Choosing your NCAA Hockey Team and Coach

It’s time to choose your NCAA hockey team and coach. All of your prep work is done, tests are booked or written and plans for the eligibility center are in place or completed.

It’s time to choose your NCAA hockey team and coach. All of your prep work is done, tests are booked or written and plans for the eligibility center are in place or completed.

You’ve made your list of possible teams and schools to consider. Now it’s time for you – yes-you the hockey player – to do the research and narrow down your choices for your NCAA hockey team and coach.

You will be spending more time with your team and coach during your four years at school than you will with your family. So, you will want to make sure that you choose a team and coach that is the right fit for you.

Be pro-active. Coaches are impressed by players who take the initiative and are pro-active in their quest to play NCAA hockey.

You can contact the coach to do your research. You don’t have to wait for them to contact you. Coaches have limited budgets and limited amounts of time to see thousands of players who want careers in the NCAA. These limitations mean you could be missed on their radar, so contact them and let them know you are out there.

Be prepared. Answer this question before you start researching teams and coaches – “What are the 7 things that are important to me when selecting my team and coach?” – eg. What do I want to study?, How close to home do I want to be, How much can I afford for incidental costs? - This will help you eliminate some schools right off the top when you have your answer in front of you and, it might also help you find or consider other schools you hadn’t thought of yet.

Check out the coach before you initiate contact.

• What is the coach’s experience playing hockey?
• What is the coach’s experience coaching hockey?
• What is the coach’s experience playing in the NCAA?
• What is the coach’s experience coaching in the NCAA?

Check out how many All Americans, Hobey Baker / Patty Kazmiere, and Pro signings.

Research the team on our team pages.

• What is there record over the last three years?
• How many times has the team been in the conference playoffs in the last 5
• years?
• How many times has the team been in the NCAA Tournament in the last 5
• years?
• Find out how many recruits they have lined up to come in at your position.

Put together this information to help your self get a picture of the teams you are considering. It will help you eliminate some options and find new ones.

Now that you have all the information ready and in hand, start contacting coaches. Again, Be Prepared! Have your questions ready to ask the coach.

• Ask about opportunities for ice time as a freshman. Find out your practice
• time per week. Are there strength and conditioning facilities and is there
• a strength and conditioning coach for the team.

These are some of the things to consider when researching an NCAA hockey team and coach.

Check out – college questions page for more details.

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