The over expansion of “hockey academies” is destroying the critical junior and NCAA hockey development component of U-18 and U-16 AAA hockey. The question that needs to be asked is “why?”.
With the collapse of the Vegas Golden Knights U-18 AAA program last week, in one of the United States most active hockey growth cities, we need to look at the reasons why. Less than two years removed from a Stanley Cup victory parade, this U-18 program is now gone, and if thats not shocking, you dont understand hockey growth climates.
Stanley Cup victories create interest in hockey, and generate a boost in player registrations of players for an average of three years. The Vegas Golden Knights, although a politcal mess, have all the support components in place for AAA hockey and development. To lose this U18 program is s significant statement.
Lets examine the facts. Most junior hockey draft picks come from two places, AAA hockey and other junior hockey leagues. Most tenders and direct contract offers come from two places, AAA hockey and other junior hockey leagues.
These are just the facts that anyone can see simply by looking at any Tier II or higher league draft results and either tender or signing announcements.
The overwhelming majority of players make their NCAA commitments while playing AAA or junior hockey. Again, these are just the facts that are easily obtainable from College Hockey Inc.
Over the last five years, there has been a massive expansion of “hockey academies” offering education and hockey training in an intense environment. At least this is what they all claim, but very few deliver. Five years is a large enough sample size to look at the draft, signing and tender results to know that these “academies” are not delivering the results they claim they will deliver.
People in the past have pointed the finger at Tier 3 expansion as the cause of teams folding. And while some over expansion has hurt, the vast majority of the players in Tier 3 have already aged out of U-18.
While the idea of an education, and athletic development structure is great, its important to know exactly what that evironment looks like.
Online school, is not for everyone. What are the living conditions like? What is the showcase schedule? What teams will be played in season? How many players have moved on to Tier 2 or higher levels in the last five years from your program?
Dont talk about ACHA, or moving on to Tier 3 if youre touting development. If there is not a significant number of players moving up to Tier 2, USHL, Major Junior or NCAA hockey, then what are you buying?
From an Academy Owner standpoint, this is about money. Make no mistake, its not a philanthropy project for the people starting academy programs. At an average of fifty thousand dollars a year, there is a lot of money being made. But the money is not being made where you think it might be.
The money in academy programs is made in housing, and food, more than it is made on ice purchases. Money is also being made on kickbacks from online high school programs.
It costs only a fraction more to feed 60 players instead of 40 because the labor costs are the same, and bulk food purchasing provides steep discounts. Buying ice in bulk also brings steep discounts, and renting whole buildings to convert to dorms provides for great discounts. Everything is about volume.
Dont misunderstand this article though. There are some very good hockey academies. Some being the key word in that sentence. Some play in the best showcases and events evey year. Some are relatively affordable when compared to the top AAA programs. Its these programs that actually deliver some results as well.
The Vegas team is just another one of several teams this year that have been forced to go dark or merge players into other teams. Its happening at AAA all across North America. As we enter the real start of the hockey season, this is only the beginning of more struggles to come.
