Hockey and prep school - which is the right choice?

Doesn’t Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, CT have an elite boys’ ice hockey program? And Avon Old Farms in Avon Old Farms, CT is known for its sports programs. It’s a mute (sic) point now as the applications are in, but it does go to show that even as narrow a focus as boys’ hockey and close to home will not capture every possible school. The serious boarding-school-aspiring folks who don’t get in anywhere probably didn’t do a good enough job finding schools–not saying the OP did or didn’t do that.

But how do you choose? Wherever you get in! To get a perfect fit you first have to get a fit!

Otoh, if you(r kid) were really a LOCK at one of the largest and/or most famous boarding school because of a magic combination of elite sports accomplishment mixed with grades and scores and ability to pay, you would know it. Coaches can’t make promises, but coaches do lots of things and some of those things are not secrets.

The worst thing in the world is to THINK you(r kid) is a lock and then get an interesting surprise in March.

Not to say there aren’t kids essentially guaranteed to get in anywhere they want. Happens every year. Athletes in that situation are just usually the easiest for the hoi polloi to spot.

Gnarwhail: ditto. It’s moot really but one doesn’t pick schools for hockey and go to any of those schools even if one wants to keep close to home. Their are many better schools for both academics and hockey.

I am probably going to offend some out there, but some kids do pick a school for hockey. Sometimes it is hockey (or perhaps other sport such as crew) that initially gets them interested in boarding school. They are scouted; some are initially contacted by schools. It is a fact. They still have to go through interview and application process like others though and they are not guaranteed acceptance just based on their ability.

As far as the comment above “there are many better schools for both academics and hockey” um, maybe there are but the schools initially mentioned in first post most if not all have strong hockey programs and have produced NHL prospects, recruits and some Olympians (Choate has had several female Olympians). Also, if referring to the above post, Avon Old Farms has a very strong program; to mention one, Jonathan Quick went there (LA Kings, Stanley Cup, etc). Whatever the child’s wish is - playing D1, NHL or Olympic dreams, if he is good enough he will get the opportunity to be seen while playing prep school hockey. There are always colleges and others at the games and tournaments (you can usually pick them out by their jacket logo and clip board :D)

As far as academics, I think any serious student will be challenged at any of the schools mentioned - it really comes down to what the student makes of it, not what school is listed on their diploma.

For the OP, they have to decide what is the right fit for THEM, which appears to be a combo of academics, hockey and location. They applied to all good schools and we have friends at just about all of them and they all chose their school different reasons. I wish them good luck!

The US only has Tier 1 hockey in the USHL. If he is really a Tier 1 player, he should be playing in the USHL or one of the other leagues in Canada.

Prep school is not really the way to go for Hockey at a high level.

@torveaux, not every player on the draft list is from the USHL or the Canadian leagues.

“Prep school is not really the way to go for Hockey at a high level.”
Tell that to at least 3 kids I know who followed that exact path.

They were interviewing Torrey Mitchell from the Canadiens recently. He went to hotchkiss.

Yes Dutch but The OP didn’t mention AOF…

@center - gnarwhail mentioned AOF, that is why I did.

My apologies. Yes. Prep can be a superb venue for hockey and academics. The prep schools have a long and storied history in hockey. That being said, it is not what it used to be. TSAO made it very very difficult for the top schools to recruit great players. I don’t want to incite debate whether that is good or bad just that it is much different these days. The USHL and club teams have eroded the prep schools pool of talented players. Still there are many good programs but it is a pretty narrow list these days. Most schools can produce a good D3 player. About ten will send players to D1. AOF, Selects Academy, Exeter, Milton, NMH, KU, Gunnery, Cushing. There are several others that aren’t so great anymore . They have up and down years and programs. St Pauls and Choate for example. Then there are some very good private day schools like Dexter, Belmont Hill, St Sebastian’s, CM, BC High, Malden Catholic that produce many top players. Part of the reason that the catholic schools stay so strong is that they are much more affordable.

Sure, there are some anecdotal examples of good players going Prep. The reality is that most of the top talent goes the USHL or similar club route. We have a very close family friend that played USHL for two years, four years at a major college hockey program (including Frozen Four appearance) and drafted in 1st round at 18. I would not pretend his example means that it is the only way, but talking with him about the program and looking around the league, it is pretty easy to see that the top US players played USHL much more often than in Prep school.

Thank you Dutch 2274 and wishing your daughter all of the best. I will Pm you.

Dutch 2274 Thank you and cannot believe the negativity of some of these posts. I have given a brief synopsis of my son’s situation and have eliminated details about communications and contacts with schools/coaches and am so happy that I have done so due to the lack of support from some of these posters. One poster even fore-warned me to eliminate details and I am now thankful for that information. I thought this would be a supportive forum and was merely asking a question about what is the right fit. I have multiple issues that are impacting our decision and distance is in fact an issue for those that have made remarks about not going towards the Milton, St. Paul’s, Andover, Exeter and Deerfield (or whatever academia/hockey power houses that I am eliminating). In addition, I don’t need to defend the fact that my son is a Tier one AAA player. The fact that Avon and Cheshire Academy are being referred to as better academic/hockey schools is mind boggling to me. However, I do not wish to go down the path of bashing other institutions. I am merely trying to find the best academic /hockey/proximity situation for my child. If you look at the game results within the Founders League, it can go either way with regards to the score. Academically, despite which school you attend, you will be challenged in a smaller classroom setting. You are simply unable to hide and critical thinking is encouraged. Yes, I whole heartedly agree that the schools vary in their acceptance rate, test scores, and name/pedigree/endowment. Yet having been a product of a very good public school and ultimately a boarding school for junior and senior year, there is a VAST difference. I appreciate all of the advise, good will and intentions, but really am turned off by the negativity. Also in regards to the comment about going into the USHL, we are not wiling to have our child forgo a decent education to billet at the age of 15. It would be my hope that people can be more accepting and accommodating to everyone’s various needs and circumstance. Thanks again for all of the positive feedback.

Also, I would like to add that I would be thrilled if my son was remotely able to play D 3, obtain a top notch education and go on to have a successful career. I am not delusional in the sense that playing D1 is close to impossible and to Center those Catholic and Day schools that you mentioned are fabulous if you live in the vicinity of Boston!

“Also in regards to the comment about going into the USHL, we are not wiling to have our child forgo a decent education to billet at the age of 15.”

=D> ^:)^

Labufadora: I would never advocate USHL or billeting unless it was post college. I was merely commenting that the school programs in general are not that great and the best hockey programs are largely in less academic schools like AOF and Cushing. My son was recruited by Gunnery as well as many of these schools. Personally I would shoot for Choate or Loomis. Taft I have never been that impressed with. Millbrook as well. Gunnery Chiate or Loomis will give you the best of both worlds. Please note that I , like others I think, were maybe misunderstanding your hockey expectations.

It’s common for kids hoping for a professional career to play juniors (USHL) after graduating from prep school. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Like Doschicos I applaud the OP for putting education first.

@Center, I believe the USHL is for players between 16 and 20, so no post-college players.

Sue22: yes sorry mistyped. Post high school pre college.

Center I appreciate your feedback. I thought from the onset that I made it clear that academics were our priority. Some of the schools that we applied to were based upon the coaches interest/communications - whether or not we considered that particular school a stellar academic facility. After all, why would we leave our current Tier 1/local Blue Ribbon High School to not head for higher academic standards (which is overall offered by any one of these given prep schools despite the hierarchy and endowment). Thank you for all of your insight but we are well aware that the power house hockey schools may offer less of the academic profile that we are seeking. Interested to hear your feedback as related to the Taft versus Choate. Both schools appear to be higher on the ladder academically. They have both had tough seasons, thus far. Any thoughts would be welcomed.

I am sorry you felt unsupported and that we were too negative. Honestly, every school you are applying to is excellent. If you are son loves hockey and wants to play in college my one rec would be to make sure he has a place on varsity wherever he gets in. If he is to start on JV then he may never get to varsity. They recruit and bring in older kids every year. I would select a school where the coach wants him and he has a varsity spot assured. Every school you are applying to is very good. Now I have to say I don’t particularly love Millbrook. The kids I knew that went to Milbrook and Taft were and are spoiled rich kids from NYC. :). Choate speaks for itself reputation wise . Loomis, Gunnery, Kent and Westminster are all highly regarded for academics and athletics. Westminster woukd be my pick. Great hockey program and a wonderful gem of a school.