The
American
Hockey
Center College Hockey
Guide is provided as a free service to the hockey community as a tool to
research information about college hockey in the United States. The guide
will provide basic details of college hockey programs at all levels for
both men and women. It is searchable by Gender, School, Level, League, and
State. Links to college teams Web sites are included for more details and
contact information.
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Research College Hockey |
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For young players who desire to attend a college where they will be
provided with an opportunity to play competitive hockey while acquiring an
education, the College Hockey Guide is an excellent tool.
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Some
things to research . . .
- What are the college
academic offerings - does this fit your needs?
- What are the academic
requirements for admission - can you qualify?
- What is the tuition cost
- does this fit your budget?
- What is the former
playing level of the current players - does this match your playing
experience?
- Does the college have an
on campus college hockey arena?
- How is the fan support
(attendance at games)?
- Is transportation
provided to away games?
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| In
general, there is no guarantee of inclusion on a college hockey
team unless the player has been awarded a hockey scholarship by a NCAA
Division I college, so it is important that players attend a college that
matches their previous level of success in hockey. College hockey teams
are classified by level of play and players should determine what level is
the best fit for them. Below are a few guidelines to help with this
process. |
| NCAA College Hockey (two levels of hockey are
played by NCAA college teams) |
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NCAA Division I is the highest level of college hockey.
Players at this level have usually been identified at an early age and
many are given athletic scholarships. Many of these players have played at
a very high level of Prep School Hockey or Junior A Hockey for one or more years to further develop their skills and strength. If a player
has not been recruited
by a Division I college, it is not likely that this level will be a good fit. |
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NCAA Division III
is a very high level of play, but does not offer athletic scholarships.
These colleges recruit heavily and players at this level have usually been
recruited by the college. Many of the players have played a high level of
Junior, Midget AAA or Prep School hockey before entering college. |
| ACHA
College Hockey
(three levels of hockey are played by ACHA college teams) |
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ACHA
Division I is a high level of play and many are equal to some of the
NCAA Division III teams. These teams often have on campus college hockey
arenas and enjoy large fan attendance. These teams recruit heavily and many of the
players have played a high level of Junior, Midget AAA or Prep School
hockey before entering college. |
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ACHA
Division II is a good fit for many players who have been standouts on
average level high school or midget hockey teams. Many of these
programs are well organized and managed and can offer a good experience
for players who do not qualify for the higher levels. |
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ACHA
Division III is generally a step down in playing level, but many of these programs are well
organized and managed and can offer a good experience for players who do
not qualify for the higher levels. |
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Research College Hockey |
