Okay, let’s talk about D3 hockey recruits. This whole thing started when my kid, a pretty decent high school hockey player, started getting serious about playing in college. I mean, we knew he was good, but the whole recruiting process? That was a whole different beast. We were total newbies.
First thing we did was try to understand the landscape. See, D3, unlike D1, can’t offer athletic scholarships. That was news to us! It meant the focus was more on academics and finding a school that fit him as a student, not just an athlete. So, we started digging.
We made a list of schools that might be a good fit, based on their academic programs and, of course, their hockey programs. It was a long list at first. Then came the fun part – reaching out. We encouraged our son to email coaches, introduce himself, and express his interest. It felt a bit like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, you know?
We learned pretty quickly that showcases are important. These are events where players can, well, showcase their skills in front of a bunch of college coaches. We signed him up for a few, and man, those were intense! Lots of talented players, and you can feel the pressure in the air.
- Attended showcases.
- Sent a lot of follow-up emails.
- Scheduled some campus visits.
The campus visits were crucial. It’s one thing to see a school online, but it’s totally different to walk around, meet the coach in person, and talk to some of the current players. We made sure to ask about the team culture, the coach’s philosophy, and what a typical day looks like for a student-athlete. You really start to get a feel for whether it’s a place where your kid can thrive, both on and off the ice.
There were definitely some ups and downs. Sometimes coaches wouldn’t respond, or a visit wouldn’t go as well as we hoped. But we just kept at it. And eventually, our son found a school that felt like the perfect fit. He committed, and we were all over the moon!
So, that’s our D3 hockey recruiting story in a nutshell. It was a learning experience, for sure. If your kid is going through this, just remember to be patient, be persistent, and most importantly, be supportive. It’s their journey, after all. We are just here for helping them to find the best way.
