For the region’s prep school hockey teams, the competition begins long before the first game of the season is played. Attracting prospective student-athletes can be a battle on several fronts. From a hockey standpoint, many higher-end players are lured toward junior hockey, which they believe might set them up better for college and professional success.
From a financial standpoint, high tuition and unfamiliarity with the financial aid process could keep many potential applicants staying with public schools. Once a player decides the prep route is the way to go, there are dozens of options to consider, more than 60 schools in New England alone.
New England Hockey Journal caught up with some of them to discuss why those who choose the prep route will discover that the combination of athletics and academics is unmatched by what they could find anywhere else.
AVON OLD FARMS
Year established: 1927
Head of school: Kenneth H. LaRocque
Director of admissions: Patrick Miller ’07
Athletic directors: Geoffrey Barlow, John Bourgault
Boys hockey head coach: John Gardner
Grades: 9-postgraduate
Total enrollment: 400, all boys
Offerings: Day and boarding
School website: www.avonoldfarms.com
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "Balance and rigor. While Avon Old Farms has a nationally recognized athletic program, boys who attend Avon Old Farms are struck by the multitude of opportunities available to them; there is thoughtfulness to the curriculum. Our rich programs in vocal and instrumental music and performing arts provide many opportunities for boys to express themselves creatively. Also, two- and three-dimensional arts include architecture and woodshop. In other areas, boys develop their skills through project-based learning in the robotics and engineering offerings. Avon is a place where you can draw, paint, play an instrument, sing or act, whether you have had years of experience or none."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "Avon has an excellent strength and conditioning program to supplement on-ice sessions during the winter as well as preseason conditioning and out-of-season strength and speed development. In addition, small group skill instruction and practice during the fall is a staple of each player’s advancement."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "We have produced some of the top NHL and college hockey players in the world. Brian Leetch ’86 and Jon Quick ’05 are two of the four American-born players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. This past June, Nick Bonino ’07 became the fourth Avonian to raise the Stanley Cup, and brought it back to our campus again. Currently, four alumni are NHL players: Cam Atkinson ’08 (Columbus Blue Jackets), Quick (L.A. Kings), Bonino (Nashville Predators) and Chris Higgins ’01 (Vancouver Canucks). This past season, our varsity roster featured eight Division 1 commitments and 10 players who were either USHL draft picks or protected players. Furthermore, six players began their Avon careers on subvarsity teams. In addition to having a number of players matriculate to play Division 1 hockey, we are proud of the success our graduates have had at the Division 3 level, where they have gone on to captain teams or win national championships."
BUCKINGHAM BROWNE & NICHOLS SCHOOL
Year established: 1974
School address: 80 Gerry’s Landing Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138
Head of school: Rebecca T. Upham
Director of admissions: Geordie Mitchell
Athletic director: Chuck Richard
Boys hockey head coach: Peter Russo
Girls hockey head coach: Ed Bourget
Grades: Pre-K-12
Total enrollment: 1,001 (boys 492, girls 509)
Offerings: Day only
School website: www.bbns.org
Tel.: 617-547-6100
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "The athletic benefits for a hockey player going through the prep route are two-fold. The first benefit is that the season is modeled after a college athletic experience, so the student-athlete will be prepared for the next level upon arrival. The second benefit is that players have the luxury of having the rink on campus, which gives them more access to ice and training opportunities."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "The BB&N campus is one of the most unique in the country because it is located within the city of Cambridge, and 10 minutes away from Boston. The urban setting combined with the prep school feel gives BB&N students the opportunity to explore the city while enjoying a classic prep school education."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "The one aspect of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering BB&N is the amount of freedom one has in the school setting. The school offers each student the opportunity to explore their interests in every aspect of life from academics to the arts."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "Hockey at BB&N requires a daily time commitment of two hours during practice days and five hours on game days. The average weekly time commitment is about 15 to 20 hours depending on the game schedule for the week."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "BB&N offers a unique balance of athletics and academics, which helps the hockey player to become a well-balanced student-athlete. During the season, both varsity programs integrate off-ice training in the forms of video analysis, off-ice strength and stretching programs, along with proper nutritional education for the high-performance athlete. Each team has positional coaches as well, and that gives the players opportunities to get specific individual training."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "BB&N student athletes have participated in a number of college and national team programs throughout our history. We have alumni that have played in the NHL and Olympics. The focus of both programs is to prepare our players to succeed at the next level. If a player wants to be prepared to play college hockey, then BB&N is a great option. We currently have over 15 hockey players participating in the college ranks with six attending Division 1 programs."
CANTERBURY SCHOOL
School address: 101 Aspetuck Avenue, New Milford, CT 06776
Head of school: Rachel Stone
Director of admissions: Matt Mulhern
Athletic director: James Stone
Boys hockey head coach: Paddy McCarthy
Girls hockey head coach: Katie Mandigo
Grades: 9-12, postgraduate
Total enrollment: 320 (boys 188, girls 132)
Offerings: Day and boarding
School website: www.cbury.org
Tel.: 860-210-3800
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Our hilltop campus is surrounded by acres of well-groomed lawns, fields and vistas and is within walking distance to an active New England town."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "The sense of community at Canterbury will strike anyone who visits."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "During the season, approximately 18 to 20 hours a week. This estimate includes practice, games and travel."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "Top-notch College Counseling Office, experienced coaching staff, strength and conditioning program, captain leadership program, game video/analysis."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and parents? "Recent college placement includes Connecticut College, Wesleyan, Tufts, Trinity, Hobart, St. Anselm, Delaware, as well as the USHL."
THAYER ACADEMY
School address: 745 Washington Street, Braintree, MA 02184
Head of school: Ted Koskores
Director of admissions: Jon White
Athletic director: Rick Foresteire
Boys hockey head coach: Tony Amonte
Girls hockey head coach: Brian Cibelli
Grades: 5-12
Total enrollment: Boys: 351 Girls: 352
Offerings: Day only
School website: www.thayer.org
Tel.: 781-664-2221
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "First and foremost, Thayer exposes student-athletes to a community that’s concerned with his or her full development, not just with what happens on the ice. Also, we have terrific resources and facilities, and building such a competitive hockey experience into the broader academic calendar ensures that a studentathlete can contribute in other sports, which we now know is essential to any athlete’s development. On the ice, studentathletes will experience a high level of competition and work closely with their coaches. In the classroom Thayer offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that includes arts classes, student clubs and organizations and overseas travel opportunities. Student-athletes are known extremely well by their teachers and coaches, who encourage and inspire them to excel in the classrooms and on the ice."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Thayer’s campus in historic Braintree features state-of-the-art facilities where students can learn, socialize, play and grow. The wireless campus is home to new turf fields, the newly renovated Thompson Hall and Forum in the Middle School, the Fish Center for Physical Fitness, the Southworth Library, the Center for the Arts and the Hanflig Technology Center. The new facilities provide a top-notch competitive experience for our student-athletes."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "The academic rigor and the expectations of our students are high, but teachers encourage students to seek out and develop interests that drive him or her. At Thayer we emphasize a balanced program for our student-athletes. So just like all our students, we encourage our hockey players to get involved in the arts, in student clubs and activities and in community service. We also require our athletes to play two seasons of sports at Thayer for enjoyment and cross-training. Thayer students receive a tremendous amount of individualized attention from teachers and coaches."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "During the winter, it’s approximately two hours each day for practice. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are typically game days, with practices otherwise. Twice a week (usually Mondays and Thursdays) players complete an off-ice workout after practice, and we hold film sessions when the schedule provides. In the Middle School (grades 5-8) we offer interscholastic competition, and teams typically practice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 2:30-3:45 p.m., with games played on Wednesday and Friday, and no weekend activities.
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "The coaches serve as advocates and will try to help guide our student-athletes. We’re not coaching specifically to win hockey games; we’re coaching to help a student-athlete get where he or she wants to be. We want to win games as well of course, but everything — our off-ice workouts, our practices, our film work, our games — is also focused on a young person’s development. Thayer teachers and coaches get to know the student-athletes (and their parents) extremely well, not just as players, but also as students and community members. Student-athletes train in the Fish Center for Physical Fitness with full-time weight and conditioning coaches who tailor workouts for each sport. Coaches run video sessions to help players improve and prepare, and athletes receive support from full-time athletic trainers. The College Counseling Office also provides individualized support to student-athletes through the college recruiting and application process."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Thayer has a storied legacy of players experiencing tremendous success on the rink after graduation. Thayer boys hockey has produced many Division 1 and 2 college, Olympic and professional players. Thayer girls hockey graduates have gone on to play college hockey at such schools as Brown University, Syracuse University, Sacred Heart University, Colby College, Trinity College, Saint Anselm’s College and Salve Regina, just to name a few."
THE WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL
School address: 19 Payson Ave, Easthampton, MA 01027
Head of school: Robert Hill
Director of admissions: Chris Dietrich
Athletic director: Mark Conroy
Boys hockey head coach: Derek Cunha
Girls hockey head coach: Christa Talbot Syfu
Grades: 9-12, postgraduate
Total enrollment: 420 (boys: 55 percent, girls: 45 percent)
Offerings: Day and boarding
School website: www.williston.com
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Location! Within a 20-minute ride you reach any of the five colleges in the Pioneer Valley — Amherst College, UMass-Amherst, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College and Hampshire College. We offer unique Williston Scholar classes that connect our students with the vast resources of these institutions. Williston is located in downtown Easthampton, which offers our students unique access to restaurants and shopping, and we are located under two hours from Boston and are easily accessible from anywhere in New England."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "Coach Cunha and Coach Talbot Syfu work extensively with our dedicated college counseling office to find the right college placement for their players. Both have an extensive network of coaches at the college and junior hockey level to help maximize the exposure that their players receive. On top of this, Williston has a full-time strength and conditioning coach who does hockey specific workouts with our players, both inseason and out-of-season."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Williston provides an opportunity for hockey players to play an ultra-competitive schedule while getting remarkable coaching. Both programs have recently achieved impressive successes on the individual and team level in recent years. The boys program maintains one of the most competitive schedules in all of NEPSIHA. They notched impressive victories this past season over perennial powerhouses Salisbury, Gunnery and Westminster. The girls program has achieved an impressive level of team success over the past decade, making it to the NEPSAC tournament in seven out of the past eight seasons and finishing an undefeated regular season in 2015-16. On the individual level, Delaney Belinskas ’16, Lizzie Sheline ’16 and Max Willman ’14 have all achieved major success at the next level. Delaney Belinskas made a huge splash this past season at Boston College, garnering Hockey East Rookie of the Year honors, and Lizzie Sheline achieved similarly impressive results in her first year at Middlebury, pulling down NESCAC Player of the Year honors at season’s end. Max Willman came to Williston as a relatively unknown player and, after making the most of his opportunity by having a standout prep season, was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL draft. Max went on to play Division 1 hockey in the Ivy League at Brown University."
CUSHING ACADEMY
Year established: 1865
Co-heads of school: Margaret Lee, Catherine Pollock
Boys hockey head coach: Steve Jacobs
Girls hockey head coach: Val Bono ’97
Grades: 9-12 and postgraduate
Total enrollment: 400 (220 boys, 180 girls)
Offerings: Day and boarding
School website: www.cushing.org
Tel.: 978-827-7000
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "Players get exposure to college coaches, experience great competition, and their schedule allows for academic success."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Cushing’s hockey rink is running all year long — most prep schools don’t have this luxury. Additionally, we are in a very central location — central Massachusetts and central New England."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "Typically three hours per day, 18 to 21 hours per week."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "Weight training, video, support/coaching from alumni who are professional hockey players. Hockey players have access to the ice all year long and are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Cushing has many success stories of players moving on to play at the highest levels in college and the NHL. Most recently, Conor Sheary ’10 helped the Pittsburgh Penguins capture the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017."
DEXTER SOUTHFIELD
School address: 20 Newton Street, Brookline, MA
Head of school: Todd Vincent
Director of admissions: Sarah Powers
Athletic director: Brian McColgan
Boys hockey head coach: Dan Donato
Girls hockey head coach: Maggie Taverna
Grades: Pre-K-12
Total enrollment: 840 (boys 420, girls 420)
Offerings: Day only
School website: www.dextersouthfield.org
Tel.: 617-751-3600
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "Dexter Southfield offers the balance of great academics with a high-level hockey experience with more games. The high school experience mirrors some aspects of the college experience, which helps our students get used to balancing the athletic commitment and classroom expectations."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Dexter Southfield is located on a 36-acre campus in Brookline, just miles from Boston’s top museums, hospitals, libraries, colleges and universities. We have tremendous facilities and a faculty who have a personal interest in each of our student-athlete’s goals. We are also making changes to our athletic facilities; our renovated rink, with new ice and boards, opened this summer, and our new weight and training facilities are scheduled to open November 2017."
What’s one part of prep-school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "One of my former players said it best: ‘During my time at Dexter Southfield, I built relationships with my coaches and teachers. These are some of the greatest friends and mentors I have ever met.’ The teachers care about their students both in the classroom and also out on the ice. They attend games and also want to make sure you’re ready for the challenges of college. That comes with small classes and the ‘all-in’ mentality of our teachers."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "The time commitment is 10 to 12 hours a week."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "We offer off-ice weight training and video, plus three experienced coaches who have all played Division 1 college hockey."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "We have had four NHL draft picks: Jack Rathbone (Vancouver), Ryan Donato (Boston), Tim Harrison (Calgary) and Cam Darcy (Tampa Bay). Numerous players go on to to play both Division 1 and Division 3 college hockey programs."
TRINITY-PAWLING SCHOOL
School address: 700 RT 22, Pawling, NY 12564
Head of school: William W. Taylor
Director of admissions: J.P. Burlington
Athletic director: Brian Foster
Boys hockey head coach: Robert (Bob) Ferraris
Grades: 9-12, postgraduate
Total enrollment: 300, all boys
Offerings: Day and boarding
School website: www.trinitypawling.org
Tel.: 845-855-4825
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "Our boys prepare for the academic, athletic and social challenges of being an NCAA student/athlete. We follow the daily schedule of an NCAA D-1 hockey player."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "We are in New York State, but we compete in one of the top conferences in the country, the Founders League."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "Trinity-Pawling hockey players have a vigorous calendar, but the student’s athletic resources are all right here on campus; our facilities and coaching staff are completely accessible."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "The time commitment of a Trinity-Pawling hockey player mirrors and sometimes exceeds those in the NCAA."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "It is an all-in-one package of ice time, shooting and skills development, strength, conditioning and nutrition. We have a state-of-the-art video system in Tirrell Rink, which our coaches and players utilize for player development and team play."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Trinity-Pawling hockey has a rich tradition dating back to the early 1940s. You can find Pride players in the rosters and record books of almost every NCAA conference. We’ve had teams with multiple NHL draft picks to teams with multiple captains on Ivy League squads."
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL
School address: 995 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury CT 06070
Head of school: Bill Philip
Director of admissions: Jon Deveaux
Athletic director: Tim Joncas
Boys hockey head coach: Tim Joncas
Girls hockey head coach: David Pope
Grades: 9-12 and postgraduate
Total enrollment: 212 (boys 181, girls 31)
Offerings: Day and boarding
School website: www.westminster-school.org
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "The biggest benefit for Westminster players is balance. The school emphasizes that the student has the opportunity — the requirement in fact — to play other sports, as well as get involved in other areas of school life that are critical for growth and development."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Our campus of 200 acres sits on a hill and, once seen, speaks for itself. What makes the campus stand out from others is the people who work at the school. The faculty care deeply about their students and athletes beyond the classroom or ice. Every school is going to have nice buildings and grounds, but it’s the people inside those buildings who make Westminster what it is."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "One of the ways Westminster differs from some other schools is that your coaches are also your teachers, dorm parents, advisors and mentors. The player-coach relationship is not transactional or based upon wins and losses. Prep school coaches are far more concerned with developing good, responsible citizens who will go on to be great people in the communities that they are part of after their experience."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "In the course of a week, practices are approximately eight hours, two to three games per week, workouts twice a week for 45 minutes a piece and watching films one to two times a week."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "We are fortunate that we have a strength-and-conditioning coach on our faculty who oversees the physical development of all of our athletes. We also offer state-of-the-art facilities for students to use to ensure that they are maximizing their potential off the ice. Our locker rooms are all equipped with the necessary technology so that we can teach our players both on and off the ice."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "We have had alumni head off to play D-1 and D-3 college hockey. Some have gone on to play in the NHL. Our alumni have won national championships as well as the Stanley Cup. They have been captains of their college and professional teams. The breadth and depth of the accomplishments of our alumni in the hockey world are significant and well-documented. However, what we are most proud of is that our alumni are great people. We are far more proud of what our alumni do off the ice because that is where their character shines the brightest."
WINCHENDON SCHOOL
School address: 172 Ash Street, Winchendon, MA 01475
Head of school: John Kerney
Director of admissions: Lesley Nesbitt
Athletic director: Dan Chretien
Boys hockey head coach: Jarrett Sampson
Girls hockey head coach: Laura DiCarlo
Grades: 9-12, postgraduate
Total enrollment: 250 (boys 150, girls 100)
Offerings: Day, boarding
School website: www.winchendon.org
Tel.: 978-297-1223
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "There are a few things that set Winchendon apart from those in our area. From the private Donald Ross-designed 9-hole golf course that surrounds our class buildings to the on-campus rink to the Service Learning and ColLab classes we offer, it is truly an amazing and unique experience. Our campus may look and feel remote, but we are just over one hour from Boston."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "Winchendon is more than your typical school environment. Our small size allows our students to have a truly individualized experience, with the ability to participate in all aspects of community life. Two of our flagship programs are ColLabs and Service Learning. Our ColLab classes are a two-week immersive, where students have focused time to explore their passions. This can take any number of forms: travel, art, music, science, culture, sociology, policy or something completely uncharted. With faculty support and collaboration, the exploration on their chosen subject becomes a pursuit of knowledge that students hold on to throughout their adult lives. Service Learning is not your average community service. It is a yearlong, schoolwide program that encourages our students to partner with local and international organizations to understand and help create solutions for pressing community challenges. Service Learning teaches ‘real-life’ skills such as public speaking, project planning and translating ideas from paper into action. In the process, our students learn to be empathetic partners and passionate community leaders."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "Hockey is a big-time commitment for our student-athletes, especially during the winter season. Our typical practice time is somewhere between 1:10 to 1:25 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and most Fridays. The vast majority of our 30 games are played on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a few games sprinkled in during the off-days. We have a state-of-the-art rink on campus so the only real travel is for away games. The majority of our road trips are two hours and under, with the longest trip being about four hours. In total, student-athletes can expect to dedicate 15 to 20 hours per week during the season to hockey. Through this experience, our student-athletes learn valuable time management skills to help them be successful at the next level, and in life."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Lillian Braga ’12 played four years at Boston University and is now pursuing medical school. Mark Concannon ’99 was selected in the third round (82nd overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft to San Jose. For boys, we’ve had five D-1 commits in the past two years, and over the past five years, 20-plus athletes playing college athletics. For girls, we’ve had three D-1 commits in the past four years and eight D-3 commits in the past three years."
XAVERIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL
School address: 800 Clapboardtree Street Westwood, MA 02090
Head of school: Brother Daniel Skala C.F.X.
Director of admissions: Kevin Loftus
Athletic director: Charles Stevenson
Boys hockey head coach: David Spinale
Grades: 7-12
Total enrollment: 955 boys
Offerings: Day
School website: www.xbhs.com
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep-school route? "We draw students from over 65 different communities in Massachusetts. In most cases some of the best players in these towns choose to apply to Xaverian. Our roster is comprised of very diverse, unique and talented student-athletes."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "We have 17 different Division 1 athletics offerings during the fall, winter and spring. Through the hard work of our players and coaches nearly all 17 teams will play in the postseason."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Our varsity hockey players graduate on time and at the top of their class. The combination of their academic and athletic success makes them ideal college recruits and beyond."
WORCESTER ACADEMY
School address: 81 Providence Street, Worcester, MA 01610
Head of school: Ron Cino
Director of admissions: Meghan Bennett
Athletic director: Edward A. Reilly
Boys hockey head coach: Robert Lavin
Girls hockey head coach: Kevin Zifcak
Grades: 7-12, postgraduate
Total enrollment: 630 (boys 310, girls 320)
Offerings: Day and boarding
School website: www.worcesteracademy.org
Tel.: 508-754-5302
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "Athletic exposure combined with top-flight academic preparation."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Worcester Academy is one of the few independent schools located in a major New England city."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "Opportunity to find a leadership role on your team in our community."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "Twelve to 15 hours per week."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "A strength and conditioning coach/program, top-notch facilities and excellent coaches."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Doors to intercollegiate play or junior hockey programs are opened due to participation in our hockey programs."
If there is another topic or area you think is important to your school’s hockey program, feel free to pose your own question and provide your own answer. "Participating in our hockey programs serve to round out a student-athlete’s educational experience here at Worcester Academy."
WYOMING SEMINARY
Year established: 1844
School address: 201 North Sprague Avenue Kingston, PA 18704
Head of school: Kevin Rea
Dean of admission and financial aid: Julie Bean
Athletic director: Karen Klassner
Boys hockey coaches: Michael Dennis ’04, Dustin Good ’04
Grades: 9-12, postgraduate
Total enrollment: 450
Offerings: Day, boarding
School website: www.wyomingseminary.org
What are the athletic benefits for a hockey player going the prep school route? "Players not only get an excellent education but they play against some of the highest hockey competition in the country. A majority of these games are played in front of college coaches and scouts throughout the Northeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Additionally, players at Sem participate in an international trip every other year."
What makes your campus stand out from other schools in the region? "Wyoming Seminary is a suburban campus located in the beautiful Wyoming Valley in northeastern Pennsylvania. We are surrounded by dozens of colleges and many recreational areas for skiing, hiking and watersports along with access to professional sporting events and major music venues. We are also located only two hours from major cities such as New York and Philadelphia."
What’s one part of prep school life that might surprise a student-athlete considering attending your school? "One part of prep school life that is surprising to prospective student-athletes is the time management skills they learn, and will need, to succeed in both academics and athletics as they prepare for a successful career in the NCAA."
How much of a time commitment is hockey in a student-athlete’s daily/weekly life? "Hockey is a daily commitment during the season. It is a 35- to 40-game schedule with about two hours of on-ice practice after school, plus team meetings, strength and conditioning and team film sessions."
Besides practices and games, what else does your program offer to advance a player’s hockey career? "Our program has a very strong relationship with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL affiliate) and our home rink is their practice facility."
What are the success stories you share with prospective players and their parents about your alumni’s accomplishments in the hockey world? "Eric Tangradi ’05 was the first Sem player to play in the NHL when he suited up for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Eric went on to captain the Belleville Bulls (OHL) after Sem and was drafted in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks. He is currently playing professionally in the Red Wings organization. Dennis Packard ’00 played for the U.S. National Development Team in the USHL during his senior year before moving on to Harvard. He was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2001 and played in the ECHL, AHL and Czech League. Arpad Mihaly ’01 is a member of the Romanian national team and has played for over 10 years in various European professional leagues. Additionally, recent Sem graduates have gone on to play at Boston University, Bentley, Harvard, Alaska (Anchorage), American International, Norwich, Hamilton, Skidmore, New England College, St. Michael’s, Hobart, Lebanon Valley, Elmira, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Cortland, Worcester State, Neumann and Middlebury."
