Every year, I take the girls I coach at the PEAC School For Elite Athletes on a tour of US universities to learn exactly what it takes get to and excel  at the next level of women’s hockey.  I truly believe any player who wants to play at this level can get there. Not every player who dreams of making the Olympic team is going to get there (there are only 20 spots every 4 years after all), but with over 100 colleges and universities in North America offering varsity women’s hockey programs, this is a much more realistic and reachable goal.

Most of the players I meet say they want to play at this level, but very few of them have any idea what it takes to get there or what they have to do to succeed on the ice and in the  classroom once they arrive on campus. On our school trips, we’ve been very fortunate to have the coaches of the top-level teams in the country give us the “inside” look at their programs. We watch practice, speak with the players, get tours from the coaches, and watch a Division 1 NCAA regular season game. All so the girls can see exactly what the next level looks like.  Now my players are more  focused and committed than ever to achieving their goals.

I realize that not every player who aspires to reach this next level has the chance to go on a trip like this…

::: That’s why I wanted to share the TOP 3 TIPS we’ve gotten from the college coaches with you :::

1.  Be Consistent

This is something that I am constantly bringing up when I’m talking to young players who want to get noticed. You have to be consistent each and every game in order to get to – and play at – the next level.    If you can only string together 3 or 4 good shifts a game now, a college coach is going to question whether you can deliver a consistently good performance once you get to the next level. They need to be confident that they can put you out on the ice and get what they expect out of you.

2.  What Would Happen If You Broke Your Leg? 

I know this is a bit of a gruesome thought, but when it comes to choosing what school you want to attend, you have to make sure that you aren’t making your choice only because of the hockey program. The question you should ask yourself is, “Would I still be happy here even if I broke my leg on the first day?”  If your answer is yes, then it’s the right school for you.  If it’s no, keep looking.

3. Start NOW

This was something all the coaches and players mentioned.  Far too many players wait until they get to the next level to prepare themselves for the next level.   You can have all the skills in the world, but if you are fast enough or fit enough to keep up with the pace and intensity, you and your skills will be sitting on the bench.  The only reason I was able to go from being buried on the 4th line to being on the 2nd line and power-play as a 1st year player in college was because of all the training I did off the ice.  I was more fit, which meant I could go harder and longer in practice and in off-ice training ,and could recover faster to work even harder the next day.

But that didn’t just happen when I arrived on campus. It happened in the 4 years before I went to college.  I put in the time and effort off the ice to put myself in a position to excel on the ice.  I did the work.  And you need to too.

Keep Working Hard and Dreaming BIG.

~ Coach Kim