5 Tips to Getting Recruited to College Hockey

Here is the number one question that I was asked as an Assistant Coach in college hockey:

What are college coaches looking for when they are recruiting players?

I could give the simple, easy answer –

The 5 S’s:  Speed, Skill, Smarts, Size, and Spirit. 

Although true, these components of your talent only tell some of the story of the process that coaches go through in their decision to recruit a player.  What I’d like to do is take you inside that process through the lens of a college hockey coach.  Through this lens you will get a better understanding of what many coaches are looking for, and how to go about putting yourself in the best position to succeed and be recruited.

1. Play for a good coach

One of the best assets of a good recruiter is the ability to build relationships with people who will give them an honest opinion about the players they coach.  Yes, we need to have an “eye for talent”, but those relationships give us a base on where to start looking for players.  For us, being on the phone discussing potential recruits is just as important as being in a rink.  And we are on the phone with your coaches A LOT.

As Assistant Coaches, we are responsible for recruiting all over the continent.  Over years working in college hockey I watched the USHL, NAHL, BCHL, AJHL, SJHL, MJHL, OJHL, CCHL, GOJHL, NCDC, Prep School, High School, CSSHL, HPHL, AYHL, Tier1HL…and many more. 

Do you think that we get to see all of these players, in all of these leagues, all the time?  Not a chance.  So we rely on youth and junior coaches we trust to give us constant updates on their players and others in their area.  And I can tell you that there are coaches that we trust, and others that we know will sell us anything-under-the-sun for their own self interests.

“So, where should my son play next year?”

My answer is always the same – GO PLAY FOR THE BEST COACH AVAILABLE. One that is honest with you – has a history of making players better – and has a history of moving players on to the next level.

At the end of the day, to be recruited you have to be really good at hockey. Sometimes people forget that and are looking for all of these external cheat codes to get recruited. Simply, the coach is the one that will push you, challenge you, and make you better.

A coach’s honesty and history of making players better mean a lot to recruiters.  They should mean a lot to you, too.

2. Compete

Let me take you into a late-night conversation between college coaches after a long day of scouting at a tournament or showcase.  It usually involves some wings, a few drinks, and a lot of talk about hockey.  The number one issue griped about?

KIDS TODAY DON’T COMPETE.

Sit at a table with some coaches that have been around for years…it’s all they will talk about.  All they want are players that are ultra-competitive and hate to lose, yet they feel like the competitive kid today is a dying breed.

Here’s the thing: There are a ton of talented hockey players out there.  There are not a lot of talented hockey players that have an elite compete level. 

If you want to get recruited: COMPETE.  It is becoming harder and harder to find, but significantly more valuable to coaches on the recruiting trail.

3. Be a Leading Scorer or a Captain

You have to score goals to win hockey games.  That is a fact of life.  So if you are one of the points leaders on your team, we will probably take notice. 

Now, not everybody can be a points leader on their team.  Not everybody has that kind of ability.  In fact, very few kids have that kind of ability.  I know (parents) don’t want to believe that, but it is the truth.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t play college hockey.  Not one bit. 

So if you are not someone that ends up on the scoresheet every night – STAND OUT for your work ethic, character, and leadership abilities.  There is room on a roster for players that can grind it out and may end up being a captain one day. 

College coaches talk about needing player leadership like scientists talk about humans needing oxygen to breathe.  They all recognize their program NEEDS leadership from within the locker room to have success as a team.  Here is a great example:

After they won their first ECAC Championship, I asked former Head Coach at Union Rick Bennett why he thought they won.  His answer: Nolan Julseth-White.

I was like, WHAT??? Your sixth defenseman?

Now, this was a team that had Shayne Gostisbehere and a roster of talented players that eventually went on to win a National Championship.  But Nolan Julseth-White, a senior defenseman that hadn’t scored a goal in his college career, was Coach Bennett’s answer to why their team was successful.

Why?

Because he was one of the best leaders Coach Bennett had ever seen.  He kept the locker room together and held his teammates accountable for buying in to what the team wanted to do.  As a young coach, this was an eye-opening conversation for me.

To college coaches, player leadership is GOLD.  So if you can’t be Shayne Gostisbehere, and there are very few that can…Be Nolan Julseth-White.

4. Pass the “Daughter Test”

One of the best compliments I ever heard from a coach that I trusted was:

“Toph, I would let this kid date my daughter.”

I have daughters now.  And I know many coaches that have daughters.  And to hear a hockey guy say that…all I can say is, WOW.  

The comment was his way of telling me how much he believed in the kid’s character. 

CHARACTER COUNTS.  It doesn’t only take great players to win, it takes great people.  Great people allow for a great culture, and a great culture is the most important characteristic of a winning program.

Kids: Be a good teammate.  Stay out of trouble.  Have positive energy.  Pick up pucks.  Load the bus.  Block shots.  Play hard every day. 

These things don’t take talent.  They take a commitment to being a good person, which is every bit as important as being a good player.  Your coach’s word about your character is something colleges hold in very high regard.

But here’s a hint:  If you are ever in that situation with your coach’s daughter, DON’T DATE HER.

5. Get Good Grades

There are 64 Division One hockey programs in the country.  The better your grades are, the more schools you can get into.  Thus, you will have a greater opportunity to play college hockey.

It’s that simple. 

Many DI hockey schools are also very good academic institutions: The Ivies, Michigan, Wisconsin, Boston College, Boston University, Notre Dame, Colgate, Colorado College, Union, Army, Air Force…these are all schools that were ranked in the Top 100 Universities in the country by Forbes.

If your dream is to play college hockey, you are going to be a STUDENT-ATHLETE, not just an athlete.  Put in the effort with your studies, and not only will there be more opportunity for you to play college hockey, you will be more ready for the rigors of being a student-athlete when you get to school.

Be Resilient and Be Better…Your Dream is in YOUR Control

While writing this post, I felt it necessary to add one more extremely important item due to the landscape of college recruiting today.  With how young kids are feeling pressure to perform, I have been told that many kids consider their opportunity to play college hockey over at 17 if they haven’t received a commitment.  Which really, really sucks.

Kids – If you aren’t receiving the attention your peers are getting at a younger age, be resilient and know that you have time to get better.  Teams have won national championships by recruiting players who are late-bloomers and just took some time to mature.  The average age of a D1 college commitment is 18 years old and the average age of a college hockey freshman is between 19-20.

College coaches love seeing kids that have vastly improved their abilities.  It shows that they work hard and are committed to the development of their game.  This is a skill that is NECESSARY to succeed at the college level.  The most successful players that I have played with or coached are plain and simple the ones that work the hardest at their game.

So if you are wondering why colleges haven’t yet called, instead of wondering why…Work.  And then work harder than that.  Use your adversity as motivation to work harder than you ever have before.  Realize that your destiny is in YOUR control.  And if you work hard enough, that phone call from a coach could be coming soon.

I hope this information helps to shed some light on the ever-talked-about recruiting process.  If you have any other questions or thoughts, shoot me an email at topher@thehockeythinktank.com.