College Hockey and Junior Hockey in the U.S.

Discover what U.S. College and Junior Hockey is all about and how we can help you get a hockey scholarship at an American or Canadian university - while earning your degree at the same time. Let's make your dream reality.

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What Is College Hockey and Junior Hockey in the U.S.

U.S. Hockey offers multiple pathways - both Junior Hockey and College Hockey - to combine high-level sport with personal development and future opportunity. Whether you choose the intensive, development-focused route of junior hockey or the student-athlete path of college hockey, the environment is competitive and highly organized, closely mirroring a professional set-up. Both systems provide players with elite coaching, dedicated support, and often state-of-the-art training facilities (rinks, strength training areas, etc.).

Securing a college hockey scholarship means you get to continue pursuing your passion at a high level while simultaneously working toward an internationally recognized degree, safeguarding your future. As a student-athlete, you don't just join a team - you become part of a unique, intense community. Your team quickly becomes your second family - a supportive unit defined by team spirit and a shared pursuit of excellence on the ice. You’ll celebrate hard-fought victories and learn crucial lessons in resilience alongside teammates who share your drive. This experience helps you grow both as an athlete and personally.

Beyond the rink, the combined junior and college hockey system provides you with an invaluable experience of juggling athletics and, in the college setting, academics, while building a strong, international network. For the most talented, this route serves as a strategic stepping stone: many elite graduates from both college and junior programs go on to compete professionally in the NHL, the AHL, or top European leagues, or join national teams, proving it is a viable route to the professional ranks. U.S. Hockey opens doors for your future career, whether in professional sports or the corporate world.

Combination

Train daily at a high level while earning an internationally recognized degree.

Funding

Academic and athletic scholarships cover tuition and living costs.

Career

Your degree and college experience open doors worldwide and are highly valued by employers.

Make it to The Next Level

Maximize your hockey potential and use both the Junior Hockey and College Hockey competition pipelines as the ultimate proving ground to make it to the professional ranks.

Hear From Our Athletes

Read what our athletes have to say about their experiences with us.

Working with Smarthlete was the best decision I could have made. Without you, the recruiting process simply wouldn't have been possible. You took so many difficult tasks off my plate, and I am incredibly grateful for that. Thank you for everything - you guys were awesome!

Martin

Cumberlands University, NAIA

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Scholarships

We have already secured more than $23 million in scholarships for our athletes – and counting.

International

Over the years, we have helped thousands of athletes worldwide find the perfect university and the right scholarship in the USA. Currently, more than 400 former Smarthlete clients are studying at colleges across the United States.

Client Satisfaction

We support athletes and families personally, closely, and transparently – reflected in a 95% satisfaction rate.

Meet Our Ice Hockey Players in The U.S.

Our players currently in college have turned their dream of playing hockey in the U.S. into reality. With hundreds already placed at top universities, our athletes' stories and successes show what’s possible with the right support.

Jari Stacher

Keene State College

NCAA DIII

Lauryne Duennenberger

New Hampshire Mountain Cats

Junior Hockey Team

Success Stories

This is What Hockey in the U.S. is All About

Discover what it really means to live and play in the U.S. - this could be your journey next.

Hockey Passion

Day in The Life

U.S. College and Junior Hockey

What Does a Day in The Life of a Ice Hockey Player in the U.S. Look Like?

Depending on the time of the year, a junior or college hockey player's day starts very early. Most programs require athletes to be ready for morning training. These early sessions often involve intensive strength and conditioning workouts in the gym, or, for college athletes, heading straight to the rink for on-ice practice or specialized skills work before classes begin. After the intense early workout, athletes grab a quick breakfast, often rushing to make it to their first round of classes, usually between 8:00 a.m. and noon for college players. Juggling early morning commitments and academics is a key part of the student-athlete life. Junior players are often attending classes at a local high school or online. After morning commitments, it’s typically lunch time, often spent with teammates in the dining hall.

Most hockey programs dedicate the mid-to-late afternoon to the primary training session. This is the crucial time for a full team practice on the ice, focusing on systems, special teams, and battle drills. If ice time isn't available, athletes shift to a 2–3 hour session of dryland training, which focuses on explosive power, core strength, and agility specific to hockey movements. College athletes also use this block for study hall, attending labs, or scheduling recovery activities. Recovery is critical in hockey to prevent injuries from the high-impact nature of the sport and the demanding travel schedule. This includes regular sessions with an athletic trainer, ice baths, and scheduled physical therapy to ensure the body holds up through a long season.

In the evening, there is time to do homework, relax, and socialize. Given the nature of both college and junior hockey, travel plays a massive role. During the season, players spend many evenings and weekends on a bus traveling for away games, meaning time is often spent studying or relaxing with teammates on the road. While you have a meal plan in college or regular meals in junior hockey, you will certainly go out for dinner at times and find some other fun things to do with your friends to unwind after a physically demanding day.

What Does The Recruiting Timeline & College Ice Hockey Season Look Like?

Recruiting Timeline

The hockey recruiting process is highly competitive and requires early preparation. Coaches at top programs begin evaluating athletes well in advance, often securing commitments from their strongest prospects two or even three years before enrollment. That’s why we strongly recommend starting your recruiting journey at least 24 months before your desired starting date in the U.S. Beginning early gives you the chance to connect with coaches, send updated game footage and statistics, complete all eligibility steps, and receive offers before roster spots and scholarship budgets fill up. While it’s still possible to start later, most of the best opportunities may already be taken, so getting ahead is the best way to keep your options open and secure the right fit.

College Hockey Season

The official college hockey season typically runs from early fall through mid-spring (October through April). During this time, teams compete in a rigorous schedule of non-conference and conference games, representing their schools in pursuit of a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA National Tournament (the "Frozen Four"). The schedule is intense, with games often played on Friday and Saturday nights. This demanding schedule requires athletes to balance academics, competition, and training at a high level.

The remaining time of the year serve as the off-season or non-traditional season, focusing heavily on strength and conditioning, dryland training, and individual skill development. The spring (March through May) focuses on recovery followed by an intensive cycle of building base fitness and strength. The fall (August through October) shifts to pre-season preparation, including specific dryland routines, testing, and early on-ice practice sessions. This year-round structure makes college hockey both challenging and rewarding, pushing athletes to continuously improve and perform at their best while earning a degree.

How High a Hockey Scholarship Can I Get?

The amount of college hockey scholarship you can receive depends on several factors - most importantly your level of play, your experience in high-level junior hockey, the division you're targeting (NCAA Division I, II, or III), and the specific college or university you aim to join.

NCAA Scholarship Structure

College hockey is an equivalency sport in NCAA Divisions I and II, meaning coaches are allotted a total scholarship budget, which they can divide among many players. This means that full-ride hockey scholarships are very rare and are typically reserved for top-tier prospects, often those with experience in the most competitive Tier I junior leagues. Most college hockey players receive partial scholarships, which cover a portion of the total college costs, such as a percentage of tuition or housing. Coaches use this distribution method to build a deep, competitive roster, offering partial aid to a larger number of players instead of full rides to only a few. In any division, strong grades and test scores are vital, as academic scholarships can frequently be combined with athletic aid to significantly lower the overall cost of attendance.

The Junior Hockey Landscape and Cost

The path to a college hockey scholarship often runs directly through the highly structured world of junior hockey, which dictates both a player's development level and their financial outlay. The highest level leagues and the top Canadian junior leagues operate on a "Free to Play" model, meaning the team covers expenses like tuition/fees, equipment, and sometimes even housing. These leagues draw the most attention from NCAA coaches. Below the elite free-to-play level are Tier II leagues like the NAHL, which are also free of tuition but typically require players to pay for their own room and board. Finally, the majority of junior hockey leagues operate as "Pay to Play" (Tier III), where players must pay significant tuition fees, often ranging from $4,000 to over $10,000 per season, in addition to covering living expenses. Playing at this level remains a legitimate developmental path, but it comes with a financial commitment.