Playing D3 as true freshman Vs. Juniors...

[mack 44]

I started college at 16 and wasn't entirely ready, but graduating early from grad and post-grad was worth it. It screwed me over for baseball eligibility, but I'll be in the minority and say start uni and hockey. I hate to be that guy, but hearing people say "what have you got to lose" leave out the possibility of an ACL tear or other like injury.

[sitzlejd 0]

I started college at 16 and wasn't entirely ready, but graduating early from grad and post-grad was worth it. It screwed me over for baseball eligibility, but I'll be in the minority and say start uni and hockey. I hate to be that guy, but hearing people say "what have you got to lose" leave out the possibility of an ACL tear or other like injury.

What does it matter if he does tear his ACL in juniors? As far as I can tell from the original post, a scholarship isn't part of the D3 situation. He also said the school was only average academically, so it's not as if he's giving up admission to a great university. So, if he tears his ACL in juniors or in D3, the result will be the same: go to school and get on with life.

Based on that analysis, I think trying the junior route is a no-brainer.Or am I missing something?

[shooter27 116]

What's with the rush to get into to college? I personally was not ready for college right out of high school, and took 2 years off to work, earn a bit of money and prepare myself for the challenge that a full time schedule provides. I say take the junior's route and if it doesn't work out, start attending school.

In my case I had repeated a year when I went to prep school, which is why I was a 19 year old freshman, if I hadn't done that I very likely would have made a different decision. However, if I hadn't repeated that year I would not have been ready to go to college at 18, so that would have played a part in influencing my decision to go the other way.

[Trooper 8]

If you can, go for it, school will always be there. I'm 36 and finishing my 3rd degree, there's no reason to think you have to go right to school and make all your decisions for the rest of your life. You have a chance to do what most people can't, take advantage of it.

[chippa13 1844]

The way I see it, if he isn't getting sniffs from D1 schools now or the top junior leagues where he can still maintain his NCAA eligibility then it is rather unlikely that 2 more years of juniors will get him to that D1 level. That isn't to say it can't happen with another growth spurt and a jump in ability over the next two years but one has to be objective about themselves.

One idea that I think could help with the decision would be to contact a couple of D1 programs and see if they think it is even a possibility down the road.

[the_game 452]

First of all, I didn't know Mack was f'n Doogie Howser graduating at 16 and becoming a nuclear physicist brain surgeon...

So you're being told you can step in and play every game as a true freshman. I'm not doubting your ability or calling the coach a liar or what have you, but are you sure that its 100% accurate statement? What if you get to this D3 school and you struggle to crack the roster, play 8 games and you're miserable? I played with a bunch of guys who were fed the same line and I know a lot of them ended up quitting hockey and again I'm not saying that will be you, I'm just saying it's a possibility.

And what about you're development as a player? You obviously have some talent if you're getting recruited to a strong D3 school, what if you spend a year or 2 developing more playing juniors?

Bottom line I think everyone's situation is unique including yours. Give it some more time and some more thought. See what other schools start talking to you. Talk to people who you trust and who will give you an honest critique of where they see you as a player. Get as much info as you can before hand then really think about it and make the decision thats going to be best for you.

[mack 44]

What does it matter if he does tear his ACL in juniors? As far as I can tell from the original post, a scholarship isn't part of the D3 situation. He also said the school was only average academically, so it's not as if he's giving up admission to a great university. So, if he tears his ACL in juniors or in D3, the result will be the same: go to school and get on with life.

Based on that analysis, I think trying the junior route is a no-brainer.Or am I missing something?

As far as I can tell I made no reference to a scholarship. It's obvious he's getting a look to play for a team at a school that is a good academic school, so if (God forbid) something happened to him maybe that chance goes away. I'm all for someone living a dream, but keep reality and probability in the hip pockets.

To another point, graduating at 16 in the US is ridiculously easy if you ever look at a GED. The trick is getting a good school to go along with that and take you in.

[zachary 2]

I say try Juniors man. My mistake was playin High School hockey for a horrible team for 3 years. I feel like I took alot of steps back and I play ACHA D2. I always wonder what would have happened if I sticked with local club hockey and possibly even tried to venture elsewhere.

[evor1 6]

ignoring the hockey i will say this. there is no rush to graduate school and start working. a couple of years isnt going to mean anything. i graduated 2 years ago and have been working full time and it sucks. im currently applying to grad schools to go back. i would kill to be able to play hockey for a couple extra years even if it didnt lead to a hockey career. trying to make the maximum amount of money possible in your lifetime is a good way to be miserable.

[DEATHTRON 19]

For anyone saying "What do you have to lose..": He actually stands to lose X number of years making (statsistically) of his highest income before retirement.The quicker you can get your degree's and get out in the "real world", the quicker you can start earning that next raise, which will ultimately lead to a few more years making more money (potentially at the highest rate you will earn in your life).

Food for thought.

Zach

[epstud74 24]

There are plenty of D3 schools that are hard to get into, especially in the upper midwest at places like Carleton, Gustavus Adolphus, St Olaf, St Johns, and the various Wisconsin schools like St Norbert

[Trooper 8]

For anyone saying "What do you have to lose..": He actually stands to lose X number of years making (statsistically) of his highest income before retirement.The quicker you can get your degree's and get out in the "real world", the quicker you can start earning that next raise, which will ultimately lead to a few more years making more money (potentially at the highest rate you will earn in your life).

Food for thought.

Zach

Food for thought, but most people change careers, go back to grad school, whatever. People go in the military or delay for many reasons. In the big scheme of things it doesn't matter much, plus he has experiences to build on.

[iceNsteel 0]

I believe the average is now two complete career changes for an American worker in a life time. We've had record numbers of people going back to school in adulthood, or even going to college for the first time in their 30's and 40's. Not to mention that data shows when people delay going to college for the first time they are much more likely to finish. College drop out rates for students that go in straight from high school have always been pretty high. But more than any of that, there's more to life than money. American workers enjoy a high material standard of living, but are consistently less happy with their lives than workers in western Europe countries. Who may lack the same standard of consumer goods, but work fewer hours, don't do things that are common in the US like skipping vacations for years, and so on. In much the same way that more free time, even at the expense of being able to afford stuff, equals happier people it would only seem logical that pursuing a dream is a more valuable usage of time. Especially when the only potential variable is earning a little less income.

[biff44 0]

It is a tough decision--especially tough because you do not have full information to make a decision on!

It is great to get into a D1 college, especially if you can get a significant schollarship. You will not get the scholarship at a DIII. Getting onto a USHL team and getting good playing time IS the way to get into a D1 college. NAHL gets fewer looks by scouts, and EJ gets still fewer looks. What are your chances of getting onto a USHL team? Are you a phenomenal scorer in the league you are in? Have scouts talked to you about school or NHL draft prospects? What does your coach honestly think? Are you listed on as a top prospect anywhere?

If you can play juniors for free...it might be wise to do so for a year to see if you are getting bites. But really work at it--weight room, shooting pucks, stickhandling, sprints, plyo, etc. You really have to work hard at it to be seen. If you can tryout for USHL teams, go for it! It at least shows you what the competition is like. But understand the commitment--you are giving up your friends, girlfriend, family ties, and moving way across country to live in someone's basement, eat lousy food, travel on a bus for ever, and live/eat/breath hockey for that year. You will be playing thru pain and injury. Fans will be screaming for your head if you miss a check or duck a fight. Some glamour, but a lot of grinding it out.

So...realistically gather as much data as you can get about how good you are and your chances of being noticed, and make a decision. Waiting a year to get into school is not a bad thing. Probably that DIII school will wait a year for you.

By giving up now, you have to be comfortable with watching an NHL hockey game when you are 30 and not thinking to yourself "jeez, I should have gone for it...I could have made it".

[pass the bisk 0]

I have a bunch of friends who play u18 right now and they are all top 100 projected picks in the OHL draft. The ones who think they can play pro are going to the OHL. The ones who don't think they can play pro, but want to get a college education are going USHL then college. The one that can make it to the show is going to a top d-1 school

[biff44 0]

I have a bunch of friends who play u18 right now and they are all top 100 projected picks in the OHL draft. The ones who think they can play pro are going to the OHL. The ones who don't think they can play pro, but want to get a college education are going USHL then college. The one that can make it to the show is going to a top d-1 school

You must be from Canada. that is a very true statement in Canada, but not so much in the US. US players do not want to lose their NCAA college eligibility, and the NCAA route is just fine for making it to the NHL too. So a US player is much more likely to go USHL then NCAA to make it to the show than Junior A to CHL.

And, it doesn't hurt to have a college degree, or most of one, just in case....it is a long way to the top if you wanna rock'n roll.

[pass the bisk 0]

You must be from Canada. that is a very true statement in Canada, but not so much in the US. US players do not want to lose their NCAA college eligibility, and the NCAA route is just fine for making it to the NHL too. So a US player is much more likely to go USHL then NCAA to make it to the show than Junior A to CHL.

And, it doesn't hurt to have a college degree, or most of one, just in case....it is a long way to the top if you wanna rock'n roll.

No I'm from the US. I know a bunch of pro scouts and what they say is that if you are good enough for the show go to juniors, if you are not, go to college

[frankie56 0]

The thing that is making this a difficult decision is that you are missing an honest evaluation of you as a hockey player and your D1 potential. Its very difficult to evaluate yourself. Go to someone you trust who is familiar with the level of play at D1. They must be honest, and you must listen to what they have to say.

[IniNew 53]

For anyone saying "What do you have to lose..": He actually stands to lose X number of years making (statsistically) of his highest income before retirement.The quicker you can get your degree's and get out in the "real world", the quicker you can start earning that next raise, which will ultimately lead to a few more years making more money (potentially at the highest rate you will earn in your life).

Food for thought.

Zach

This might be true if the economy wasn't in the shitter right now. There are plenty of College grads taking jobs making what a High School graduate was making about 5 years ago. If he takes a few extra years, the economy get's better and he is able to get a job with a higher starting salary than what he would have been making with 2 years experience.

[M.W. 0]

If you're not getting some kind of incentive to go to this DIII school right now (scholarship or whatever), I think it really comes down to taking a really serious look at yourself, and deciding if you're realistically at risk of not going to school in 2 years if the DI thing doesn't pan out.

You say the DIII school is academically average. Chances are that in 2 years, you could get into that school or one of a similar level, yes?

If you know that you'll definitely end up going to college in 2 years, then I'd say go play junior. At what other time in your life will you have the opportunity to go play junior hockey? School will still be around in 2 years, particularly an average academic school. Junior hockey tops out at 20. Playing junior is at least giving you the shot at going to a higher-end school, and giving you a better shot at following your dream.

All this talk about earning potential and whatnot is nice, but lets remember why we actually wake up every day. It's for reasons much closer to chasing dreams than it is to maximizing your earning potential, especially at 18 years old. 2 years at that age is insignificant enough that there will be thousands of other factors that, in the long run, have just as much an effect on how much money you make. For example, maybe during those 2 years, you learn that you want to go into a particular field that you didn't know you were interested in yet, and you end up excelling in that field and end up making much more money at that than you would have at whatever you want to go into right now.

For me, this would be a total no-brainer, but I also know that I would have ended up going to school eventually no matter what, which is a huge factor.

[pass the bisk 0]

I've been thinking about this for the last couple of days and to me it seems like the best decision would be to go to college. With the economy being how it is and it becoming harder to find a job, you are going to need any advantage you can get over others. The first is a college degree. If you are good enough to play pro, you will play pro. only a matter of time.