Sports Then and Now

Tracing the growth of elite hockey players is more difficult in some ways than following their counterparts in football or basketball. Unlike the other two sports, hockey does not have a major college following in much of the United States, so it can be difficult to find the best up and coming players and track their development. In fact, the top NHL players come from many different places, not just elite hockey schools. Some play professionally overseas before joining the NHL, and others are recruited from semi-pro and varsity leagues.

However, those who prefer to follow players from college to the pros could do worse than the Canadian hockey school the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. This boarding school for boys and girls provides general education, but also has a top-notch hockey program that lures players from all over the world. The college has produced countless professional players over the years, including some of the biggest names in the NHL.

Other colleges throughout Canada and the northern United States also have top-notch hockey teams training the professional players of tomorrow. However, since hockey players tend to start quite young, many high school teams also have players that coaches and fans can already tell are destined for the pros. For an example, look no further than the Warrod High School team of Warrod, Minnesota that has produced dozens of NHL players.

Presented By Athol Murray College of Notre Dame