USA Hockey Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 47 lier than age 18, the eligibility clock starts at that point. Hogan sees value in junior hockey players taking college credits on a part-time basis before enrolling full-time, as that does not impact the eligibility clock. "College hockey's honestly harder than ever before to play at the top level," Hogan said. "There's more players eligible than ever before from different leagues, so it's become the top of the pyramid and it's the last stop before the NHL. The best players in the world are playing there, so it makes it more difficult. "But as you make your decisions in junior hockey, just know when your eligibility starts. If you play that last year of junior hockey as a 20- or 21-year-old, starting next year, you're going to only have three years of NCAA eligibility. So you really kind of need to know when your timeline starts and where you're at in the process. Don't be afraid to reach out to schools and also don't be afraid to explore NCAA Division III and ACHA options, because there are tons of really good opportunities there, too." The age-based eligibility is only a Division I rule. It doesn't apply to Division III or the ACHA. For years, the average college commit- ment age was around 18. Hogan expects that to increase as the competition for positions ramps up. The competition for college roster spots makes it imperative for players to thorough- ly map out a plan to best develop before reaching the NCAA level. "You have to know what kind of player you can be and what kind of player you want to be and find where you can develop into that player the best," Brown said. "Sometimes, that means getting to junior hockey quickly, and for other players, it doesn't. It means staying at the level they were at, whether it's midget or in prep school, and developing there before they move on to junior hockey. "It's really unique for each player, depend- ing on where they are physically and mental- ly. And also you have to throw in the idea that they want to get a good education as well, and have that also as a factor in their plan." When it comes to offering advice to aspiring college players, Hogan borrows a page from Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill. Hogan served as a volunteer assistant coach under Blashill at Western Michigan University in 2010-11. "His advice always was, 'You can't focus on your next job until you do a great job where you're at," Hogan said. "So, regardless of the level you're at, you have to do a great job there to earn an opportunity at the next level. It really is, as simple as that. There's no rush at 15 or 16 years old anymore to choose a path." P OF A FIRST-YEAR NCA A ATHLETE: AVERAGE AGE MEN'S HOCKEY 99% OF NCA A DI MEN'S PL AYERS PLAYED JUNIOR HOCKEY 20 21 19 18 17 AGE: 20.5 MEN'S HOCKEY OTHER SPORTS 18.7 TYPICAL NCAA AVERAGE There's been more change in all of college athletics and college hockey in particular in the past five years than there's been in the previous 100 years." Built on a Later Timeline OF INCOMING NCAA DI MEN'S HOCKEY FRESHMEN ARE AGE 20 OR OLDER 75%

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