2023 graduating Princeton seniors Mariah Keopple, Maggie Connors, Solveig Neunzert and Kayla Fillier (Photo: Princeton Athletics).
College hockey offers players the unique opportunity to pursue a professional hockey career at the highest levels while earning a college degree from some of the world’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning.
More than 90 percent of college hockey players graduate with a college degree, setting themselves up for success after their hockey career. Each year, Division I hockey programs award more than $30 million in scholarships, unquestionably the most significant education program in the sport.
“The opportunity to go to college stuck out to me. Having a degree to fall back on was very important, as a career in hockey doesn’t work out for everyone.” – Colorado Avalanche defenseman and Quinnipiac alum Devon Toews
College hockey is played primarily on weekends to maximize class and study time, allowing student-athletes to enjoy a full college experience while becoming part of the campus community. Hockey has the best Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and the best Academic Progress Rate (APR) of any NCAA men’s sport, further proof of the success college hockey players enjoy in the classroom.
Detroit News: Players study for life after college hockey
Every U.S. college boasts thousands of alumni in countless professional fields: business, law, engineering, government, medicine, sports and entertainment. Alumni networks, combined with a degree, put graduates in an ideal position to transition into their post-hockey careers.
Even for those players who reach the highest level, very few play in the NHL or Olympics past their mid-30s. That leaves decades of life ahead – and college hockey prepares its athletes for both hockey and what lies beyond.
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