Hockey will not last for ever. Your education will. This is something I tell each and every client or potential client I speak to as a Family Adviser. Its hard news for some players and parents to hear, but its the truth. Even those that make the NHL will have hockey end one day.
Playing NCAA hockey is an honor. That honor is bestowed on a chosen few each year.
How important are your High School transcripts? They are critical. Just ask Brady Wiffen, incoming Freshman at RPI who was just told he wont be able to play this year.
Wiffen was just determined to be a “Partial Qualifier” under NCAA rules. A “Partial Qualifier” is someone who has graduated from high school but didn’t meet all of the NCAA’s academic requirements to play a Division I sport.
Do you know the NCAA rules concerning class requirements? Do you know the new GPA standards? Do you understand the admissions process and clearinghouse process?
Wiffen scored 114 points in 68 OJHL games last year. He clearly took care of business on the ice. At 6’2″ and 205 he certainly has the size teams look for to go along with his proven scoring ability.
But none of that matters. The thought that you can simply be a great player and NCAA programs will find a way to get you admitted, a myth perpetuated by some bad coaches and bad advisers, is simply just a myth.
While no one is saying Brady Wiffen is not a capable student, or that he wont excel at RPI, this is something that could have been avoided.
So instead of playing games for RPI this season, Wiffen will only be allowed to practice. A full year away from game action.
How prepared are you for NCAA hockey? Do you even know if you can be admitted? Are you on the right track to meet admission requirements?
Details. The game, and college are all about details.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
