Hello Forum Fans....
Please provide any insight into the aforementioned prep schools. Thank you in advance
This thread probably doesn't belong in this forum. You probably should move it.
Do you mean Avon Old Farms and the Belmont Hill School? Both are excellent schools with excellent hockey programs. Major differences are (1)Belmont Hill is Boston preppy and AOF is Connecticut preppy (2)Belmont Hill is mainly a commuter school while AOF is mainly boarding (3) AOF is more structured -- they have required study time, etc.-- probably better for the student who needs structure.
Yes on Old Farms... The Hill is apparently in or around Philadelphia PA. My nephews, grade 8 and 10, are down to these two schools. They have visited both and one favors Avon, the other favors The Hill. Biggest difference is that The Hill really want them and are showing plenty of love. Avon wants them, but of course no spot being held for the grade 10ner (junior next year). They both also play lacross. Thanks for your reply!Originally Posted by CLS
The hockey is a significant step up at AOF which possibly explains why there is varying levels of interest between the schools. Not taking anything away from your nephews, but a higher end player at Hill might(or might not) be a mid-pack player at AOF.
Yes, that is the sense I'm getting regarding the quality of hockey between the programs. The Hill seems to be attempting to build up a program and of course a long way off before they can be compared. The other thing I was unaware of is that it seems to be common practice for players to repeat grades in order to play extra years in prep hockey. I guess I understand the logic, but why wouldn't a player just move on to junior?
Thanks for your reply.
Yes it is quite common to repeat grades. Sometimes the reason is athletic. But sometimes the reason is academic or both athletic an academic. Could actually be the prep school admissions office that's driving it, because of test scores, or the kid coming from a mediocre school.
As for why not just play junior, well, believe it or not, there actually are some parents who care about their kid's educationand believe, probably correctly that if a college coach (here's the D1 connection
) has to battle with the admissions office, he's more likely to be successful with the prep school kid than the junior. Especially if the kid can get a reasonable recommendation from the placement director at the prep school, who more likely than not is on a first name basis with the admissions officer. There's also the multi-sport angle. You mention your nephews play lacrosse. At a prep school they'll be able to play both sports with and against kids who they are competitive with.
Excellent... Thank you very much for your insight. Much appreciated.Yes it is quite common to repeat grades. Sometimes the reason is athletic. But sometimes the reason is academic or both athletic an academic. Could actually be the prep school admissions office that's driving it, because of test scores, or the kid coming from a mediocre school.
As for why not just play junior, well, believe it or not, there actually are some parents who care about their kid's education
DU's current 4th string goalie Zack Hope went to the Hill School.
The indoor ice arena is only six years old and is world class for a high school.
The coach Matt Muhern played for four years under Jerry York at Boston College so you're not going to do better than that. Plus if the kids are that good, Matt will call Jerry.
Former LA King Bob Kudelski played at the Hill before a ten year career in the NHL.
1964 Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year Tom Eccleston [Providence] coached at the Hill in the '80s.
Odds are they will play in the USHL for a year after boarding school and that will have a greater impact on recruiting than a prep school career.
If the kids are good enough the scouts will find them.
Famous Hill Alumni - James Baker [sec of state], Oliver Stone, Hunt Brothers [oil], Perry Bass [oil]
Disclaimer- Hill Alum.
Last edited by dggoddard; 04-09-2012 at 04:59 PM.
Haha....Thanks for your post. The family decided on Avon.
Hey Hill alum,Hill 83' here, that said played 3yrs at THe Hill,under coach Ecc and played 4 yrs in college as well,last yr was with Kudelski,we have have some good player and coaches there for sure, and they continue to try and get better but it is hard down in Pa, great new rink I have heard as well, but the school is TOP SHELF for sure..Coach Ecc used to take the nets off the goals because it wasted 7 minutes to get the pucks out of the net during practice, no kidding....Coach Ecc was lou Lamarillos,NJ Devils, coach at providence as well, he was a legend.....Bottom line Hill has all the student athlete can want and they have been doing a lot of traveling to play the N.E preps as well.....ps Trump sent his boys there as well......avon is very good as well im sure..
I didn't go to either, but I had many classmates who went to Avon. Excellent school and it's second to none for the student-athlete. For education and athletics, you can't beat a NEPSAC school. To be sure, The Hill is a fine institution, but it's not a New England Prep School.
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