College Ice Hockey Scholarships and Recruiting
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How do I get a college ice hockey scholarship? The hockey recruiting process is unlike all other college sports in that coaches expect you to play several years of Junior A hockey in a North American league before you attend university. Don’t think that just because you see scouts that you are being looked at for a scholarship. You need to move up on their recruiting boards to get scholarship offers. Follow these steps to get a chance at a scholarship. |
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How do I improve my chances of earning a college ice hockey scholarship? Hockey players need to start the recruiting process before they reach Junior A hockey. The longer a coach can watch you the better idea he will have of your potential. Once in Junior A hockey coaches can then examine how you match up with the best competition. Learn how to impress coaches even more. |
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How do I get recruited for a ice hockey scholarship? The hockey recruiting process takes longer than any other college sport. To be seriously considered for an ice hockey scholarship you must be playing Junior A hockey. However, don’t expect to just get recruited; you need to take the reins and execute the process yourself, and here is how. |
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What are the academic requirements to be eligible for a ice hockey scholarship? All NCAA DI athletes have to meet the minimum eligibility set by the NCAA. This is a combination of your high school course work, grades and test scores. Based on what level you want to compete, the minimum requirements can be found here |
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How do I get a college ice hockey coaches to watch me? Ice Hockey coaches primarily scout players after they reach the Junior A level of hockey. If you are not playing in Junior A, you will have very difficult time getting coaches to your games. To get coaches to your Junior A games follow our guide here. |
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What are the athletic requirements to receive an ice hockey scholarship? You don’t have to be the right size and weight but being undersized makes the process more challenging. You need to go to each schools site and find out what leagues the typically recruit players from. If you want to play for that school you should try to play in that league.Men’s Hockey
Hockey players who receive scholarships directly from high school play for high ranking prep teams. The most common route to earn a college hockey scholarship is to play Junior A hockey in a North American junior league such as:
Women’s Hockey
It is important for women’s hockey players to have club team experience and or to play junior hockey after high school to refine their skills. Popular junior leagues include:
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How many ice hockey scholarships are available and what schools offer them? Number of scholarships offered per team, per year, by DivisionNot all colleges that are eligible to offer scholarships will choose to do so. For example, Ivy League schools choose not to offer athletic scholarships. Hockey is an equivalency sport which means all scholarships are NOT full scholarships. For example, in NCAA D1, hockey coaches can divide the value of the 18 scholarships available to them between as many players as they see fit. Men’s Hockey
NCAA D1: 18 Women’s Hockey NCAA D1: 18 NCAA D2: 18 Number of College Hockey Programs Men’s Hockey NCAA D1: 58 *NCAA D3: 70 Total: 136 Women’s Hockey NCAA D1: 34 NCAA D2: 2 *NCAA D3: 48 Total: 84 *NCAA Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but do offer other forms of financial aid. |
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Who are the top college ice hockey programs in each division? These are some of the top programs. Only focusing the top programs will make the recruiting process very difficult. We encourage athletes to broaden their search and explore schools they might not know right away. Men’s Hockey NCAA D1:Denver, Miami (Ohio), Wisconsin, Boston College, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, Ferris State, Cornell, Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan, Yale, Northern Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont NCAA D3: Norwich, Oswego State, St. Norbert, Middlebury, Manhattanville, Bowdoin, Hamline, Wisconsin Stevens Point, Adrian, Elmira, Williams Women’s Hockey NCAA D1: Mercyhurst, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota, Harvard, Holy Cross, New Hampshire, Clarkson, Connecticut, Cornell, Northeastern, Wisconsin, Quinnipiac, Boston University, Providence NCAA D3: Rochester Inst., Plattsburgh State, Amherst, Gustavas Adolphus, Norwich, Wisconsin River Falls, Middlebury, Trinity, Wisconsin Stevens Point, Elmira |
IMPORTANT: NAIA Rule Changes. You must now register with the NAIA Clearinghouse.
