The short answer. Before you choose a hockey academy, ask who supervises the players, what the house rules are, how school works, how much ice time players get, how recovery and meals are handled, who drives, what happens if a player is hurt or homesick, how parents stay informed, and where alumni have gone. Here are the ten questions, with our answers.
1. Who lives in the building with the players?
Resident coaches live at the residence, and a duty coach can be reached 24 hours a day.
2. What are the curfew and phone rules?
Curfew is 9:00 PM for ages 14 to 17 and 11:00 PM for ages 18 to 20. At 10:30 PM lights go out, phones hang outside the room door and WiFi shuts off.
3. How does school work?
Families choose in person or online school. Schoolwork time is built into every day, with Monday night study hall and a dedicated Academic Advisor.
4. How much ice time do players get?
7 to 9 hours on the ice, 3 hours off ice and 1 to 2 hours of video each week, with 50+ games, 4+ tournaments and 425+ training hours each season.
5. How is recovery handled?
The residence has a recovery room with Normatec boots and red light therapy, plus a dedicated cold plunge.
6. Who cooks?
A full time chef prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner on site every day, planned around allergies and dietary needs listed on the intake forms.
7. Who drives the players?
Staff drive players in academy vans and coach buses. Ubers and unapproved pickups are not allowed.
8. What happens if my son is sick, hurt or homesick?
Players are taken to an approved medical facility when needed and parents are notified right away. Every player completes ImPACT baseline concussion testing, we have a team physician, and resident coaches are trained to support homesick players.
9. How will we know where he is?
Through the REACH app. Parents approve every trip and are notified in real time when he signs out and returns.
10. Where have your players gone?
593 players have earned a college education while playing hockey for the WBS Knights, including 85 in NCAA Division I, along with 10 NHL Draft picks and 20+ Major Junior players.
Keep reading
What Is a Residential Hockey Academy? · Hockey Academy or Billeting: Which Is Right for Your Son? · How Players Get to College Hockey
Want to see the residence? Tour the residence, see the hockey program or start an inquiry.
