College Hockey Options and Opportunities

We've always put academics first -- hoping you weren't directed here directly from my article about skipping school for hockey -- and as the funnel narrows and the player pool get gets smaller, I'm begining to notice that that's becoming more and more rare as each year and level of hockey goes by.

The home schooling or online education stuff...for the sake of hockey? Really?

These families are riding on hockey.

I mean...I get it if an NHL level career is already coming up over the horizon for your 15 or 16 year old. But that's not the case for most of us.

The thought of sending any of my children to a hockey academy only held my interest for about 20 seconds. I like the concept...I don't like the future it attempts to promise.

To date, not one of the "academy" teams my boys have faced has left me impressed with what they put out on the ice. Sure, some of them are good...but they should be!

C'mon, if you're on the ice 7 days per week and training non-stop, you should be pretty good.

Weird, though...they never wipe the floor with the club teams my kids are on.

I can only imagine how sub-par the academics of those kids must be. Makes me sad -- lots of parents spending a ton of money with their priorities upside down.

Prep school is another story -- I think that "parent" group is split. Half are there for the academics and the other half are chasing a hockey dream. I mean, if two 9th round picks with a grand total of 12 NHL games went there...it's a pipe dream.

Use prep school for connections and the education.

But this post is about AFTER high school.

I've let my kids know that academics will always come first but that we'll support them for a year or two AFTER high school for junior hockey as long as it continues to trend upward. They can go to university at 18 or they can give hockey a go.

It's up to them.

My oldest is wrapping up his junior year of high school right now so "college" is on the mind of his peers at school.

This is the time of year where the high schools have those "signing days" and he's never super impressed.

The star soccer player at school is going to some school he's never heard of. The top basketball player is headed to state school near by. The football studs are headed to junior colleges.

Different paths...than, I think, he expected.

Now, sure, there are a lot of variables involved.

Grades, tuition costs, "actual" athletic talent, etc.

And then when he looks at the kids he's played hockey with, that are a year or two older, and they're putting out social media posts that they've committed to play D3 hockey here or there and it looks like it's big huge deal on social media...and then he's like...there's a university in Carol Stream, Illinois?

With a hockey team?

Really?

And that's when it hit him in the face -- a large majority of his hockey peers are allowing hockey to dictate their path in life.

I'm not sh!tting on Carol Stream State (it's made up) but, like, if you have the grades and the test scores -- use those to dictate your path.

Hockey comes second. With an asterisk. In italics. *

He's fortunate to have the grades, the standardized test scores, the accreditations, the recommendations, and the hockey skills for nearly every path to be available to him -- most of the paths are even paved.

Guidance counsler's dream.

Triple threat, honestly. Kid can even dance. Didn't get that from me.

I mean...he's in the National Honor Society, the gifted program, been taking university courses since grade 9, and was recently selected (enlisted?) into some sort of American Legion civic leadership program over the summer where it's, the way I read it, a politician boot camp.

He didn't "seek" it out...he was sought out for, get this, strong academic performance, excellent interpersonal skills, his "leader of leader" qualities, and because he possesses strong oratorical skills.

Real heady stuff.

I live with him...and I'm not sure I would have pegged him for most of that.

After being crowned prom king, or whatever they call it now so as not to offend anyone, his younger brother recently told me, "Yeah, dad, he's a pretty big deal at school."

But, yeah, future politicians with gross standardized test scores generally don't go to Carol Stream State...to play hockey.

So with more options in front of him, the decision becomes more difficult.

As a parent, I'm super proud of him for getting to the point where these opportunities just keep coming -- he's earning them without really showing it outwardly -- and his willingness to challenge himself and basically give up his summer to make stump speeches on topics he somehow understands.

Adulting...at 17.

But at the same time, yeah, he's got some BIG choices to make in the near future.

I don't envy that.

He's pretty confident he's on the conveyor belt to a D3 hockey opportunity. It's not a long a shot...feels more like a sure thing.

But at the expense of it being some place like Carol Stream State playing in an arena 40 minutes from campus that also houses laser tag birthday parties...during your games.

Every game, parents and children will walk through your games with balloons and crappy grocery store sheet cakes without even glancing over at which teams are on the ice.

I dunno -- it's like four more years of youth hockey. Certainly not the "cawledge hockey" experience most kids think of...but the actual reality for 95% of them.

Playing D1 is a stretch -- especially now with the CHL guys in the mix and NIL money starting to land in some hockey player's back pockets.

D1 is going to get better...and younger.

That's my prediction.

He's on the forefront of that shift...so...best to avoid it.

So...the academics come first.

As anti-ChatGpt / Gemini / Claude as I am, I must confess that they all gave us some really helpful guidance in his college search.

Prompts like...well known, business school, NCAA D1, NCAA D3, or ACHA Division 1 hockey team, on campus arena with full bowl, 1500+ SAT, honors student...really narrowed things down and streamlined the process of figuring out potential landing spots for what's "next".

Really narrowed it down.

Carol Stream State was not on the list. Most of the SEC was....and we visited a ton of them.

But, seriously, use these AI tools to narrow down the endless list of places to play hockey AFTER junior hockey. Even after high school hockey -- there are solid ACHA Division 2 and 3 programs that play what gives off the impression of "real" college hockey.

You may have seen a guy on Instagram under the account @mikefrommsubject. His name is Mike Vilardo and he comes across as a real arrogant douchebag.

He's so full of himself that my initial attraction, err, reaction was that it was comedy. Like, he's playing a character, a caricature of sorts.

I grew up in an affluent environment overflowing with this type of person so I tend to see through it pretty easily...and I was like...guys like him are why high school reunions are so enjoyable.

My younger sister worked a golf course as a beercart girl at one point and I'll never forget the time she came home and mentioned she'd met his guy who "had a hot car, owned his own business" and blah, blah, blah.

I was like, "Yeah? I can truthfully say all of those things too...but here we are sitting diagonal from one another in our childhood kitchen eating mom's salisbury steak."

That dude's lustre wore off instantly. It's the "on paper" vs. "reality" thing again.

Just saying that when you grow up in an environment brimming with boastful people...you tend to have a keen eye to false posturing. Not saying that I can't be impressed...but I'm very unlikely to be immediately smitten with anything.

I have a BMW sports car in the garage...but drive an entry level Kia Sportage.

There's a reason for that.

I can see right through...myself. Or maybe it's more a fear of being seen right through by someone just like me?

Little bit of Holden Caulfield sneaking in... Phonies aren't cool.

Anyway, Mike from Subject is constantly mentioning how many D1 offers he had for hockey and baseball back in the day from some really impressive schools and how you should listen to what he says because, well, he's so awesome at EVERYTHING.

But...and this is a big but...for all of the things he proclaims, if you ignore his pompous delivery style, he's spot on 99% of the time.

I was taken aback by what he actually says.

I see through him...but also respect what's falling out of his mouth.

It comes across as hot air...but it's not hot air.

His claims aren't BS either...I spent way too much time looking into his past. He was legitimately a really great hockey player and, apparently, an even better baseball player.

Long story, short, he wishes he'd made it to profession baseball or hockey...but he didn't...and he's super thankful he went to the schools that he did because that's what lead him to a successful career anyway. That's his message in nearly every video.

Pick this path. Go to this school. Don't play junior hockey unless...

It's all solid advice...

I mean, he credits his experiences, and the people, and the culture, he picked up through athletics over and over...but that going to University of Pennsylvania (the Ivy League school I've come to realize many people overlook) was what really set him up for a successful life.

Playing hockey for Carol Stream State's amazing D3 hockey program is very unlikely to benefit you as much as, say, playing for University of Tennesee's or Vanderbilt's ACHA team.

Why?

Well, neither path is likely to lead to a professional hockey career...D1 schools aren't exactly pipelines either...but the people you'd meet at a huge SEC school and, honestly, just the name recognition of the school alone, will open doors that being a top guy at Carol Stream will never be able to.

The school should come first.

If you have the grades and test scores to in to University of Pennsylvania but are only good enough to play for their club team...go there. Ten out of ten times. Go there.

And don't give up on the hockey dream either -- you think the D1 staff doesn't have an eye on what's on the club team? Even if the club team is playing out of the rink with lazer tag through the purple double doors. They know.

But the hockey doesn't matter.

The school's reputation and recognition, and the personal connections you make along the way, are what matter in the long run.

Networking is everything. Network at the highest level you can...that also offers the most widespread exposure.

One of his more recent posts featured some Yale baseball players.

Comments were like, "No baseball player wants to go to Yale!"

And I get it. Kids are dumb. Comments on the internet, by and large, are dumb too.

Most baseball players never make the major leagues. Minor league ball players live nomadic lifestyles and workin constrcution or car dealerships duirng the offseason to make ends meet.

Baseball players that go to Yale, though?

If you get in...go to Yale. Play baseball. Live a succesful and prosperous life.

So, yeah...regardless of what I said above about him...those were my initial impressions...I totally respect this guy, his opinions, and his message.

Internet good guy, well, for this angle of his online presence, anyway.

His target audience is, oddly, high end 16 and 17 year old athletes and telling them a whole lot of what they probably don't want to hear...but he says it anyway.

That's not a highly monetizable social media scene. Really niche.

He's spreading his message for all of the RIGHT reasons. He's trying to help people.

Practical judgment isn't super common in the youth hockey environment, after all, I mean, we're ALL going to the NHL, right?

Okay...so now that that's out of the way, and at the risk of coming across as preaching like I'm some all knowing hockey parent, I'm going to share a few additional things I've been advising my kids to do when it comes to "what comes AFTER"...

First, keep a keen eye open for things like ID or prospect skates at local universities. Even if you have ZERO intention of going to that school -- it immediately gives your player an idea of where they fit in the whole landscape.

For us, it was a little like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Two were substantially below him and one felt just right. I imagine that had we attended a few more, we'd have encountered at least one where he was out of his league.

Side note: One was really funny...he said the locker room had "Get Pucks Deep" painted on the locker room wall as their mantra.

He was like, "Yeah, no...I can't play here."

Scratch them off the list.

These are mostly ACHA club programs that host these things...but not always.

Even two years out from university, if your player is 16 or 17 years old, and has ambitions of playing in university, definitely seek one of these out.

You get to see the facilities, meet the coaches, and skate with some of the actual players on the team...which gives you far more insight as to whether it's something you want pursue or not.

Added bonus, it's generally under $30 to participate. Lots of them are even free.

Seems that this secluded portion of hockey hasn't caught on to the easy "money grab" concept quite yet.

The next thing, if you've semi-narrowed down on which schools you might want to attend, would be to advise your son or daughter to "follow" the program on social media. Instagram, as of 2026, seems to be the platform of choice.

Follow the coach, if they have a profile.

And then follow two or three second or third year players on the current roster, you know, potential teammates in the future.

Seven times out of ten, you'll get a follow back. Boom, now you have eyes on you.

The secret here, though, is curtailing your player's use of social media.

Wait, let me back up a second...

Before you start following all these accounts, do a little research on their current roster. Elite Prospects is a great tool for this -- if all of the guys on there played three years of juniors, top players have some USHL experience, and your kid is just playing for their local high school...you might want to adjust your aim.

While my son was "doing the research" (surfing Instagram with EP open in the background), he started to notice a trend. Every roster he took a deeper dive on had guys that played for teams that he currently plays against regularly. Even the teams way down south.

That's always a good sign that you're looking in the right places. "Eight of these guys played in the same league I play in now."

It also creates more of a connection and the social net just keeps getting wider and wider.

Like, I'm more likely to "follow" someone that I see wearing a youth or junior jersey that I recognize than someone wearing something I don't. Connections, man...

It's like how I always say you should ALWAYS buy the team bag. No one ever believes me...but it opens doors.

Wear your team logos with pride. You WILL be pre-judged and sized up before you even step on the ice.

Give yourself that advantage.

You never want to be anonymous in this game.

Sorry, another side track that semi-relates. At the WSI tournament, there was one kid out there that had a Medicine Hat Tigers helmet on. Now, sure, most players and parents probably just thought it was some high school tiger logo or whatever...but my kid knew. And, damn, that kid could play. Very clearly a WHL player reluctantly wearing a cage for a US based tournament.

And I know with all of the prostock equipment resellers out there these days, getting team branded equipment like that is far easier than it used to be -- mens league games make me laugh -- but, yeah, people "in the know" will take note of it when they see it.

If your skillset matches the logos you're wearing, you're golden.

Now...circling back to curtailing your players use of social media...

Step one...make sure it's a public profile. You WANT to be found. It's gotta be public.

Step two...make sure your handle and profile photo both SCREAM hockey player from the hilltops. Especially if you have a really common first and last name. Ideally, if someone searches your name and there are 25 results...you want to make it easy for them to identify who the hockey player is.

And with that, it's gotta be on topic for where you want it to take you.

I tell my kids...it's a commercial. For you!

Don't start following all of these teams and coaches and players when your latest 5 posts on your own account have absolutely NOTHING to do with hockey. Do a little clean-up, first.

And, honestly, like I've told my kids, if you're utilizing social media for hockey...keep it on topic. I know I said that already, like, two sentences ago but it bears repeating.

Don't share things that don't make you look good. Not as in a good hockey player...but as a good person.

Obviously self-deprecating humor is okay too. Like a reel of you whiffing on a one-timer or hopping on the ice with skate guards still on. It happens to everyone, nobody is perfect, coaches realize this.

I'd even recommend silly semi-choreographed dance videos with teammates every now and then. It's generally regarded a positive trait if you're able to laugh at yourself publically.

So many high school aged kids' social media presences are just overflowing with inappropriate inside jokes, photos of them doing something that is borderline illegal, trying way too hard to look cool, or something that, to an adult, will clearly not age well. Politics? Just...no.

Teenagers are dumb.

Save the dumb stuff with your friends for TikTok and SnapChat.

Make Instagram your version of LinkedIn.

If you don't think the post showcases you in a positive light ... for a hockey ops type person ... don't post it.

If your friends start commenting off the rails with inside joke stuff...delete the comments.

Wrong platform for that.

Doesn't have to be hockey 100% of the time -- that's what the Elite Prospects or Graet profile is for -- but it should be another offshoot exhibiting why you'd be a good fit, not just in hockey, but for anything that could move you upward.

Of late, for us, the non-hockey related stuff has been a National Honor Society ceremony, a prom king photo, and a reel of them participating in track.

Each one served a purpose, you know, displayed a positive trait ... and they were each posted with a purpose.

It might not be the "cool" thing to do...but it definitely the smarter route to take.

So many ways to "control" your image.

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