College Hockey Recruiting Is About More Than Hockey

For hockey families, college can begin to feel like the destination.

Years of early mornings, practices, tournaments, hotels, equipment, showcases, and long drives can create a natural temptation to view college hockey as the payoff for everything that came before it.

Then a coach becomes interested.

A school reaches out.

An opportunity becomes real.

And suddenly the question changes.

It’s no longer simply, “Can my child play college hockey?”

It becomes:

“Should my child play hockey at this college?”

That distinction was at the heart of our conversation on Our Kids Play Hockey with Kiersten Sires, Founder and CEO of 2aDays, a platform designed to give student-athletes and families more information about college coaches, athletic programs, facilities, campus experiences, and schools.

Kiersten helped reinforce an important message for every hockey family approaching the college recruiting process:

The goal should not be finding the highest level that will take your player. The goal should be finding the environment where your player has the best chance to grow.

And that requires looking well beyond hockey.

The D1-or-Bust Mentality Can Cloud the Decision

Division I carries obvious prestige.

For young hockey players who have dreamed about college hockey for years, seeing a D1 logo beside their name can feel like validation.

For parents who have invested enormous time, money, and energy into the sport, it can feel like proof that all those years somehow “paid off.”

That emotional pull is understandable.

But it can also become dangerous when the division begins driving the decision instead of the student-athlete's actual needs.

Kiersten identified the “D1 or bust” mentality as one of the major misconceptions surrounding college recruiting.

The highest division available is not automatically the best opportunity.

A player may find an incredible athletic and academic experience at Division III. Another may find exactly what they want through ACHA hockey. One player may thrive competing every day for limited minutes on an elite roster, while another may benefit tremendously from joining a program where they can immediately play a significant role.

There is no single correct path.

Families should instead be asking:

• Will my child have an opportunity to develop here?
• Does the coaching style fit their personality?
• Can they pursue the academic program they want?
• What role could they realistically have on the team?
• Does the location work for them and our family?
• Can we afford the full college experience?
• Would my child actually enjoy living here?

Those questions may not sound as exciting as asking whether the program is D1.

But they may matter much more four years later.

Use the “Broken Leg Test”

One of the most useful ideas discussed in the episode was something many coaches and recruiting experts have asked athletes for years:

If you broke your leg before the season and couldn’t play hockey, would you still want to attend this school?

Hopefully that never happens.

But the hypothetical forces a student-athlete to separate the school from the sport.

Imagine hockey disappeared from the equation.

Would your player still like the campus?

Would they still be excited about the academic opportunities?

Would they enjoy the location?

Could they see themselves building friendships there?

Would they still believe the school could prepare them for their future?

If the answer is no, the family needs to think carefully before making a commitment.

Hockey is enormously important to these athletes—but it cannot be the only thing holding the college decision together.

Academics Aren’t the Backup Plan

One theme surfaced repeatedly throughout the conversation:

Academics matter.

Not because hockey is unimportant.

Because becoming a successful student-athlete requires both sides of that identity.

Strong grades can expand a player's opportunities and can make it easier for a coach to support that athlete through the admissions process.

But there is a bigger reason.

Eventually, hockey ends.

That might happen after youth hockey. It might happen after high school, juniors, college, or decades later.

Every player eventually reaches the point where the skills developed through hockey need to translate into the rest of life.

And student-athletes already possess many of the tools employers value:

• Time management
• Accountability
• Teamwork
• Resilience
• Communication
• Competitive drive
• Leadership
• Responding to feedback
• Working toward long-term goals

College should give players the opportunity to strengthen those qualities while also earning an education that opens doors beyond the rink.

Parents also need to remember that teenagers do not always know exactly what career they want.

That is okay.

The objective isn't necessarily having their entire life mapped out at 17.

The objective is selecting a school that provides enough academic opportunity and support for them to explore that future.

Research the College Before the Coach Starts Recruiting You

Families do not have to wait for a recruiting call before learning about schools.

In fact, Kiersten encourages athletes to start researching early—not necessarily by contacting every coach, but simply by becoming informed consumers.

Hockey families have a unique advantage.

We travel.

A lot.

A tournament might put your family 15 minutes away from a university your player has heard about.

Instead of arriving at the rink, playing the games, and driving directly home, consider using some of those trips differently.

Walk around campus.

Visit the student center.

See the surrounding town.

Have a meal nearby or on campus if possible.

Simply experiencing different types of schools can help teenagers begin answering questions they may never have considered.

Do they prefer a large university or a smaller campus?

Urban or rural?

Close to home or farther away?

Cold-weather hockey environment or something different?

They don't need definitive answers at 14 or 15.

They simply need exposure.

Study the Hockey Program Too

The recruiting process should involve far more investigation than looking at wins and losses.

Families can learn a great deal before ever speaking with a coach.

Look at the roster.

How many players come in each season?

How much turnover exists?

Where are players coming from?

Watch games whenever possible.

Livestreaming has made this much easier than it was for previous generations of recruits.

Observe the bench.

How do players react after mistakes?

How does the coach communicate?

Do teammates appear connected?

What happens when the team is losing?

Social media can provide additional clues as well. It won't provide a complete or perfectly accurate picture—team accounts naturally present a curated version of the program—but it can offer another window into the culture.

Then, during a recruiting visit, ask current players questions when coaches aren't standing beside them.

What is a normal week really like?

How demanding is travel?

How does the coach handle mistakes?

What is conditioning like?

How well does hockey fit with academics?

Do players enjoy being there?

You're not looking for a program where nobody ever complains.

You're looking for patterns.

Parents Are Part of the Recruiting Evaluation

This might be uncomfortable for some hockey families.

But it needs to be said.

Coaches notice parents.

They notice the parent berating officials.

They notice the person screaming at their child after mistakes.

They notice repeated confrontations.

And according to Kiersten, parental behavior can absolutely influence recruiting decisions.

Coaches aren't only evaluating whether a player can contribute for one season.

They're considering bringing an athlete—and potentially that athlete's surrounding dynamics—into their program for several years.

Talent matters enormously.

But so does the environment accompanying that talent.

Parents don't need to disappear from the recruiting process.

They should support, guide, ask questions, help evaluate finances, and protect their child's best interests.

But they also need to gradually allow the athlete to take ownership.

Which leads to another major recruiting advantage.

Teach Your Player to Speak for Themselves

A young athlete who can walk up to a coach, make eye contact, introduce themselves, ask a thoughtful question, and carry a conversation already possesses something valuable.

Those skills aren't developed during senior year.

They start in youth hockey.

Encourage your child to introduce themselves to coaches.

As they get older, allow them to ask their own questions.

If they're confused about playing time, help them prepare for a conversation with the coach instead of immediately having the conversation for them.

If they're entering a new classroom, encourage them to introduce themselves to the teacher.

These interactions build confidence.

And in an increasingly digital world, genuine person-to-person communication can become a differentiator.

Even something as simple as a handwritten thank-you note after a season can leave an impression.

The purpose isn't to manufacture a “recruitable personality.”

It is to help your child develop communication skills they'll use for the rest of their life.

Talent Gets Attention. The Little Things Can Separate Players.

By the time a player is seriously being considered for college hockey, the coaching staff already knows whether that player can play.

Then the smaller details begin becoming larger.

How does the player respond after a bad shift?

Do they slam their stick?

Do they blame teammates?

Do they encourage someone who made a mistake?

What does their body language look like?

How do they interact with coaches?

What do teachers, club coaches, rink staff, and others say about them?

The hockey world is small.

And modern technology has made athletes more visible than ever.

Games are streamed.

Social media profiles are searchable.

Highlights are shared.

Conversations near rink microphones may even be recorded.

That doesn't mean athletes should become paranoid or attempt to create a fake persona.

It means character should be consistent.

The easiest reputation to maintain is the one built from who you actually are.

Recruiting Communication Should Sound Like the Athlete

Technology can help players research programs more efficiently than ever.

But there is still tremendous value in personal communication.

One warning from the episode was especially relevant in the era of automation and AI:

Don't allow technology to erase your voice.

Research the coach.

Research the school.

Learn something specific about the program.

Then write like yourself.

A coach can recognize the difference between genuine interest and an email sent to 40 schools with the university name changed.

Technology can help an athlete identify questions or organize research.

But the actual relationship still needs to belong to the player.

Coaches want to know the person they're potentially bringing into their locker room.

Give them that opportunity.

Look Beyond the Hockey Team

One of the more overlooked parts of college recruiting is evaluating the larger institution.

Families naturally focus on the head coach.

They should also consider the athletic department and the college itself.

What support does athletics receive?

Has the athletic director created a strong environment?

Is the institution financially healthy?

Is the hockey program receiving appropriate resources?

For well-established universities, some of those questions may carry less urgency. For smaller institutions, they can become important.

College programs change.

Coaches leave.

Teams can be restructured.

In rare cases, institutions and athletic programs can face significant financial challenges.

That reinforces the larger lesson:

You are choosing a college, not merely choosing a hockey team.

How 2aDays Helps Families Make More Informed Decisions

Kiersten created 2aDays after beginning the concept as a college project.

Her simple comparison during the episode explains the platform well:

Think of something like a Rate My Professor-style resource for college athletics.

Student-athletes can research feedback related to coaches and athletic staff, while the platform also provides information around facilities, campus visits, school programs, and other aspects of the college experience.

The purpose fits perfectly with the theme of this conversation.

Families don't need someone to simply tell them where to go.

They need enough quality information to ask better questions and make informed decisions.

Because recruiting ultimately involves much more than answering:

“Who wants me?”

The better questions are:

“Where do I belong?”

“Where can I grow?”

“Who will I become there?”

The Best Recruiting Preparation Starts Long Before Recruiting

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this episode has nothing to do with showcases, highlight videos, recruiting emails, or campus visits.

Families can start preparing their children for the recruiting process years before college becomes realistic.

Help them become responsible students.

Teach them to communicate.

Encourage them to advocate for themselves.

Let them experience appropriate adversity.

Help them understand how their behavior affects teammates.

Teach them that coaches are people—not simply gatekeepers to playing time.

And keep reminding them that the purpose of youth hockey isn't producing a college commitment.

It's helping develop a capable, confident, resilient young person who may someday have the opportunity to play college hockey.

If that opportunity arrives, celebrate it.

Then help them ask the most important question:

Is this the right place for me?

🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Kiersten Sires, Founder and CEO of 2aDays, on Our Kids Play Hockey for more insight into navigating recruiting, evaluating coaches and programs, and making a college decision your student-athlete can feel confident about.

Keep supporting the player, keep asking good questions, and remember that choosing the right path matters far more than choosing the path that looks best from the outside.