thank you…sounds like good advice. it is so unnerving to hear so many opinions some good some not some people you trust know what they are talking about… just hoping i get a real “sign” of some solid advise that i will take to heart…i guess when it hits me i will know ? just hoping it will be over with soon …its literally stressing me out, enough to find a support chat thread never been on one before hahaaah thanks!!!
as @twoinanddone says do look up the rosters. then look the kids up on eliteprospects and see where they have been (teams and schools) and how old they are.
Prep school hockey is definitely beneath ushl, nahl, and many other junior hockey leagues. However for top level 14 or 15 year olds it is a very attractive option that offers very high level hockey comparing with club hockey and other high school options.
Most club teams at u14 or u16, including nj avalanche would get trounced by isl or founders league prep teams.
Prep is generally a lesser option for older players at the top end (skill wise) for their birth year as they can play Juniors beginning at age 16.
For the best upper classmen, or pgs… maybe not the best option. But neither is club hockey at the youth level. The cream of the crop play Juniors in the Midwest (ushl, nahl).
If you add in the other benefits of prep school for a 14-15 year old, prep hockey blows club youth hockey out of the water.
You can count the number of 14 or 15 year olds playing top prep hockey on one hand. 99% of 14 or 15 year old players will be on JV or largely on the bench. Prep is a tenure system unlike club which is a talent system. Most of the teams are dominated by older players (17-19). In New England very few kids leave to play Juniors before they’ve graduated from HS. The problem with prep hockey is that there are so many teams (in additional to multiple levels of juniors and club) that the talent is too diluted for there to actually to be good competition. And that includes coaching talent. Most prep coaches are retired in place. You don’t have that issue in other areas of the country where the added level of prep hockey simply does not exist (with the single exception being Shattuck which is really just a club), just high school and club. Having the dozens of prep teams keeps far more BAD kids playing hockey and negatively impacts the development of kids who actually have potential to be strong players because they just don’t improve enough playing such watered-down hockey. This can even be seen with the kids who do leave to play juniors early from New England since very few of them live up to their local hype once they leave. Care to guess how many kids from Massachusetts have made it to the NHL after playing in the USHL (not including the NTDP)? One! And he only played a few games there and that was years ago. (He didn’t last more than a few games in the NHL either). I promise, you have never heard of him.
You may wonder, why do so many kids still go to prep schools for hockey? In the NY/NJ/Ct area there a few stellar club teams in each state that the kids can play on until they graduate from HS. In New England (home of prep hockey) there are dozens of club teams and they all stink because, once again, there are too many of them! Dilution…
So in the Land of Prep Schools (New England) every town high school has a hockey team, every prep school has a hockey team, there are dozens of for pay club teams where kids who are two years out if high school can still nurse their hockey dreams. This structure exists no where else.
The best guys that come out of Prep, were playing on top club teams and are proven stars. Generally, they come in as repeat juniors, play 2 years and go on to college. The very best prep players by and large have their college deals before they get to prep or they get the offers as a result of exposure during club tournaments. @QuietMan mentions the other benefits of prep school for a 14-15 year old. If you are going to a true hockey prep school the academics arent even close to those offered by a Choate, PA or Groton. You are spending 60K at Lawrence Academy or Tilton or NMH for what? To graduate and play Juniors hoping Lake Superior State offers you a scholarship? My advice to OP was to have her kid play club for another year or two. Putting up stats in club and getting attention and possibly a college offer or at least college interest before going to prep school would at minimum insure lots of playing time. You cant develop no matter where you are if you don’t play.
I agree that the op should place her kid properly to maximize growth and development.
To me prep offers that in spades both for hockey, socially, and for academics.
Especially for a high end 14/15 year old. (Maybe not so much for the stud 17 year old who can play at the next level.) Not much benefit to be had going to prep school for one (or even two) year as 19 year old man who should be dominating schoolboy hockey. No scout/college coach is looking for that, nor impressed by that.
Every student/player needs to find a path… but what’s wrong with going to Kent, Loomis, or Taft for four years, playing a year in the"U" after graduation, then on to Yale. From there straight to wall street (or who knows NHL if you want to nurse the dream).
This is very possible if you pursue it.
Colonials, Mercer Chiefs, or Avalanche…not even close. Kid will spend half his life in cars driving to and from practices doing homework. Missing school for tournaments. (Prep schools walk to rink in two minutes and no bag to pack.)
I have no puck in this game, but found this dated article (only goes to 2012). http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/high_school/in_the_slot/2013/06/nhl_draft_history_isl_and_prep_schools
@MAandMEmom yes but the game and the money in the game has changed dramatically. Even then players came for Prep for one or two years --you have to look them up individually. You CANNOT go to prep to develop You have to go as an impact or recruited player-meaning you are already developed. Lastly just because you are drafted means little. @quietman “Every student/player needs to find a path… but what’s wrong with going to Kent, Loomis, or Taft for four years, playing a year in the"U” after graduation, then on to Yale." Nothing is wrong with it. But, by and large 4 year players in prep aren’t going Yale for hockey.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Let’s move on from debating whether a boarding school vs. club hockey is the right path for the kid. OP know knows that there are options other than a BS and can, as a family, incorporate it into the decision process.
@Center Do you have any opinions about the PHL? My son plays AAA and is considering a move from PHL to prep as a repeat Junior.
Not in CT, but I would recommend Portsmouth Abbey ( Newport ), too. AOF is a great addition!
I like your list, by the way! Nice schools.
As far as repeating 9th goes … the school (s) will offer that option by letter, email or telephone around M10, if they choose , but it’s certainly not unusual for a parent ( before the app deadline ) to convey that the family/student is open for 9th or 10th. Usually, parents bring up the possibility during the parent interview… ( Could this be an option for us? And, it’s noted. ) or a paid SS consultant/ JBS/ PDS- SS admission person lets admissions know … and I’ve also heard of parents mentioning it or weaving it into their parent statement somehow , too.
If it’s really important to you that it goes into your son’s file for consideration, call the AOs that he interviewed with and just say- Before the app deadline, I just wanted to touch base and let you know that our son would like to be considered for both III and IV Form. We think our son would benefit greatly from four years, if possible, but of course, three would be wonderful , too. I just wanted to let you know that our family has discussed this and we’re open to both options … Or, something simple and to the point like , How do I convey that our son is open to 9th and 10th on the application? ( If you haven’t submitted it yet ) They’ll probably say, I can do that for you right now by putting a note in his file!
Honestly, I would let them figure out what’s best ( based on his stats and app ) but I can certainly appreciate the angst that stems from wanting to let a school know something while not knowing how to say it or worse- not knowing how it will interpreted or received. Those are just some ideas, but you should feel comfortable making the call ( it’s not an uncommon thing to do! ) - especially if you think it will weigh on you between now and M10. 
Another thing to consider - if you get Waitlisted, they already have that info in his file going in and it’s on their radar M10-A10 … which is a lot better/ more genuine/ thought through than a Waitlisted parent frantically calling an AO after M10 saying, Hey, by the way, we’ll take 9th or 10th if a spot opens up! 
It’s up to you and good luck!!