By Michael Rand - In life, the exceptions get a lot of the attention while the rules get ignored.
Maybe that’s just human nature: the desire to seek out the unexpected and exceptional – to dream of being an NHL player when we grow up instead of a more mundane but solidly predictable vocation.
As such, there is a tendency to glorify young hockey players who commit to colleges at a young age. They get a lot of attention on social media in part because those players do tend to be quite skilled – but also in part because they are so rare.
What’s important to remember, says Scott Paluch – regional manager for USA Hockey’s American Development Model – is that most hockey players don’t commit to colleges until they are much older.
The exceptions might get a lot of hype, but those older players who are the “rules” provide the backbone of college hockey and often go on to succeed in the sport at a higher rate than their younger peers.
With that in mind, Paluch offers some advice to parents and young players on how to avoid getting caught up in that hype and instead continue developing and making solid decisions for the future.
