The truth about playing DI NCAA hockey
So, you want to play college hockey. How do you get there? What is the cost? Is it worth the ROI (Return on Investment)?
As in all NCAA sports, things have changed quite a bit over the past 15 or so years in the college hockey ranks. The good old days when playing men’s varsity hockey for a top Division I program was a great way to get a college education (that might have been otherwise financially unattainable) are largely a thing of the past. The competition is fierce, the available roster spots are few and far between and the road there is anything but cheap.
As the season begins, I’ve been having conversations with parents, fans and former college athletes. I’ve also been overhearing self-proclaimed experts (often inebriated fans) as I walk around the rink and I realize how much dated, or misinformation, is out there. As someone who earned two degrees at the University of Denver, worked there full-time for over two decades, and coached members of the 2017 NCAA D1 hockey team, I have seen the landscape change drastically. In this article, I will address some of the most popular myths and truths about playing college hockey.
Myth 1: Playing NCAA D1 means a full-ride scholarship
Once upon a time, blue collar families with exceptionally talented kids could hope to land a full-ride athletic scholarship to fund their child’s education. Those days are essentially gone. Full-ride scholarships are limited to 18 spots per team. First and foremost, note that this is the maximum, not a guarantee that a program will have 18 full-ride scholarships. That’s because not all D1 hockey programs are fully funded by their institution. There is not only competition among sports, but Title Nine requires (and rightfully so) that women’s sports receive equal opportunities, including an equal amount of scholarship funding. So, the ability to fully fund a men’s D1 program becomes much more difficult. The upside for women, is that statistically they are much more likely to get a D1 full ride due to the smaller pool of girls playing hockey.
You also have to consider that 18 spots are not a guarantee even in a fully funded program. For example, over 20% of the players are international — and international undergraduate students are not eligible for any need-based financial aid. Very few schools have even merit-based opportunities for these students. That means all things equal, an institution will probably grant an international player a full ride athletic scholarship over a domestic student since it is that athlete’s only shot at any financial aid. So, if you’re a US citizen, your chances just went down.
Out of the remaining funds that a program has available for scholarship spots, a team can choose to distribute those funds however it wants. In other words, it doesn’t have to grant all 18 full-ride athletic scholarships, but rather can give partial athletic funding to a larger number of players (the players will still be eligible to receive academic-based scholarships, however.) Given that rosters are 25-28 players, the distribution may vary greatly. I coached a player on the University of Denver 2017 Division 1 National Champion team who received only an academic-based scholarship despite being a regular on the roster during his tenure with the team.
If you’re not drafted by an NHL team, or on the Central Scouting Services rankings, your chances just dropped further. It’s a given that someone with an NHL trajectory will earn full-ride funding. On some D1 teams that could be upwards of eight to ten spots. After that, players coming from the USHL will receive the balance of the funding, with players coming from Tier 2 programs (Canadian Junior A, NCDC or NAHL) rarely receiving full-ride athletic scholarships, if any funding at all.
Myth 2: Academics don’t matter as much if you’re a great hockey player
There is nothing further from the truth. Gone are the days of uneducated athletes being courted by top NCAA programs. The competition is fierce, and the funnel has narrowed. I’ve watched the minimum ACT test results required by the NCAA go from 13 to 18. And while the minimum GPA is 2.0 for eligibility, most institutions have much higher admission standards, despite athletic ability. For example, the University of Denver GPA average is over 3.8. The more prestigious the school, the more likely a low GPA will require the team to appeal an acceptance decision. Remember, just because a team has recruited you, doesn’t mean you automatically are accepted to the college or university.
To further complicate things, not all GPAs are created equal. In other words, a 3.0 GPA at an established private school is not the same as maybe a newer, on-line program, coursework aside. During my tenure as an IT director at the University of Denver, I had the privilege of sitting on several committees for a variety of scholarships each year. The admissions councilors know these schools like the backs of their hands, and I was always amazed at how they could look at a high school transcript and say “oh that’s a really challenging school” or “that’s a low ranking program” and rate the applicant accordingly. That’s not to say that you need an expensive private school education to get into the school of your choice. But if your program is deemed less stringent, you’d better be acing your courses. I’m serious.
Myth 3: Every school has spots for “walk-ons,” or at least allows walk-ons to try out.
Non-recruited walk-on spots are becoming far less common than they once were. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I heard of an NCAA hockey player being a walk-on. The last non-recruited walk-on the University of Denver had was in the late 2000s. This is because programs are so competitive, as there are more junior players with high-level experience than ever before, that programs are able to carefully architect a team ahead of time. Usually, there are even more players committed than will be taken. As it gets close to time for those players to start their college career, decisions are made to decommit by either the player or the school, but there are usually more players on the team’s list than they have spots for. Recruited and committed players without athletic scholarships are actually considered “recruited walk-ons,” because their spot isn’t guaranteed, so don’t confuse them with true unrecruited walk-ons. In other words, if you want to have any shot at playing D1, you need to be contacted and recruited by the team coaches to have a chance at a roster spot these days.
Myth 4: Every team has a practice squad for those who won’t play, but get to practice as an eligible NCAA D1 hockey player.
I’m not sure why this myth persists, but while there is no limit as to how many players a team can carry, most will have just 25-28 players on their roster. For example, the University of Denver currently has 26 players on their roster, 3 of whom are goalies, 8 defensemen and 15 forwards. That only leaves 5 whom don’t play in each game. Of those, you may have injuries, and a couple of spots filled by athletes who may only play only a game or two a year. Any more than a game roster and a small number of “reserves” becomes unfeasible for a number of reasons, including funding, administrative and academic coordination, not to mention the simple fact that there is no logistical reason to carry more than a small number of backups.
So after hearing all this, is it even worth it to try to play men’s college hockey?
Well, let’s look at some things about playing college hockey that you may not know.
Truth 1: More NCAA DI hockey players are making the NHL than ever before.
Roughly 33% of all current NHL roster spots are held by pros who played college. Playing college hockey allows late bloomers even more time to develop and while most players that make the NHL have been drafted, others can sign as free agents after their college career is over. In fact, Joel Otto, former Calgary Flame, actually signed an NHL contract from a DIII program, Bemiji State, before they became D1! The players have more time to grow physically and emotionally by delaying their professional year via college, and whether it’s a stellar Freshman year or a four-year college career in a leadership role, it’s yet another route the NHL.
Truth 2: Almost every DI college hockey player will be able to play at some professional level if they want to.
Whether it’s AHL, ECHL or in a European league, you’ll get your chances if you’ve played college hockey. Obviously, you won’t be earning NHL dollars, but I’ve known many DI, and even some DIII players who have taken a few years after college to play in Europe, traveling the world and gaining a lot of life experience. And, some players do begin their careers as in the AHL (and rarely, the ECHL) and go on to make the NHL eventually.
Truth 3: Playing NCAA hockey opens doors for you later in life.
The connection and the esteem you earn by being an NCAA DI athlete is real. You will forever be a part of a club that puts you in a different class. Whether it’s getting an interview by another NCAA alum, or getting an offer because employers know the rigors that being an NCAA athlete entails, you have a leg up in many situations. Athletics are highly valued in our society and having it listed on your resume will catch many an eye.
Truth 4: Playing NCAA DI hockey is one of the most challenging things you can and will do in your life.
Training like a professional athlete, traveling every other weekend while taking a full, undergraduate course load and maintaining an eligible GPA will test your character, discipline and work ethic. It will prepare you for life like few other things can. Whether you go on to play professional hockey, become a sales director in an esteemed corporation or take over your parent’s restaurant business, you will be primed for success.
And if you don’t quite crack a DI lineup and play DIII, it is still school sponsored, you just don’t qualify for an athletic scholarship. The competition is still great, and you get all the accolades and opportunities you would at DI.
Ask anyone who has played, and they will tell you that college hockey is one of the best times of their lives. The challenges of school and athletics prepare you for life like few other experiences. You get to play in front of thousands of fans and are taken care of like a pro. So give college hockey your best shot. It may not be fully paid for, but the experience will priceless.
