Prep hockey has been around for a long time. The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) was established in 1942. Hockey was played by prep schools around New England long before then as well.
These days, however, the hockey landscape is always changing.
Academies are popping up and junior leagues around the country are attracting players at younger and younger ages, sometimes snagging players who 10 years ago normally would've opted for a prep school.
So, what's the future of prep hockey and how can it adapt?
The first part of the offseason boys prep coaches survey took a look at the best players and teams from this past season, while the second part looked ahead to next season.
In the final installment, coaches — who were granted anonymity — were asked to think bigger picture. They offered changes they'd like to see made and ways in which prep schools can keep up in the race for talent.
MORE SURVEY: Part 1: Best players? | Part 2: Most surprising team?
Does the future of prep hockey look good?
As evidenced in part one, there was a lot of talent dispersed across the region this past winter, rivalries were high and the competition was good.
Many coaches surveyed pointed to a nice future for prep hockey.
"I think the future looks very bright," one coach said. "The level of competition is as deep as it has ever been. there are very few leagues out there that teach young players to play with the consistency, passion and urgency that prep does."
Prep coaches often point to the well-rounded life student-athletes can achieve at prep schools with a blend of high-level academics and athletics.
"I am the eternal optimist," a coach said. "So I will say yes — at the end of the day, the hockey academies can't compete with the overall prep school experience and that will never change."
While some academies are hitched to real high schools, many feature online schools, which can give prep schools the advantage on that front.
"At the end of the day, families like the academic model for athletics," another coach said. "Prep school hockey is the fastest and most skilled hockey on the east coast. All the top junior programs in the NAHL, USHL, CCHL, BCHL and AJHL all draft or have prep school players on their rosters."
Often, players depart prep early for those leagues. Richard Gallant (Concord, Mass.) of St. Mark's recently made the U.S. National Team Development Program's 2023-24 squad. The year before, it was Belmont Hill's Teddy Stiga (Sudbury, Mass.) who made it. Thayer's Gavin Cornforth (Boston, Mass.) tried out with Stiga but didn't make the team. That didn't stop him from playing last season with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints.
Will Smith (Lexington, Mass.) has a high chance of being selected inside the top five in the NHL Draft later this month. He spent the 2020-21 season at St. Sebastian's. Will Vote (Arlington, Mass.), who should also hear his name called later this month, was at Dexter Southfield during the same season.
The lifelong friends both made the NTDP team in the spring of 2021, opting to leave prep school for USA Hockey in Plymouth, Mich.
Still, one coach believes that just because the best players leave doesn't mean it's not still highly competitive hockey.
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"Will the highest kids still leave early for the NTDP or the USHL? Sure," he said. "So while the list of top-end draft talent has dipped, the overall level of competition has increased dramatically as the number of schools who recruit has increased tremendously."
Still, many coaches believe there's more work to be done to keep prep current with the times.
What more can NEPSAC do to keep academies from poaching players?
Every hockey player and family is wired differently. There are different wants and needs. Sometimes, players just want to test the waters of the academy model.
"Some kids will always migrate to academy hockey," one coach said. "The AAA hockey mentality is tough to break, however, overall the majority of top players are staying at prep schools. Top prep school players need to graduate with good grades so opportunities are available at numerous colleges. The biggest challenge is finding fall hockey options for our prep players so they can play good games and get some exposure.
"They should play at least 20-25 games before the prep season starts. Academies promote 50-60 games, however, most are not quality games. Tuition is also a huge challenge (at prep schools). Most academies are less money, however offer very little in regards to food options, extracurriculars, academics and dorm facilities."
Adding more games to the prep hockey season would be popular among the coaches.
"Extend the season and the academies are in trouble," a coach said.
The common thread among most coaches surveyed was having the season begin in the fall.
"If NEPSAC would open up the fall season for more hockey-related activities, I believe that prep would once again dominate the landscape," a coach said. "The bottom line is that no other hockey option out there can come close to matching the academic and life experience that our schools do. Families want what our schools offer and if we are able to offer a bit more outside of our traditional winter season, I believe that families will flock to us."
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Many of the other coaches surveyed would agree with that assessment, although it doesn't mean hockey needs to come in the form of just games.
"It needs to improve and enhance the out-of-season ability to work with players on and off the ice," a coach said. "Increasing the number of games slightly would be helpful but it's more important to expand when and how coaches and players can work together on skill development. More dedicated and intentional practice time in the fall would be a positive game changer. The two-season model would be ideal but not likely even if the fall was solely skill and practice time."
Having hockey be a fall and winter sport was proposed by another coach as well. Another idea that was floated more than once was more showcases and tournaments outside of the normal season.
"I think out-of-season showcases and development opportunities are something prep should look at," one coach said. "Be it three or four showcases throughout the fall or summer, giving kids and families the opportunity to get in front of more people while leading a balanced, healthy lifestyle is a win-win for everyone."
Some coaches didn't seem too bothered by the academies grabbing players.
"I don't think they're an issue," one coach said. "They take younger kids, who then transfer to preps when they're older."
Added another coach, "I don't think anything can really be done or needs to be done. The kind of families we want — and who I want to coach — aren't truly attracted to the academy model. I don't view them as competitors. But we love playing them and having the best players and teams play."
One coach mentioned that academies shouldn't be an issue for the majority of prep schools.
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"I really see the academies being an issue for a select group of NEPSAC schools," one coach said. "And to be honest, those are the NEPSAC schools that are operating completely differently than the other 90 percent of NEPSAC schools. I think it's a very small number of schools being hurt by academies and making a lot of noise about it.
"Parents and players that value education and environment have and will continue to pursue New England prep. Schools that have to compete with a kid sitting in a room all day while going to class on a computer may need to reevaluate their education model."
What is NEPSAC doing right?
This question produced the most blank answers on the survey.
Still, NEPSAC did get some praise from coaches. A common answer centered around its focus on academics and creating well-rounded people.
"Keep the whole child in mind," one coach said. "Coming to a prep school is way more than just the sport you play. There are so many other things that matter and keeping that in mind is important."
Another aspect of NEPSAC that coaches praised was the postseason play.
"I love the playoff format and how there are so many meaningful games down the stretch," a coach said.
The intensity of the games was something another coach liked, too.
"I will say [New England Prep School Ice Hockey Association] and not NEPSAC here," he said. "NEPSIHA offers a world-class level of hockey competition where we teach kids to compete and play the right way. Our schedule closely mimics that of college hockey and teaches kids how important each and every game is.
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"We also continue to keep our priorities straight. While hockey is important and is a driving force for many of us, it is still just a game. The education and the life lessons that student-athletes learn at our schools is what will truly set them up for success in life."
What are potential rule changes that you'd like to see instituted?
Back in January, St. Sebastian's and Tabor battled for the Travis Roy Cup at Walter Brown Arena on the campus of Boston University.
It was a thriller from start to finish. The game featured lots of skill and a high dosage of physicality. St. Sebastian's held a 3-1 lead with under eight minutes to play in the game. Tabor stormed back in those final moments to tie the game, 3-3.
The game had everything. Except for a winner. After a five-minute, 5-on-5 overtime, the game finished knotted 3-3.
This past winter, there were tons of exciting games all over the region that ended in a tie. An unfortunate finale that left onlookers wanting more.
The coaches want more, too.
The most popular answer among coaches surveyed in this category was 3-on-3 overtime.
"Maybe do a shootout," one coach said. "It could be fun for the players."
A handful of coaches advocated for 20-minute periods as well.
"I think that every other high-level hockey league now has 3-on-3 overtime and plays 20-minute periods," a coach said.
Another popular rule change was coaches wanting the season to start prior to late November.
"I would like to start the season earlier, perhaps in October," a coach said. "Starting earlier would allow for easier scheduling and spreading out games better so we can all play 30-35 games and up our game counts."
And if the NEPSAC didn't approve of starting the season earlier?
"The other rule is to change out-of-season coaching restrictions," the same coach said. "If we do not start early, coaches can coach players in September and October and do skills. It's very difficult to rationalize why prep schools cannot use facilities during the fall."
While many would like the season to start earlier, not everybody is on board.
"I'm probably in the minority, but I am happy with the model," a coach said. "Our players are getting more than enough ice time and visibility and they get a fantastic education. I don't think adding another month or 10 more games or eliminating out-of-season coaching policies would have a significant effect on our players' development."
COACHES SURVEY: Check out Part 1 | Check out Part 2
The postseason tournament format didn't get much criticism from coaches. The only objection to it was when the games are played.
"I would like to see the tournaments played on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday," one coach said. "[The current format of] Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday is not letting us show the best product and doesn't allow teams to prepare for each game."
