Sean Skinner Prep School

[Konig von Kuhlem 0]

Wow! I never thought I would see the day...

http://www.skinnerhockeyacademy.com/

9am-3pm hockey training

3pm-8:30pm school...

9-1/2 months a year...

[mug25 2]

They want to create Hockey super mutants!!!

[#44wannabe 4]

wow...

[Chadd 916]

Couple things that jumped out at me:

At the SKINNER HOCKEY Academy, the player will get this, athletic and academic development for an approximate weekly cost of $800.

$800 a week for 9.5 months = $31k

Kids love to play games, but have you ever considered what a game is? It’s a test! Think about a high school math test. If the student fails the exam do we have them retake the test over and over without first going back and studying the information? We don’t give them the test 5 times in two days. Or if the student excelled on the exam, should we hold them back by only offering him the same exam throughout the semester?

So you want to reduce the amount of things kids enjoy about the games? Or to continue the school analogy, less fun and more homework?

[hockeyfreak7 0]

31k is actually cheaper than most prep schools (New England, at least).

You have to consider that you are paying for food, a place to live, ice time, private schooling, etc. That price tag doesnt shock me.

What does shock me is how open they are about putting hockey ahead of school. If I were a parent, I would never send my kid to a place like that. You take the fun out of the game + give them minimal education.

[Scoobersti 0]

I wonder how many of these kids can make it through a school year of that daily schedule. Both physically and mentally. I might be underestimating these kid's dedication, but it seems a bit much to me.

I wasn't a top level player or anything in high school, but as much as I loved playing hockey, I also had other interests (hanging out with friends, video games, girls, volunteer work) that I liked spending time on during the week after school. With the classes ending at 8:30, that sounds like I would probably fall on my bed from exhaustion as soon as I get back to my room and then eventually get up and get ready for bed and fall asleep.

[xrickyb86x 1]

hahaha no thx

[puckhoggy 0]

if i could turn back time, with this opportunity given to me, I'd def. take it lol

[Trooper 8]

Not out of line for what you get pricewise. As for the test analogy, I think it's pretty spot on, although not as clear as it needs to be. I think he's trying to say more practice, less games, which is what a lot of people have been pushing for for years. I could be wrong though, wouldn't be the first time.

[n3ss 0]

31.5k? that better come with a money back guarantee if they don't atleast sign a decent pro level contract.

[Hradsky 1]

Well this would be fun. If it was free (or really cheap) and I was allowed in, I'd definitely go for that.

[shooter27 116]

There have been several of similar type programs like this over the years. NSA comes to mind, and there is another one that I can't quite remember the name of, but I'm sure there are others. In general, these places attract third and fourth tier level talent that either really wants to make it or has parents that really want them to make it. The top level talent doesn't need to be at a place like that and the second level talent is usually so motivated on their own that they can improve just as much (if not more) by working on their games through other mediums (and being well rounded outside the game). Having played at a New England prep school, I will say that I think its kind of overkill. I played in the Founders League which thinks of itself as the more "academic" of the prep school leagues so we were limited to something like 26 regular season games, which was too few, but the schedules of teams in leagues like the ISL was about 30-35 games, which seems about right. I also would have liked to have had more hockey-specific time, not necessarily for practice, but for off-ice workouts. However, six or seven hours a day would have been overkill. I honestly believe playing lacrosse in the spring helped my game as much as any of the hockey specific things I did during that time because it improved my foot speed and conditioning. I agree with the sentiment that most of posted here that you need to be more well-rounded at that age then a program like this would allow for.

[durke 0]

Mixed feelings about it. I think I would have liked it as a kid, but wouldn't have been able to handle leaving my mom at age 14 or 15.

[raygunpk 0]

i think lidstrom did something like this in sweden

[Chadd 916]

I wonder how many of these kids can make it through a school year of that daily schedule. Both physically and mentally. I might be underestimating these kid's dedication, but it seems a bit much to me.

I wasn't a top level player or anything in high school, but as much as I loved playing hockey, I also had other interests (hanging out with friends, video games, girls, volunteer work) that I liked spending time on during the week after school. With the classes ending at 8:30, that sounds like I would probably fall on my bed from exhaustion as soon as I get back to my room and then eventually get up and get ready for bed and fall asleep.

You obviously weren't committed enough, you need to eat, sleep and breathe hockey in order to make it. At least in the estimation of some parents.

31k is actually cheaper than most prep schools (New England, at least).

Those prep schools look a lot better on a resume or college application for the people that don't get paid to play the game.

There have been several of similar type programs like this over the years. NSA comes to mind, and there is another one that I can't quite remember the name of, but I'm sure there are others.

I know a guy whose daughter went to NSA. She was a good hockey player and it was her idea to go there. In the end she got a partial scholarship to a D1 school that she lost when she ripped up her knees at the end of her freshman year. I looked into them and they have a pretty good academic reputation.

[shooter27 116]

True, NSA is definitely more of a traditional prep school than this is, but they are still more focused on athletics than most prep school, which is why I used them as an example.

[furlanitalia 1]

The claims of what players will improve are pretty high. I wonder if there is a money back guarantee? Either way, I would have killed for an opportunity to attend a prep hockey school when I was 14-15.

[ktang 34]

So, I guess this is like a Soviet sports school? Would it feed into the USHA elite program? If they could select the best of the best for the school (paid scholarships?) they could crank out the ultimately skilled players.

Scoobersti's comments about attracting 3rd or 4th tier players (because 1st and 2nd tier players don't need the extra motivation and/or drills) might be true, too.

[frankie56 0]

Would it feed into the USHA elite program? If they could select the best of the best for the school (paid scholarships?) they could crank out the ultimately skilled players.

This is the USA Hockey NTDP

[hockeyfreak7 0]

Those prep schools look a lot better on a resume or college application for the people that don't get paid to play the game.

Oh, no doubt. I am a huge advocate of New England prep schools. Just pointing out that 31k isnt completely crazy for a boarding school.