With the growth of women’s hockey, there has been an increase in secondary schooling options for girls. Each option offers a unique opportunity for both hockey development and college preparation.
While more choices are a benefit for the game, navigating this process can be complicated. To help players understand the options available, Neutral Zone reached out to members of the women’s hockey community that have experience attending these programs and currently work in hockey.
We caught up with Hannah Milan, a North American Hockey Academy (NAHA) alum and current girls’ head varsity hockey coach at Hebron Academy and chatted about her experience at the NAHA.
The NAHA was one of the first junior programs for women. It featured a more flexible academic program to allow for an increased schedule. The academic programs can vary because additional features create more flexible programs or programs that are entirely online. At the NAHA, players spend September to March in Stowe, VT in the NAHA dorm and return to their local high schools after completion of the hockey season. Other programs include perennial power Shattuck-St Mary’s, Northwood School, Selects Academy at Bishop Kearney and Rice Prep.
Neutral Zone: How did you learn about the NAHA and what ultimately drew you to the program?
Hannah Milan: I learned about the NAHA through summer camps and connections. The sheer amount of time on ice was really what drew me to wanting to attend. I knew I was going to be on the ice a ton and would get to play a lot of games. The NAHA was still fairly new at that point, but they were really starting to draw in some really talented players. It was exciting to get the chance to play with them.
NZ: How did your experience at the NAHA influence your college process?
HM: The NAHA definitely had a positive impact on my college process, just because of the amount of college connections [NAHA’s director] Bill Driscoll has. The reputation of the program was on the rise and they were starting to consistently place players in DI programs. I think I got in at the perfect time.
NZ: What are the advantages of the NAHA?
HM: Again, ice time is a huge advantage. They do a great job with their strength and conditioning program, which was a major factor for me in my development and getting noticed by college coaches. Girls now are so big and strong that a solid foundation in the gym is crucial. Many girls these days just simply need the tools and some key workouts to be successful in the gym.
NZ: What is your advice to girls considering an NAHA-like path? Are there things parents and players should be aware of?
HM: My advice to girls considering the NAHA or a similar program is to understand what they are signing on for athletically, but also understand what they need to do academically. A program like the NAHA is an amazing college preparatory hockey experience, but it really requires you to take ownership for the academic experience in a way that is very different than a traditional teacher or classroom model. Students need to be self-motivated, disciplined, and highly organized. While there are one-on-one tutors provided, it is really up to the student to keep in contact with school back home and make sure they are staying on track for a successful transition once they return to their home school, which can be tough. In terms of on the ice, I would recommend a player that is confident and understands the commitment they are getting themselves into. It is a long season and you need to remain engaged and focused.
NZ: As a coach, do you use any of your NAHA experience now?
I use a lot of my NAHA experience now. Quite a bit of our practices were based around skill development and small games. Of course, we spent time on systems and working through scenarios, but our foundation was based on small games. Small games coach players on real scenarios in smaller spaces, and get players to think outside of the box and think a little more creatively. The beauty of small games is creating real game situations from some unique situations. My favorite game we played, which they happened to name after me, was and is still called Hannah’s game, which is two-vs-two in the offensive zone and you can pass to any of the four lines waiting for the next shift and can shoot on either goal. This game teaches spatial awareness and recognizing that straight ahead is not always the best route. Sometimes the best option is to go backwards or towards the other net. It’s clearly not a realistic scenario, but the skills that come from something like that are pretty amazing. I also have a clear understanding of what it takes to compete at that next level, which I try to instill in my players, whether that be mentally or physically preparing them for games or picking them up when they are down. I also understand what it means to compete for playing time, day in and day out, so I try and push my players to come to compete every day, whether it is a game, practice, or off-ice workout. At the end of the day, hockey is just a game, and I have been lucky enough to play at a very high level, with many thanks to my NAHA experience. If I can get them to enjoy the game as much as I do and appreciate how lucky we are as athletes, I am happy.
NZ: Any last bits of wisdom you want to share?
HM: My last bit is just to reiterate that there are a lot of really great options out there. At the end of the day, it is all about fit and what will benefit the player and student the most in the long run. Hockey is important, but academics should always come first. Use hockey as a tool to create opportunities for yourself, but never lose sight of what is most important, which is often times not hockey related.