :sleeping: :sleeping: :zzz: :zzz:

I have to be honest that 7% playing D3 from prep school seems awful high. Almost never see prep school kids making D3 teams just because they are only 18 or 19.

My son is 14, will be repeating 9th grade at Prep next year, playing hockey and in the IT program which incorporates Computer Science with Engineering and Robotics. We will be paying close to 14K per year for 4 years, 56K total for a jump start that is invaluable to adulthood. The other option was to stay in public school for 3 more years and pay another 11K per year for travel hockey. The investment seems worth it, no?

What are the stats on after college careers? Engineering/Computer Science vs the obligatory Business Degree? Keep it in perspective people.

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I wouldn't assume the prep school will provide everything he needs hockey-wise to continue developing. But the math still works when you factor in the value of education in the big picture of life.

With the rink open the day school starts, strength program assigned, 6 days a week on ice during the season, plus an assigned summer strength program I'd say it will be up to him if he develops or not.

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