Recruiting FAQ

• There used to be a listing of next year's recruits for a particular team. What happened to it?
• Can you send me the e-mail (or snail mail) address of every hockey coach?
• Which programs offer scholarships?
• Can you recommend a school to me?
• I want to play college hockey. How can I get a team to notice me?
• How can I try out for your team?
• Can you send me a list of all colleges that have hockey programs?
• What is the difference between D2 and D3?
• What is the difference between club and varsity?
• Can you give me a list of college teams in such-and-such an area?
• I'm a coach of a team, and want to get my players noticed. Is there a festival or camp I can take them to?
• I want to attend some hockey camps. What are the dates and locations of these camps?
• What do I need to do (or not do) to preserve NCAA eligibility?
• What does the recent ruling on Canadian Junior leagues and the NCAA mean for me, in terms of my eligibility?
• Does playing at a certain level (e.g. Canadian Juniors, Juniors Tier II, U.S. Juniors, etc.) affect my likelihood of being noticed or recruited by a college?
• I come from a European country and would like to play college hockey. Can you give me any advice or recommendations?
• Can I send my hockey stats and/or apply to a specific school online?

Q: There used to be a listing of next year's recruits for a particular team. What happened to it?

A: An excellent list of incoming recruits is maintained meticulously by Chris Heisenberg. See his page for the current list.

Q: Can you send me the e-mail (or snail mail) address of every hockey coach?

A: USCHO does not keep that information on its web site. To reach a coach, try going to the team's home page by using the drop-down menu on the left. From there, go to the team's "official page" and look there for contact information.

Q: Which programs offer scholarships?

A: Most Division I schools offer athletic scholarships. You can view a list of D-I schools (and go to their team page) by looking at the drop-down menu on the left.

Q: Can you recommend a school to me?

A: Situations are different depending on the individual. USCHO is an impartial news organization and does not make those kind of recommendations.

Q: I want to play college hockey. How can I get a team to notice me?

A: Recruiters regularly attend games involving Canadian junior, U.S. junior A, prep school and high school teams. Chances are, if you are good enough, you have already been noticed. Otherwise, look into attending a summer hockey camp.

Q: How can I try out for your team?

A: USCHO is not a "team." USCHO is a news organization that covers college hockey.

Q: Can you send me a list of all colleges that have hockey programs?

A: A list can be found by perusing the drop-down menu on the left. For Division III and Women, click on the appropriate Section Button above, then peruse that section's drop-down menu. For club teams, go here.

Q: What is the difference between D-II and D-III?

A: Division II schools can award athletic scholarships. Division III schools cannot.

Q: What is the difference between club and varsity?

A: A varsity program competes at the NCAA level (either Division I, II or III) and is guided by the rules of the NCAA governing body. A club program does not fall under the jurisdiction of the NCAA, though there is a national club organization which holds a championship and has a set of rules similar to the NCAA's. Club programs are not considered a part of the school's athletic department.

Q: Can you give me a list of college teams in such-and-such an area?

A: The names of the conferences are usually a pretty good indication of where the schools are located. For exact school locations, go to their team pages.

Q: I'm a coach of a team, and want to get my players noticed. Is there a festival or camp I can take them to?

A: Try enrolling them in a hockey summer camp. There are many camps held throughout the upper Midwest and the New England area. If you feel they are not quite ready to play college hockey but would like to someday, you may want to try some of the junior leagues, like the USHL. But make sure they are following NCAA regulations to preserve eligibilty. USA Hockey, the governing body of amateur hockey in the United States, should also be able to help locate some camps and festivals in your area.

Q: I want to attend some hockey camps. What are the dates and locations of these camps?

A: USCHO does not currently keep this information. Your local hockey club should have information on hockey camps, and how to contact them for more information.

Q: What do I need to do (or not do) to preserve NCAA eligibility?

A: Eligibility rules can be complex. Generally, if you accept money or sign with an agent prior to enrolling in school, you are not eligible. There are also a variety of academic standards that must be met. Failure to maintain a standard level of grades will also deem you ineligible.

For more information, see the NCAA's page on eligibility.

Q: What does the recent ruling on Canadian Junior leagues and the NCAA mean for me, in terms of my eligibility?

A: The new proposal keeps changing. The most recent version says that players who played in Major Juniors are still eligible for future NCAA play. Players who competed in Major Junior before their regular high school graduation year will lose one year of NCAA eligibility per year. Players who competed in Major Junior after their regular high school graduation year will lose a year of eligibility, plus must sit out one season in residence per year.

Q: Does playing at a certain level (e.g. Canadian Juniors, Juniors Tier II, U.S. Juniors, etc.) affect my likelihood of being noticed or recruited by a college?

A: If you are good enough, you will get noticed by someone. Recruiting and scouting is so fine-tuned these days, players rarely get drastically overlooked.

Q: I come from a European country and would like to play college hockey. Can you give me any advice or recommendations?

A: Find a school you are interested in. Go to that team's home page (use the drop-down menu on the left). Then visit the team's official page, and contact school officials.

Q: Can I send my hockey stats and/or apply to a specific school online?

A: It might be possible, but not through USCHO. Go to that team's home page (use the drop-down menu on the left). Then visit the team's official page, and contact school officials.