Recruiting:  The Women's Edition

 

I promised after I did the college recruiting feature for the boys that I would do one for the girls as well. It's taken me a little longer to put it together because I wanted to interview a Division 1 and a Division 3 coach. Several of the recruiting rules, timelines, and tendencies are different for each Division so I felt this would be the most helpful.

Our D1 coach is Shane Veenker from Bemidji State University. I played for him on various summer teams growing up and was fortunate to coach with him at the Minnesota Advanced 15's camp. Coach Veenker is a tremendous reference for our readers since he is not only the assistant coach, but handles the recruiting duties at BSU as well.

 Our D3 coach is Brett Bruininks from Concordia College. Coach Bruininks was my coach my senior year of college and taught me more about the game in that one year than the rest of my college years combined. He guided the Cobbers to their first National Tournament appearance last season in his second year with the program.

 

Our questions were submitted by various high school hockey players and their parents.

Q: If a player is interested in a certain school, should students contact the coaches themselves or wait until the coaches show interest?

Coach Veenker:  Get involved in the process.  The recruiting process started yesterday…everybody is behind.  Don’t wait, call coaches and at least let them know you’re interested.  Be persistent but not overbearing.  Let them know where they can see you play.

Coach Bruininks:  They have to contact themselves.  The reason for that is there are so many student-athletes out there.  It’s important to get on their radar if you are from a place without as much exposure.  A kid from North Dakota isn’t going to be seen as often as a kid from the Twin Cities, for example.  So let them know you are interested.

Q:  Can you lay out a timeline of when coaches start watching kids, become interested in and recruit them?

 Coach Veenker:   It starts all the way down to grade 9 where the first interest takes places.  It heats up after grade 10.  We work two classes at a time.  Right now we are finishing up our senior class, but already working diligently on the junior class.  After Soph year/heading into Junior year is usually the most important.  But you never know when you will get seen.  It can be when you are fifteen.  Primary decision making is done going into junior year, though.

Coach Bruininks:  We start identifying them as early as their sophomore year.  We start looking seriously at the end of their Junior year.  Most contact will be happening between the end of their junior year and into their senior year.  We can’t physically talk to them until they finish their junior year.  We can email as early as 9^th and 10^th grade, but most D3 coaches will wait until junior year.

 

Q:  How can a player promote or market herself if she’s not from a hockey hotbed?

Coach Veenker:  USA hockey camps are important so try to do those tryouts.  There are different showcases that certain coaches will be at.  Ask coaches which showcases and camps they are working and try to do those.  Might be expensive but hopefully it’s an investment.

Coach Bruininks:  Contact the coach. A lot of kids want to do the videos.  I'm not sure how effective spending money on a professional videos is.  Best way is to give them your stats, schedule, GPA, special awards and honors you’ve received.  I might request a video.  You don’t have to go through a big service, though.  You can make one on your own. 

 

Q:  What all do you look for in a recruiting video?  What should be included and how long should it be? 

Coach Veenker:  Under 5 minutes.  Team play, not just one individual through the whole shift.  Power Play and Penalty kill situations as well as 5 on 5.

Coach Bruininks:  Close to 10 minutes. Some game, some practice (skill stuff.)  Looking for skills (skating, moving the puck, handling the puck, shooting) as well as game footage.

 

Q:  When should a player make their first contact to a team they are interested in?

Coach Veenker:  Grade 10 they will want to visit some schools, let the coaches know they are interested so they have time to evaluate them.  Take unofficial visits through junior year.

Coach Bruininks:  The earlier the better.  Not just initial contact, but continued contact.  One contact isn’t going to do it at D3 as we could have sixty kids that want us to look at them.  Go to the school before you decide on the team itself.  Especially at D3, you want to know if you like the school first.  As far as timing, I’ve had kids contact me junior year which is nice, but the recruiting wont heat up until senior year.

 

Q:  Which tournaments and camps have the most exposure/get scouted the most?

Coach Veenker:  USA hockey camps/festivals, Team showcases (NAHA tournament, Stony Creek University showcases), NIT showcase in Plymouth.  For Minnesota and ND kids, any of the Final 54 tryouts, 15/16/17 tryouts.

 Coach Bruininks:  Any Team North Dakota/Wisconsin/Minnesota stuff.  Minnesota Junior Festival and Elite Festival.  Any USA hockey, 54’s USA hockey festival.  Shattuck St. Mary’s Tourney, Elite Tourney in Plymouth.  Also, the Minnesota and North Dakota State Tournaments.  Always let a coach know if you are in town for a game or tournament to see if they can stop by and watch you. 

 
Q:  Should players leave high school early (prep schools)?

Coach Veenker:  If they are very passionate about it and feel the need to go away they can, but there are so many other opportunities to showcase themselves in the off-season without having to go to a prep school.  The kid and parents need to make that decision as every individual is different.  Some need to play year round and some need time off.

Coach Bruininks:  That’s a tough one.  Depending on your goals and situations, you can’t blame them if it’s best for them.  But be realistic.  Watch D1 and D3 games to see where you are at. It also depends on family finances, maturity, and if the kid wants to do it.


Q:  Realistically, at what age/grade should a player assume she won’t be recruited to play D1 and start looking at D3 schools?

Coach Veenker: That’s a tough question; it’s all based on opportunity.  We had a situation last year that one of our players found out in April she couldn’t play because of a medical condition so we had to replace her.  Not sure if there is an exact date.  We need to press coaches to give students an honest answer so they aren’t drug around.  Get as much information as you can.  Ask where you are at on their recruiting list, their timelines, etc. 

Coach Bruininks:  Typically after Christmas of your senior year.  Don’t get me wrong, there are kids that are signed as late as March, but if you haven’t had any contact, you need to realistically start looking at the Division 3 route. Christmas is kind of the unwritten rule.  Most D1 teams are onto the junior class by that point.

 

Q:  Do you have any additional advice or questions you wish aspiring college hockey players would ask you?

Coach Veenker:  Be realistic.  Only about 3% of hockey players play at the Division 1 level.  Encourage to be realistic, but certainly strive for goals they want to achieve.  Be sure to call coaches that you are interested in playing for.  Get evaluated.  Get out there; play with and against great players.

 Coach Bruininks:  They should ask what the coach is looking for.  How many players the coach has coming in.  Pick the school at Division 3.  Make sure it has your wants/needs as a college.  If you are skilled enough to play, hockey will take care of itself.  Ask where you fit in, what kind of goals they would have for you.  Also, enjoy the process.  Don’t get caught up that your friends are signing early.  Enjoy it and make an informed decision.

 

Beyond the Pond wants to thank both Shane and Brett for their time and their advice for our readers. We hope this clears up some of your questions and guides you in the recruiting process.