For youth players in Minnesota, path consistent but timelines may vary - College Hockey, Inc. (2024)

For youth players in Minnesota, path consistent but timelines may vary - College Hockey, Inc. (1)

Noah Cates made his National Hockey League debut just days after his standout collegiate career at Minnesota Duluth had come to an end (Photo: Brad Rempel)

By Sean Hogan, Jayson Hajdu and Mike Snee

Hockeyland, a much-anticipated film that documents a season of Minnesota boys high school hockey in the towns of Hermantown and Eveleth, premiers in theaters tomorrow. College Hockey Inc. thought this would be an appropriate time to release our findings from a comprehensive, Minnesota-focused research project that we just concluded.

Where an aspiring NCAA Division I men’s hockey player plays hockey in the years prior to his college hockey career is heavily influenced by where that player grows up. In June 2022, College Hockey Inc. released the findings of our project that researched the paths of the 156 Michigan men who earned NCAA Division I hockey commitments from May 14, 2018 through Nov. 15, 2021. Now we present the findings from our project researching the paths of the 194 Minnesota men who earned NCAA Division I hockey commitments during that same period.

Despite the state’s smaller population, no state or province sends more players to NCAA Division I men’s hockey each year than Minnesota. Noteworthy themes that emerged from the Minnesota study:

  • In Minnesota, high school hockey is the undisputed dominant route to NCAA Division I men’s hockey. The vast majority of Minnesota players travel the same path to college hockey, spending several years playing for their community youth hockey associations and then for their high school hockey teams.
  • The average age of commitment in Minnesota was 18.5, which is a half-year younger than the national average of 19.
  • A significant majority of committed Minnesota players will play high school hockey through their senior year and then move into either the USHL or NAHL after their senior year of high school.
  • Only five committed players played full-time Tier III junior hockey. All five started their Tier III junior hockey careers after completing their high school hockey eligibility.

“For Minnesota’s best male hockey players, the route to the highest levels of hockey is pretty obvious and easy to understand – play for the youth hockey association in your community and then for your high school,” said Mike MacMillan, USA Hockey Coach-in-Chief.

The Data: Hockey Before NCAA

The vast majority of players in Minnesota will earn NCAA Division I commitments between 18 and 19 years old while they are playing high school or NCAA-eligible junior hockey. The average age of these commitments is 18.5-years old (national average commitment age is 19), and the oldest commitment was made at 21.6. It should be noted that the average commitment age will likely continue to become older as the NCAA recruiting rule changes that were implemented in May 2019 take full effect.

Of the 194 commitments made by players from Minnesota studied by College Hockey Inc., 171 of them played high school hockey and 140 played high school hockey as seniors.

Where committed players played during their high school senior year:
League No.
Minnesota High School 140
USHL 24
No data/not yet seniors 8
U.S. NTDP 8
NAHL 7
PREP 5
18U AAA 1
NCAA 1

Minnesota is the only state in the country where high school hockey players earned more commitments than any other league, with 60 of 194 commitments coming while playing high school compared to 59 while playing in the NAHL and 47 while playing in the USHL.

However, it is important to understand that most players who committed while playing in the USHL or NAHL will not earn their commitment until after graduating from high school. There is little evidence suggesting that leaving high school hockey early will lead to a quicker commitment. In fact, it likely just adds another year of junior hockey to one’s junior hockey career.

Only seventeen players played NCAA Division I hockey in their first year after high school: seven from high school hockey, five from the U.S. NTDP, four from the USHL and one from prep hockey.

Where committed players played when they earned their commitments?
League No.
Minnesota High School 60
NAHL 59
USHL 47
PREP 8
16U 5
BCHL 4
U.S. NTDP 3
Minnesota Bantam 2
15U 2
14U AAA 1
AJHL 1
CCHL 1
NCDC 1

“Once high school is over, for most future college hockey players from Minnesota it means a season or two in the USHL or NAHL before college,” said MacMillan. “The every-player-has-his-own-path notion isn’t accurate for a player from Minnesota. Most college hockey players from Minnesota have the same path. They just have different timelines.”

Case Study: Noah Cates

Noah Cates, a native of Stillwater, Minn., made his National Hockey League debut with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 29, 2022, just days after his standout collegiate career at Minnesota Duluth had come to an end.

Cates was a four-year stalwart and two year-captain for the Bulldogs, who won the men’s NCAA Division I championship during Cates’ freshman season. On his way to Minnesota Duluth and the NCAA, Cates honed his development in the Stillwater Area Youth Hockey Association and at Stillwater High School. Like most Minnesotans who will play college hockey, Cates opted to stay for his senior season rather than depart early for the junior ranks.

Cates, who dreamed of winning a state high school championship with his lifelong Stillwater teammates and best friends, told College Hockey Inc. he was careful to avoid the notion that you can rush development.

“The decision to leave for junior never crossed my mind,” said Cates, now 23-years old. “Staying in high school for my senior year gave me the opportunity to dominate on the ice and be in all situations and develop my game, with and without the puck.

“It gave me the closure that I wanted on and off the ice, which got me ready for my next journey, rather than “what-iffing” about different scenarios or situations in my career and life.”

Whether it’s Cates, or Minnesota Duluth’s Blake Biondi and Holy Cross commit Will Troutwine, both of whom are featured in Hockeyland, the path to college hockey for Minnesotans goes through high school hockey.

NOTE:

College Hockey Inc. has produced four separate “paths” studies: a comprehensive examination in 2020, a goalie-specific analysis in 2021, a Michigan-centric breakdown, and now this fourth study focused specifically on the state of Minnesota.

For youth players in Minnesota, path consistent but timelines may vary - College Hockey, Inc. (2)

For youth players in Minnesota, path consistent but timelines may vary - College Hockey, Inc. (2024)

FAQs

What is the Minnesota hockey model? ›

The Minnesota Model Association Program is designed to encourage, recognize and reward hockey associations who implement age appropriate skill development as outlined in the Minnesota Development Model (MDM) of best practices leading to greater skill development and retention of players.

How many youth hockey players are there in MN? ›

Minnesota Surpasses 19,000 8U Players for First Time Ever

The total helped Minnesota Hockey establish a record for total players as well, with 58,666 players of all ages gearing up across the state. The 19,079 8U players includes 13,631 boys and a record 5,448 girls and is an increase of 12.2% over 2020-21.

How hard is it to play d3 hockey? ›

It's not as hard to play NCAA Division 3 as it is to play NCAA Division 1 hockey, but it's certainly no cake walk to make a roster either. Most team rosters are filled with strong players who've been hand recruited to attend their school to play sports (there's occasionally one walk-on spot per team).

Is CHL better than OHL? ›

Currently at 20 teams, the OHL could very well be the highest profile league in the CHL due to its geographical positioning in comparison to the WHL and QMJHL.

Does Minnesota have AAA hockey? ›

The MN Blades AAA Hockey Club is a non-profit youth hockey association that originated in 1989, initially as the Minnesota Stars.

Which state produces the most hockey players? ›

Producing the largest amount of American-born National Hockey League talent has long been part of the lore of Minnesota hockey. Minnesota has produced nearly 60 more NHL players than the next closest state, Massachusetts, and nearly 100 more than the third place state of Michigan.

What percent of youth hockey players go pro? ›

When it comes to boys who play hockey, the chances are about 1-in-1,000 of playing one NHL game. But even when you get to the elite levels such as major junior hockey, the odds are still against you. The fact is that players who play at that level basically have less than a 1-in-5 chance to play a game in the NHL.

What percentage of major junior hockey players make the NHL? ›

While there is no definitive answer, the general consensus is that less than one percent of junior hockey players will eventually make it to the NHL. This means that for every junior hockey player currently in the NHL, there are at least 100 other junior hockey players who will never make it to the show.

What is the big hockey school in Minnesota? ›

The best top ranked offering ice hockey sport private schools in Minnesota include Faithful Shepherd Catholic School, Mounds Park Academy and Cotter Schools. The average tuition cost is $15,377, which is higher than the Minnesota private school average tuition cost of $7,543.

Is playing D3 impressive? ›

Division III: A well-rounded college experience

If you want to focus on academics as much as your sport, a D3 program is your best bet. This doesn't mean you don't train or practice. But it's less demanding and intense than it would be at a D1 or D2 school. Academics are just as important as athletics in a D3 school.

Is hockey the hardest sport to learn? ›

Overall, the combination of speed, physicality, skill, mental toughness, and logistical challenges make hockey one of the hardest sports in the world.

Can you get a D3 hockey scholarship? ›

NCAA Division 3 hockey scholarships

Athletic scholarships are not offered at the Division 3 level. Instead, recruits can aim for merit-based scholarships, if they meet the academic standards set in place by institutions.

What is a Tier 2 hockey? ›

Tier II consists of the remaining divisions - AA through B divisions – with AA being the most competitive division of Tier II hockey. HIERARCHY OF YOUTH HOCKEY. Tier I AAA teams participate in the USPHL or AYHL while the Tier II divisions participate in the NJYHL.

What league produces the most NHL players? ›

Major junior hockey in Canada continues to lead the way, worldwide, in terms of the number of players selected yearly at the NHL draft. The CHL has three leagues under its umbrella. The Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

Which is better OHL or AHL? ›

The AHL delivers a much higher level of hockey, top to bottom of the roster, than the OHL and a large number of junior players never get a sniff at the pros, even a couple of tiers below the Dogs' level.

Can you go to the NHL from Acha? ›

Have any ACHA players made it to the NHL? Yes... one player has. Daniel Walcott.

Is AA or AAA hockey better? ›

At each youth hockey age group, there are three distinct classifications: B/BB, A/AA and AAA. B or BB (House) is a recreational level with the following requirements. A or AA (Tier 2) is a competitive level with the following requirements. AAA (Tier 1) is a competitive level with the following requirements.

How many MN high school hockey teams are there? ›

There are 72 public and private high school ice hockey varsity teams and 55 Junior Gold A and B high school ice hockey teams within the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area.

Where is hockey most popular in US? ›

Ice hockey is traditionally popular in Massachusetts (and New England in general), Michigan, New York (especially Upstate New York) and Minnesota within the United States. Minnesota is known as the hockey capital of the US.

Where is hockey most popular in the world? ›

Ice hockey is immensely popular in Canada, where it is the national winter sport and arguably the country's most popular game. Hockey is also popular in the United States and in European countries such as Russia, Sweden, and Finland.

Why are so many hockey players from Minnesota? ›

One of the largest reasons that Minnesota is able to produce such a large number of professional hockey players is partially because Minnesota kids can begin playing hockey – at a very young age – on the frozen lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks that dot the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”.

Do college hockey players go pro? ›

NCAA student-athletes are amateurs and cannot have played for a professional sports team prior to enrollment. In hockey, specifically, this means that anyone who signs a contract with or plays for a team in the Canadian Hockey League (OHL, QMJHL or WHL) forfeits their NCAA eligibility.

Is hockey easy to go pro? ›

Professional hockey is one of the hardest sports to make it to the professional level. In fact, only 12% of hockey players who play in high school make it to play in college; from there, that percentage decreases greatly for professionals. There are a few main components of becoming a professional hockey player.

How many high school hockey players play in college? ›

Odds of a US Male High School Athlete Playing in College 2022-23:
Participation by Sport: Male AthletesHigh School US BoysCollege US Men
Football1,023,90896,368
Golf168,6199,872
Ice Hockey45,0754,594
Lacrosse114,67817,283
11 more rows

Do all NHL players play AAA? ›

AAA hockey is the highest level of minor hockey. You don't HAVE to play AAA to make the NHL, but playing at the AAA level certainly does help in development.

Is it hard to play junior a hockey? ›

The junior hockey level is one of the hardest levels for a young hockey player to adapt to. A lot of them have to move away from home, which can be hard. As these young players move up in the ranks of hockey, it just gets more difficult and intense. The players get better and the coaches get more demanding.

Do you make money in junior hockey? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $80,000 and as low as $14,000, the majority of Junior Hockey salaries currently range between $34,000 (25th percentile) to $51,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $67,000 annually across the United States.

What is the best high school for hockey in Minnesota? ›

Class 1A
  1. Warroad (27-0-1) Considering the Warriors still haven't lost a game yet, it is safe to say they are currently the heavy favorites to win it all for Class 1A. ...
  2. Hermantown (25-2-1) ...
  3. Mahtomedi (20-8) ...
  4. Luverne (21-6-1) ...
  5. Orono (23-5) ...
  6. Northfield (23-5) ...
  7. St. ...
  8. Alexandria (14-12-1)
Mar 7, 2023

What are the best hockey schools in Minnesota? ›

Top Colleges in Minnesota for D3 Men's Ice Hockey athletes in Minnesota
  • University of St Thomas Minnesota. Saint Paul, Minnesota. ...
  • Concordia College at Moorhead. ...
  • Augsburg University. ...
  • The College of Saint Scholastica. ...
  • St Olaf College. ...
  • Gustavus Adolphus College. ...
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. ...
  • Hamline University.

What is the best hockey high school? ›

HS Ice Hockey Rankings
#TeamStr.
1St. John's Prep (MA)13.7
2Catholic Memorial (MA)13.2
3Valor Christian (CO)8.4
4West Genesee (NY)9.7
6 more rows

Is it better to play D1 or D3? ›

Is D1 better than D3? D1 is more competitive than D3, and typically comes with more tuition benefits. D1 athletes also have a better chance of going pro after their college career. That being said, D3 athletes have more flexibility and time to engage with their studies and pursue other extracurriculars.

Why is D3 so hard? ›

D3 is a very large set of modules with high customizability, so it can seem overwhelming to learn. The difficulty likely depends on an individual's experience with JavaScript, HTML and basic web development. It can be a steep learning curve for new programmers because there may be a lot of new concepts.

Is it better to go D2 or D3? ›

Most studies show that vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 at raising blood levels of calcifediol ( 7 , 8 ). For example, one study in 32 older women found that a single dose of vitamin D3 was nearly twice as effective as vitamin D2 at raising calcifediol levels ( 9 ).

What is the hardest sport to play mentally? ›

Here's out rundown of the most mentally challenging sports in the world today:
  • Baseball. ...
  • Golf. ...
  • Tennis. ...
  • Gymnastics. ...
  • Swimming. ...
  • 39 thoughts on “5 Most Mentally Challenging Sports”
Dec 5, 2017

What is the top 5 hardest sports to learn? ›

According to Sports Virsa, the top 10 hardest sports in the world to play in 2022 are as follows: Boxing (hardest), American football, mixed martial arts, ice hockey, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, wrestling, rugby, and water polo.

What's the hardest sport to get a scholarship in? ›

Most Competitive Sports for Recruitment
  • Football. This is the most popular sport in the country, and the most difficult to get recruited for. ...
  • Baseball/Softball. America's pastime shares much the same fate as football, but both genders can participate in this one. ...
  • Men's Wrestling. ...
  • Track and Field. ...
  • Fencing. ...
  • Women's Crew.
Nov 4, 2022

Is Acha better than D3? ›

These non-varsity programs play at institutions across the country and are known for being well organized and supported by the campus community. In many cases, top ACHA programs are equal to or better than NCAA Division 3 programs.

Do D3 schools give money for sports? ›

Student-athletes who attend Division III schools can still earn a need-based financial aid package that can cover a significant amount of college expenses, however, athletic scholarships are not given at these schools. Despite this fact, Division III athletes still receive a substantial financial aid package.

What is a Tier 1 hockey player? ›

USA Hockey designates four skill levels: Tier 1: The highest level of competition, also called "AAA" Tier 2: also called "AA" or "A". Tier 3: may also be called Recreational/Developmental: Includes house league and select.

What does Tier 2 mean in youth hockey? ›

Tier 2. The Tier II league and teams provide a competitive opportunity for the elite player on a nationwide basis. The Tier II model features teams located in fan-driven markets operated by owners with sound financial backing. Their role in the development of players, coaches, and officials involved is clearly defined.

What does C2 mean in hockey? ›

C2 Division – For beginner to proficient hockey players. In this division, there a reasonable mix of beginners to players with some high school or club hockey experience. Some players in this division started the sport as adults or went many years without playing.

Where do the best hockey players come from? ›

For all the progress that has been made in the United States and for all the great players who have come to the NHL from Russia, Sweden, Finland and other European countries, there is no doubt that the majority of the best hockey players in the world are Canadian-born.

What city produces the most NHL players? ›

NHL Totals by Birth City - Career Stats
RkBirth CityPIM
1Toronto, ON83 778
2Montréal, QC65 903
3Edmonton, AB49 676
4Ottawa, ON42 012
34 more rows

Which hockey team has the most followers? ›

NHL Teams Ranked by TikTok Followers
RankTeamFollowers
1.Chicago Blackhawks491,000
2.Toronto Maple Leafs452,200
3.New York Rangers434,400
4.Detroit Red Wings389,100
28 more rows
Apr 2, 2023

Is NHL ice bigger than AHL? ›

In the United States and Canada, the standard size of a hockey rink is 200 feet by 85 feet or, as expressed in metric terms, 61 meters by 26 meters, with a corner radius of 28 feet or 8.5 meters. This is the standard size used in the NHL, the AHL, college hockey, and junior hockey.

What is the AHL hardest shot ever? ›

Ontario Reign forward Martin Frk is going down in the record books. At the 2020 AHL All-Star Skills Competition, he participated in the Hardest Shot event and recorded a blazing 109.2 miles-per-hour slap shot.

What is an AHL players salary? ›

As of Apr 21, 2023, the average annual pay for the AHL jobs category in the United States is $54,791 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $26.34 an hour.

What is the Minnesota hockey scandal? ›

The University of Minnesota is reportedly investigating allegations of sexual misconduct levied against former assistant men's hockey coach Thomas Adrahtas. Katie Strang of The Athletic reported the news, noting Adrahtas was an assistant on the team for the 1984-85 season.

What does the MPLS hockey jersey mean? ›

"The two stars in the crest are a reference to Gemini, the twins constellation. They represent the two cities – St. Paul and Minneapolis. ... Hockey's origins on ponds are reflected in the vintage white in the jersey, the canvas breezers inspiration in the pants and in the leather gloves.

Why is Minnesota hockey important? ›

The Land of 10,000 Lakes may be the most popular nickname for Minnesota, but it's also known as The State of Hockey—and for good reason. Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Minnesota. Every year, more than 135,000 fans gather at the Xcel Energy Center for the Minnesota Boys State Hockey Tournament.

What is the Minnesota Wild ECHL team? ›

PAUL -- The National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild today announced a multi-year ECHL affiliation agreement with the Iowa Heartlanders beginning with the 2021-22 season.

What is the famous Minnesota hockey team? ›

The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993.

What is the Bruin controversy? ›

The Boston Bruins have canceled plans to add defenseman Mitchell Miller to their organization, after current players and NHL officials spoke out against Miller — who was convicted of bullying a Black classmate with developmental disabilities when he was 14.

Did Ryan Reynolds buy a hockey team? ›

Welcome to Ottawa

Wrexham AFC has experienced a renaissance since being bought by Reynolds and fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney.

Why do hockey teams have 3 jerseys? ›

A third jersey, alternative jersey, third kit, third sweater or alternative uniform is a jersey or uniform that a sports team can wear instead of its home outfit or its away outfit during games, often when the colors of two competing teams' other uniforms are too similar to contrast easily.

Why do youth hockey jerseys have stop on the back? ›

The program involves providing your youth players with a 3" embroidered S.T.O.P. Patch which they wear on the center back of their jersey (both home and away) to remind the opposing player any hit from behind is both extremely dangerous and a cheap shot. The S.T.O.P. Patch looks identical to a regular street Stop Sign.

What does LNH mean in hockey? ›

The National Hockey League (NHL; French: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, French pronunciation: [liɡ nasjɔnal də ɔkɛ]) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada.

Is Minnesota a good hockey team? ›

1 Minnesota. Minnesota is the “state of hockey” and there's little doubt about that. The state has produced some of the best American hockey players in the history of the game, and has had the best college and high school programs for as long as they have existed.

How many MN natives are in the NHL? ›

There have been 60 Minnesotans that have played in the NHL this season. This list does not include players such as T.J. Oshie, Tucker Poolman, Jake Guentzel, and Neal Pionk, who spent portions (or most) of their hockey development in Minnesota.
...
Minnesotans In The NHL.
PlayerJustin Faulk
PositionD
TeamBlues
BornSouth St. Paul
60 more columns

Is Minnesota good at hockey? ›

The depth of college hockey is far stronger than it's ever been." Minnesota remains the top talent-producing state for Division I hockey, but there's more than one top-shelf option for elite players. Minnesota Duluth won national titles in 2011, 2018 and 2019, while Minnesota State and St.

Which is higher ECHL or AHL? ›

The ECHL is a mid-level professional hockey league a tier below the AHL and the only other league besides the only other minor league team besides the AHL that is recognized by the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association.

Is the ECHL considered pro? ›

The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada.
...
ECHL.
Current season, competition or edition: 2022–23 ECHL season
Official websiteechl.com
8 more rows

Who is the Minnesota Wild's biggest rival? ›

Who are the Biggest Rivals of the Minnesota Wild®? The biggest rivals of the Minnesota Wild® are the Colorado Avalanche®, the Chicago Blackhawks® and the Winnipeg Jets™. The St. Louis Blues® also have a place of contention in the Wild's heart, being divisional rivals and meeting in the playoffs multiple times.

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