The VICTORIOUS HOCKEY COMPANY’s Biweekly Newsletter:  THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

To those looking for a way,

The college hockey world just shifted beneath our feet, and if you haven't been paying attention, you need to start now.

In November 2024, the NCAA flipped a switch that changed everything. Canadian major junior players—CHL kids who've been grinding in the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL—can now play NCAA Division I hockey without losing eligibility. Starting this season, these battle-tested prospects are flooding into American college programs, and the ripple effects are already being felt across the entire landscape.

Here's what that means for you: the Division I path just got a lot more crowded.

Players who would've comfortably made D-I rosters a year ago are now competing against faster and more experienced CHL veterans for those same spots. The talent pool expanded overnight, and the competition got fiercer. If you've been banking on a D-I scholarship as your only path forward, it's time to open your eyes to what else is out there.

Because here's the truth that nobody wants to say out loud: there are other paths in college hockey that are just as legitimate, just as competitive, and in many cases, just as rewarding as Division I. Maybe even more so.

I'm talking about NCAA Division III and ACHA Division I hockey.

Stop Sleeping on Division III

Let me be clear about something. NCAA Division III hockey is not a consolation prize. It's not where players go when they can't cut it. It's a legitimate, highly competitive level of hockey played at some of the best academic institutions in the country.

Hamilton College in New York? Top 5% of all colleges in America for overall quality. Hobart? Top 10%. Trinity College in Connecticut? Top 5%. These aren't just good hockey schools. These are elite academic institutions where you can get a world-class education and play competitive hockey every single night.

The level of play will surprise you if you haven't watched it lately. These rosters are loaded with junior hockey veterans, guys who were right on the cusp of Division I, and players who chose academics over athletics but still want to compete at a high level. The games are intense. The rivalries are real. The commitment is serious.

And here's the kicker: without athletic scholarships, everyone on that ice is there because they love the game. That breeds a different kind of competitor. A hungrier one.

Think about what you actually want from college hockey. Is it the label? The bragging rights of saying you played D-I? Or is it the experience of developing as a player, getting an education that sets you up for life after hockey, and competing for championships with guys who will become lifelong friends?

Division III gives you all of that. And with the D-I landscape getting more crowded, D-III rosters are getting stronger. A player who narrowly misses a D-I spot could become a star at the D-III level. You might get more ice time, more development, and more opportunity to actually play instead of sitting on a bench watching CHL transfers take your shifts.

ACHA Division I Is Not "Just Club Hockey"

If anyone tells you ACHA hockey is just club hockey, they're about five years behind the times.

Let me tell you a story that happened in December 2024. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas: an ACHA Division I club team—traveled to Denver to play the defending NCAA Division I national champions in an exhibition game. Denver has 10 national titles. Their roster is stacked with NHL draft picks. Two years earlier, they beat UNLV 10-0.

This time? UNLV won 7-6 in overtime. In front of 7,000 fans. On Denver's home ice.

An ACHA club team beat the defending NCAA Division I champions.

Let that sink in.

That wasn't a fluke. That was a statement. The level of play in top-tier ACHA hockey has risen so much that on any given night, an elite ACHA team can compete with NCAA Division I competition. And in some cases, they can win.

The ACHA oversees over 500 non-varsity college teams nationwide. At the top end, Division I, these programs are recruiting nationally, training hard, traveling for games, and in many cases operating with coaching staffs, facilities, and budgets that would impress anyone. Some schools charge admission. Some draw thousands of fans. This isn't casual beer league hockey. This is serious, competitive college hockey that just happens to exist outside the NCAA structure.

Look at what's happening in the South. The University of Alabama is running an ACHA Division I program with a budget approaching $200,000 per year. They co-founded a new conference with schools like Louisville and UNC specifically to grow the sport's profile at major universities.

 

Tennessee has had a club program since 1966. Georgia, Auburn, and other SEC schools are investing heavily in their teams. These programs have pep bands, packed student sections, and intense rivalry games. They're building something real.

And here's the part that matters most: Penn State and Arizona State both started as ACHA powerhouses before transitioning to NCAA Division I. The path exists. The legitimacy is there. And even if you stay in ACHA, you're playing high-level hockey at a major university with all the campus life and opportunities that come with it.

You get to study any field you want without scholarship restrictions. You get to be part of a growing program. You get to help build something instead of just showing up to an established machine. And you get to play meaningful, competitive hockey against teams that are every bit as hungry as you are.

There's More Than One Path

Here's what I need you to understand. The Division I dream is still out there. It's still real. But it's not the only path, and it might not even be the best path for you.

The biggest mistake I see families make is chasing a label instead of chasing the right fit. They want to say their kid plays D-I hockey so badly that they overlook programs where their kid would actually develop more, play more, and be happier. Then they wonder why their son is sitting third line at a D-I school, frustrated and stalled out, while his buddy who went D-III is thriving, leading his team in scoring, and getting an Ivy-caliber education.

The right path is the one where you grow as a player, as a student, and as a person. That might be a small D-III college town where you get a top-tier education and play in front of die-hard local fans. Or it might be a big state university ACHA team where you're part of building something special while enjoying all the energy of a major campus.

There's no wrong choice here. Only the choice that fits your goals.

So here's my advice:

Look at the whole picture. Academics, campus life, personal development, and hockey. All of it matters. Your degree will last a lot longer than your playing career.

Don't buy into outdated narratives. D-III and ACHA players compete at a very high level. You'll still be on the ice every day, training, improving, and battling for championships. You might even find yourself playing a bigger role and developing faster because you're not buried on a depth chart behind CHL transfers.

Stay open-minded. Your hockey journey doesn't have to follow a single template. The path that works for you might not be the one you dreamed about when you were 14. That's okay. What matters is finding a place where you can thrive.

The landscape is shifting, but it's opening up opportunities. More junior players are going to choose D-III and ACHA programs, which means those leagues are getting deeper and more competitive. Scouts and coaches at minor pro levels are starting to take notice. The doors aren't closing. They're just opening in different directions.

So don't panic if the D-I path doesn't materialize the way you expected. And don't settle for a bad fit just because of a label. Find the program where you feel valued, where you can contribute, and where the academics set you up for life after hockey.

Do that, and you'll look back on your college years with zero regrets.

The road might not be the one you first imagined. But it can still take you exactly where you need to go.

Find your path,

Mike

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Gavin McKenna’s slow start at Penn State has sparked doubt about his hold on the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Despite past dominance in junior hockey, his transition to the NCAA has exposed concerns about his effort, physical play, and even-strength impact. While no clear rival has emerged, prospects like Keaton Verhoeff, Ethan Belchetz, and Tynan Lawrence are gaining attention. McKenna’s World Juniors performance may be pivotal in reshaping his draft outlook.

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Hamilton and Trinity emerge as top contenders in a deep NESCAC men’s hockey field as the 2025–26 season begins. The Continentals return key scorers like Jackson Krock and Alex Danis, aiming to repeat last season’s dominance. Trinity, led by senior goalie Devon Bobak, remains a formidable threat with a balanced and experienced roster. With coaching changes at Amherst and several teams returning veteran cores, the race for the top spot promises intense, early-season matchups and tight standings.

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Keaton Verhoeff has emerged as the leading 2026 NHL Draft prospect, surpassing Gavin McKenna with a polished, two-way game at North Dakota. The 6-foot-4 defenseman combines elite size, high-end skating, and advanced hockey IQ, averaging over 20 minutes per game as a 17-year-old. His offensive instincts, physical play, and power-play command highlight a rare blend of tools. NHL teams value his pro-ready frame and trajectory, projecting him as a future cornerstone on both ends of the ice.

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Nate Crema, Reese Shaw, and Joseph Sinclair delivered standout performances to earn NAPA Auto Parts 3 Stars of the Week honors. Crema netted his first BCHL hat trick and totaled five points over two wins for Coquitlam. Shaw led the BCHL in assists with six in two games, extending a nine-game point streak. Sinclair tallied five points, including a four-point night to lead Sherwood Park over league-leading Blackfalds. All three forwards demonstrated elite offensive impact and clutch play.

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Collège Français de Longueuil remains No. 1 in the CJHL Top 20 Rankings after rebounding from their first loss of the season, improving to 18-1-0-0. The Niverville Nighthawks surged to No. 2 with a 10-game win streak fueled by league-best defense. Rockland Nationals, Toronto Patriots, and Trenton Golden Hawks round out the Top 5. Rankings reflect strong early-season performances across Junior A leagues, with several OJHL and MJHL teams making notable climbs.

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Stephen Halliday’s NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators highlights a non-linear path to success in hockey development. Once a top USHL prospect, Halliday went undrafted twice before a breakout 95-point season in Dubuque earned him a fourth-round pick in 2022. After two standout years at Ohio State and 72 points in 96 AHL games, he’s now NHL-ready. His journey proves that perseverance, timing, and growth matter more than early hype or setbacks.

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The NCDC is expanding to Billings, Montana, with a new team debuting in the 2026–27 season at the cutting-edge Signal Peak Energy Arena. Backed by the ownership group of the Idaho Falls Spud Kings, the franchise brings a championship-winning model to a promising new market. Positioned in the Mountain Division, the team will emphasize NCAA Division I development, community engagement, and fan-driven branding as it begins recruiting and naming a head coach by May 2026.

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Players and families, we want to hear from you. If there are any questions, concerns, or if you just want to have a conversation, please feel free to contact us directly. We want to hear from you. Good Luck and Great Hockey!

 

Thank you,

Team VHC