Introducing Emperor Hockey Academy at Penguin Hall: Athletics and Academics Unite. Emperor Hockey Academy is a new AAA program offering a unique pathway for female high school athletes to excel in hockey and academics. Student-athletes will live and study at The Academy at Penguin Hall, an all-girls prep school in Wenham, Massachusetts.
The picturesque campus provides the perfect backdrop for small class sizes and a challenging academic curriculum to prepare for prestigious colleges. Athletes will split their days between academics at Penguin Hall and training just down the street at the state-of-the-art Essex Sports Center.
“I am a fan of Academies with brick and mortar teaching facilities. Emperor Academy have an admirably thought out plan and it continues to evolve even now. The more options for women’s hockey, the better and they shoudl be an excellent one.” -Neutral Zone VP Brian Murphy added.
Featuring two sheets of ice, a gym, a field house, private locker rooms, physical therapy offices, a players’ lounge, a dedicated study space, and a restaurant, the facility at Essex Sports Center provides everything a young athlete could hope for. Athletes will participate in advanced strength and conditioning sessions by Mike Boyle’s Strength & Conditioning (previous strength and conditioning coach for Boston University and The Boston Red Sox) has one of his two Massachusetts locations at Essex Sports Center. Players will engage in daily dedicated ice time and weekly on-ice skill development and film analysis sessions.
Emperor Hockey is proud to have Abby Stafford as the U16 head coach and Program Director. Abby is an alumna of Salem State University, where she studied Sports and Movement Science and played four years of ice hockey. She is excited to start this innovative program for young female athletes. In addition, Emperor Academy will have the expertise of a professional skating instructor.
“I’m excited to build this program with a dedicated team focused on advancing both the athletic and academic growth of our players. At Emperor Hockey Academy, player commitment drives player development.” -Abby Stafford
Julie Conrad. Julie is dedicated to making personalized skating lessons tailored to each player’s needs. With an impressive background, she is not only a licensed athletic trainer but also holds a license in physical therapy. Her credentials include being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a certified skills instructor. Julie’s educational journey also began at Salem State University, where she earned her degree in Athletic Training. She then pursued a master’s degree in physical therapy at UMass, Becoming a professor at Bay State College. Her advanced education equips her with a deep understanding of biomechanics and rehabilitation. Julie’s commitment to her players’ development makes her an exceptional asset to the team.
Students are also given access to music, art, and theatre programming, allowing each student to experience various activities. This program is committed to intellectually, spiritually, socially, physically, and creatively developing the whole person.
Recognizing that every family has unique needs, we offer flexible boarding options. Students and families can choose between a 5-day boarding program, which allows students to return home on weekends, or a 7-day option, providing a fully immersive experience throughout the week. For local families, day school is an option. For day school students, the academy includes transportation. Emperor will pick them up and then drop them off at the end of the school day; no need for parent pick up and drop off.
“The Emperor Hockey Academy at Penguin Hall gives female hockey players the opportunity to develop and grow their game not only on the ice but in the classroom surrounded by supportive staff.” -Hannah MacDougall NZ Director of Women’s Scouting