The American Hockey Academy (AHA) programs offer a unique blend of high-end hockey development and academic enrichment, designed to prepare student-athletes for future success both on and off the ice. Located minutes from downtown Boston in Braintree, MA, the American Hockey Academy is one of only four high school Hockey Academies in New England that is offering both high-end hockey skills and playing development alongside an academic and cultural experience.
Elite training facilities are a key component of American Hockey Academies.
Being aligned with such a prestigious International High School Academy; this opportunity is unlike any of the other programs. American Hockey Academy in Braintree, MA, is a premier Tier I Youth Hockey Program and one of New England's top high school Hockey Academies. It offers elite hockey skills development alongside academic and cultural experiences, emphasizing holistic player growth on and off the ice.
Unparalleled Training and Coaching
The Hockey Academy’s student-athletes will receive unparalleled training and coaching by well-established elite professional coaches. Training will take place on and off the ice to properly prepare them for junior hockey, NCAA college, and professional hockey ranks. With a focus on sportsmanship, teamwork, and individual excellence, coaches cultivate confidence and proficiency in fundamental skills.
Weekly skills sessions with highly specialized skills and skating coaches, on top of the up 2 hours of practice per day (3/4 days a week). Individual Goalie Coaching - 2x/week - Mass Crease - Brian Eklund (former Tampa Bay lightning/ Brown university goalie- coaches with NJ Devils/ Boston University).
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The home rink features two ice surfaces, a gym, and a partnership with APT Training with nutritional coaches and professional trainers. Each team has their own private locker room at the Canton Sportsplex and can leave their gear on site.
Key components of the training program include:
- Monitor development of endurance, strength, and speed.
- Monitor fitness - endurance, core strength, and flexibility.
- 300+ total ice sessions.
- Up to 8 ice sessions per week not including games or one on one sessions.
- Combined and separate practices for team and position.
- 9-month training and competition calendar.
- Twenty skaters and 2 goalies per team.
- Team playbook
- On ice hockey education component and regular playbook testing.
Comprehensive Player Development
The staff and management team will go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that players have the necessary development, exposure, and advancement opportunities to take the next step in their hockey career pathways. Student-athletes will receive an organized environment structured to fit their busy schedules of academic classes and hockey training. Offering high-end hockey and player development, alongside an academic and cultural experience for local, out-of-state, and international high school student-athletes grades 9-12.
The academy provides various resources for player development:
- Direct access to Hockey Academy advisors.
- Bi-weekly team and individual film session breakdowns
- Travel to and participate in top showcases (2-4 minimum) attended by various Division 1 college/junior scouts.
- Access to nutritionist and meal plan assistant for proper diet balance.
- Professional Strength & Conditioning program - 2-3 days/week with APT training a top professional NHL style training program run by former college and professional players that are now certified trainers.
- Full-Time coaching staff where a staff member is always available 24/7 to not only serve as a coach but also as a mentor and role model.
One of the biggest advantages the American Hockey Academy offers to its student-athletes is a dedicated full-time coaching staff. Our team of coaches are solely committed to our players. Our staff spends their day working on the development, exposure, and advancement of our players to help them prepare for their next steps as a student-athlete.
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Our coaches have played at some of the highest levels of NCAA hockey (BU, Providence, ASU, Iona, UCONN, UMASS, Harvard) as well as, professionally (NHL, ECHL, USHL, NAHL, Europe & more). Our coaching staff not only serves as the typical, on and off ice hockey coaches but also serve as big brothers, mentors, role models, and secondary parents away from home. Our coaches treat all the players as family and go the extra mile to ensure their safety, wellbeing and that all student-athletes are getting the most out of the program.
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Competitive Schedule and Exposure
Our AHA (U15) plays a nationally competitive schedule against Tier I Midget elite/select clubs, as well as other Prep Schools and High Schools across the country. Our U15 team competes in the Eastern Hockey Federation Selects fall league, the NEFPHL, along with the BEAST series showcase/league games, as well as an independent schedule versus top prep High School teams in the winter and a National Bound USA hockey championship opportunity.
Uniforms and Apparel:
- Uniforms/Apparel (home, away, practice, socks, warm-ups, bags, gloves, helmet & shell).
New England is arguably one of the best, if not the best, hockey markets in the USA with more opportunities and scouts at all levels living here than anywhere else in the country.
U15 Team Success
The success of our U15 team is due in large part to our practice model which focuses on skating, playmaking, individual development, as well as team and systems play. Our style of play is fast, yet calculated and controlled; creative hockey where players are on the ice working hard daily to improve situational awareness, learning how to create time and space with the puck, and finding open ice to execute plays. The U15 team also utilizes a daily strength and conditioning program to build muscle and quickness.This allows our players the best chance of success throughout a rigorous schedule. Our 10-month program incorporates weekday ice sessions that can be anywhere from 1-3 hours, along with daily strength and conditioning courses with APT training.
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