Big changes are coming to the NCAA and college recruiting. Click here to read more.
  • Popular Links
    • Name Image Likeness (NIL)
    • NCAA Transfer Rules
    • NCAA Scholarship Limits by Sport
    • College Recruiting Guides
    • Everything You Need to Know About JUCO
    • Athlete Success Stories
  • Shop at IMGAcademy
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
    • NCSA College Recruiting
    • Parents & Athletes
    • College Coaches
    • IMG Academy
    • Essentials
    • One-On-One Coaching
    • IMG Academy
    • Blackbaud
    • Teamworks
    • SchoolDoc
  • Call us
NCSA College Recruiting Logo
  • Services
    Student-Athletes

    Gain exposure to college coaches, get step-by-step guidance through the recruiting process, communicate directly with college coaches, access to development and tools to find the right college fit for you.

    College Coaches

    NCSA makes it easy to find the right recruits for your program on the largest recruiting network. We offer tools to simplify communication, track an athlete’s progress and an experienced staff dedicated to helping you succeed.

    Club & High School Coaches

    With NCSA’s recruiting and development education, group workshops and one-on-one coaching, your team can get access to the tools that can help each player perform at their best and navigate their future.

    Student Athlete Services
    College Coaches Services
    Club and HS Coaches Services
    Services
    • Student-Athletes
    • College Coaches
    • Club & High School Coaches
    Connect
    Schedule Assessment Schedule Assessment phone icon Call Us chat icon Start a Chat
  • Resources
    RESOURCES

    Everything student-athletes and their families need to navigate the recruiting and development process.

    Workshops
    College Recruiting Guides
    • How to Get Recruited
    • The Recruiting Process
    • Contacting Coaches
    • Recruiting Guide for Parents
    Scholarships
    • Scholarship Facts
    • Find Scholarships
    NCAA Eligibility
    • NCAA Eligibility Center
    • NCAA Eligibility Requirements
    • NCAA Recruiting Rules
    • NCAA Recruiting Calendars
    More Resources
    • NAIA Eligibility
    • Workshops
    • Blog
    By Sport
    Women’s Sports
    • Basketball
    • Beach Volleyball
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Men’s Sports
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Coed Sports
    • Cheerleading
    Resources
    • By Sport
      • Women’s Sports
        • Basketball
        • Golf
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Softball
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Beach Volleyball
        • Field Hockey
        • Gymnastics
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Men’s Sports
        • Baseball
        • Golf
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Basketball
        • Football
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Coed Sports
        • Cheerleading
      General Resources
      • College Recruiting Guides
        • How to Get Recruited
        • The Recruiting Process
        • Contacting Coaches
        • Recruiting Guide for Parents
      • Scholarships
        • Scholarship Facts
        • Find Scholarships
      • NCAA Eligibility
        • NCAA Eligibility Center
        • NCAA Eligibility Requirements
        • NCAA Recruiting Rules
        • NCAA Recruiting Calendars
      • More Resources
        • NAIA Eligibility
        • Workshops
        • Blog
    Connect
    Schedule Assessment Schedule Assessment phone icon Call Us chat icon Start a Chat
  • Colleges
    COLLEGES

    Search every school in our database to find the one that fits for you.

    By Division
    • NCAA Division 1
    • California
    • Florida
    • New York
    • Texas
    • NCAA Division 2
    • NCAA Division 3
    • NAIA
    • Rankings
    By Sport
    Women’s Sports
    • Basketball
    • Beach Volleyball
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Men’s Sports
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Coed Sports
    • Cheerleading
    Colleges
    • By Division
        • NCAA Division 1
        • California
        • Florida
        • New York
        • Texas
        • NCAA Division 2
        • NCAA Division 3
        • NAIA
      By Sport
      • Women’s Sports
        • Basketball
        • Golf
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Softball
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Beach Volleyball
        • Field Hockey
        • Gymnastics
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Men’s Sports
        • Baseball
        • Golf
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Basketball
        • Football
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Coed Sports
        • Cheerleading
    • Rankings
    Connect
    Schedule Assessment Schedule Assessment phone icon Call Us chat icon Start a Chat
  • Camps
  • Contact Us
  • Join Today
  • Popular Links
    • Name Image Likeness (NIL)
    • NCAA Transfer Rules
    • NCAA Scholarship Limits by Sport
    • College Recruiting Guides
    • Everything You Need to Know About JUCO
    • Athlete Success Stories
  • Shop at IMGAcademy
  • Create My Profile
    • Stand out to college coaches
    • Attend free workshops
    • Access our college coach directory
    • Track college coach activity
    • Find more schools that match your needs
    • Get expert guidance
    Join Free Today
Parents Start Here Athletes Start Here
Home > Women's Ice Hockey > Recruiting Guidelines

Get Recruited To Play Sports in College

Join the Largest Recruiting Network

Parents Start Here
Athletes Start Here

I wouldn’t be going to the school I’m going to without NCSA.” – Student Athlete

Related Topics
Women's Hockey
  • Women’s Hockey
  • Recruiting Rules & Calendar
  • Recruiting Guidelines
  • Scholarships
  • How to Get Recruited
  • Highlight Video
  • Camps, Combines, Tournaments
  • Colleges with Women’s Hockey

Women’s Hockey Recruiting Guidelines: What Do College Coaches Look For?

womens ice hockey recruiting guidelines

“How important is speed in hockey?” “What are the women’s hockey recruiting guidelines?” “What is hockey sense and why does it matter?” College coaches are asking and looking for specific criteria and skills for each women’s hockey position. This section looks at the hockey skills needed for each position and the expectations that college coaches have for athletes at the different division levels.

On This Page

Hockey skating: How important is speed in women’s college hockey?
Women’s hockey recruiting guidelines (all positions)
How to play NCAA Division 1 women’s hockey
How to play NCAA Division 3 women’s hockey
How to play ACHA women’s hockey
NCAA vs. ACHA women’s hockey
What is hockey sense and why does it matter?

Hockey skating: How important is speed in women’s college hockey?

What is the most important skill in hockey? Compared to high school and travel hockey, college hockey is played at a much faster pace. Because of this, college coaches favor recruits who have raw athleticism, including hockey speed and coordination. These skills allow athletes to handle the transition to college hockey more confidently. For a recruit who relies less on hockey speed and more on stick skill and hockey sense, they may have a hard time adjusting to the fast pace of the college game.

Women’s college hockey recruiting guidelines (all positions)

 NCAA D1 (Tier 1)NCAA D3 (Tier 2)ACHA (Tier 3)
High School ExperienceTop Prep School, MN Varsity HSTop Prep School, MN Varsity HSVarsity HS team
Travel Hockey ExperienceAAA travel teamAA or AAA travel teamNo travel hockey experience

How to play NCAA Division 1 women’s hockey 

Tier 1 goalie: Division 1 college coaches recruit hockey goalies that remain alert on the ice and react quickly and fearlessly in the cage. Tier 1 goalies can quickly move up and down and side to side with strong lateral skating ability when defending the goal. They are strong leaders that communicate with the team throughout the game, serving as another set of eyes on the ice for the defense. These athletes can play the puck and have great rebound control.

Tier 1 defenseman: What do college coaches look for in a Division 1 hockey defenseman? First, coaches want athletes with a strong physical presence on the ice, which means solid height and weight, as well as confidence and drive. Next, Division 1 college coaches are looking for athletes that move fluidly around the rink, have quick lateral movement and are versatile defensemen that can make offensive plays and position themselves in front of the net to prevent scoring opportunities. Lastly, to play at the Division 1 level, recruits need to have a strong hockey IQ, which allows them to read the ice well and anticipate their opponents’ actions.

Tier 1 winger: To be an NCAA Division 1 winger, recruits must be able to prove that they can make a scoring impact. Tier 1 wingers are strong on the boards and physically able to win battles in the corners. These athletes are fast skaters that react quickly once they have taken possession of the puck. They create scoring opportunities and are consistent at scoring goals with a strong shot.

Tier 1 center: College coaches are looking for elite, tier 1 athletes to play center on an NCAA Division 1 program. Centers cover more of the rink than any other position, which means they must be fast and strong skaters. They are also called to be flexible on the ice, playing both defense and offense. These athletes win face-offs consistently and quickly react once they’ve gained possession of the puck. Tier 1 centers successfully make challenging passes and goals.

How to play NCAA Division 3 women’s hockey

Tier 2 goalie: Division 3 college coaches recruit goalie talent that demonstrates good skating, controlled puck handling skills and leadership ability. These athletes cover the cage efficiently with good lateral movements and fast-twitch muscles. As leaders on the ice, tier 2 goalies communicate well with the defensemen and serve as an extra set of eyes on defense. These goalies can control rebounds and handle the puck when in possession.

Tier 2 defenseman: Tier 2 defensemen are recruited primarily by NCAA Division 3 college coaches. These athletes have a dominating physical presence, but they do not consistently use this to their advantage. As strong skaters, these athletes can make quick lateral movements when defending the cage. Tier 2 defensemen can prevent scoring opportunities most of the time by effectively positioning themselves in front of the cage. These athletes are known for their good high hockey IQ, which allows them to control the game and predict their opponents’ actions.

Tier 2 winger: Tier 2 wingers have the skillset that is most compatible with NCAA Division 3 hockey programs. Coaches can rely on these athletes to create scoring opportunities that most of the time result in a goal. When battling for the puck on the boards and in corner battles, these athletes are typically able to gain possession of the puck. These athletes make the majority of goals that they attempt from most angles. Tier 2 wingers have fast-twitch movements, good reaction time and puck handling skills.

Tier 2 center: Tier 2 centers are strong athletes that are best matched with an NCAA Division 3 hockey program. Division 3 college coaches focus on recruiting centers that are able to rely on their good skating skills to quickly cover the rink and switch from offense to defense fluidly. After winning a face-off, these athletes can maintain possession and create offensive opportunities for the team. As experienced athletes, tier 2 centers can make challenging passes and score from multiple angles.

How to play ACHA women’s hockey

ACHA women’s hockey is split up into three divisions, just like the NCAA. Many ACHA Division 1 programs are comparable to NCAA Division 3 programs and can even have the talent to beat these teams. ACHA Division 1 coaches recruit athletes across all positions who have A, AA and even AAA team playing experience.

Tier 3 goalie: Tier 3 goalies are best suited for an ACHA club hockey program. Competing for a club hockey program gives these athletes an opportunity to improve their reaction time, agility, fast-twitch reaction time, vocal leadership and coverage of the cage. As goalies, these athletes are not as flexible and agile in the cage as NCAA-level goalies, so they only stop a small percentage of goals shot by their opponent. These athletes are less vocal and alert, making them less valuable to the defense as they try to stop the opponent’s offense and reclaim puck possession. Tier 3 goalies play the puck and maintain control of the rebound after preventing a scoring opportunity but aren’t always able to play the puck out of the zone.

Tier 3 defenseman: An ACHA hockey program is the perfect opportunity for a tier 3 defender to remain competitive in college. These athletes are not as physically dominating on the ice, making it challenging to position themselves in front of the goal to stop their opponents from scoring, but they are good at gap control. While good skaters, these athletes have room to improve on their quick lateral movement. These athletes are more stay-at-home defensemen, rather than defense- and offense-minded players.  These athletes do not have the same competition experience as higher tier athletes, therefore their hockey IQ and ability to read the ice well and their opponents is not as strong.

Tier 3 winger: ACHA club hockey programs look for tier 3 wingers to compete on their teams. While these athletes put good effort into creating scoring opportunities, they make fewer goals than higher-tier athletes. Tier 3 wingers give up possession when playing the board and in corner battles more often than they gain possession. These athletes are good skaters with decent reaction time and puck handling skills.

Tier 3 center: Tier 3 centers have the skills that best align with those of centers playing on an ACHA club hockey team. While these athletes can transition from offense to defense, they have trouble keeping up with the fast pace of the game in the process. They can improve their quickness in winning faceoffs, which would allow them to rely less on other teammates to gain possession of the puck. These athletes can improve on their passing skills and shooting goals, especially under pressure.

NCAA vs. ACHA hockey

ACHA hockey programs are not funded by college institutions, which means these programs do not have the athletic budget to offer athletic scholarships. Instead, these programs rely heavily on student services and player fees for funding each season. Generally known for being well organized and supported by the campus community, recruits will find these non-varsity programs at institutions across the country. The top ACHA programs are equal to or better than NCAA Division 3 programs.

What is hockey sense and why does it matter?

What separates a truly elite hockey athlete from the crowd? Hockey sense, also known as hockey IQ, is the ability to be fully present during the game, reading the ice, following the puck, communicating with teammates and remaining aware of the athlete’s own position on the ice. During camps, tournaments, combines and in highlight video, college coaches look to identify recruits with a good hockey sense. How does the recruit manage in quick-paced situations? How well does the athlete understand and execute strategic plays? How quickly can an athlete evaluate a situation and determine what action to take?

NCSA Logo
  • Connect with us on Facebook
  • Connect with us on Instagram
  • Connect with us on TikTok
  • Connect with us on YouTube
  • Connect with us on Twitter
About
  • About Us
  • Reviews
  • Our Experts
  • Our Partners
  • Careers
  • All in Award
  • Shop at IMGAcademy
Mobile Apps
IMG Academy+

IMG Academy+

Mental Performance & Nutrition

Download IMG Academy+ on the App Store
NCSA

NCSA

Athletic Recruiting

Download NCSA on the App Store Download NCSA on the Google Play Store
  • BBB Accredited Business
  • Nortan Secured
  • Certified Compliant
© 2002-2025 NCSA College Recruiting All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Privacy Policy Notice at Collection Your Privacy Choices California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Opt-Out Icon