Quinnipiac University's men's ice hockey team is an NCAA DI college ice hockey program. They are a member of ECAC Hockey and play their games at the People's United Center in Hamden CT. Here are three Quinnipiac University players who talked about their recruiting process, what it's like to play hockey in college, and tips for incoming recruits.
What would you change about your recruiting process?
Alex Whelan: I don't think I would change much about it. I played one year of Juniors and got recruited when I was in high school. It was a cool transition to play that one year of Juniors and get a bit more maturity before I went off to college.
Karlis Cukste: My recruiting process was pretty quick. When I came overseas, I had a plan that I wanted to play in college the next year. I think having an advisor was pretty helpful to me, especially because I didn't speak English super well. My advisor just laid out the plan for me and it was easier to go from there.
Nick Jermain: It all happened very fast. I talked to Coach and then ended up committing here about a month later. I didn't really know a lot about the process, but I'm happy with my decision to come to Quinnipiac. There's not a whole lot that I would change.
What is the biggest difference between high school and college men's ice hockey?
Alex Whelan: I think the speed and the size of the players. The main thing is you have to keep up with the speed and once you get that under control, you can work on everything else.
Karlis Cukste: I would say the tools that are available. I don't know if it's the same at every college, but if I need something surrounding academics, I have four or five people I can contact and they will help me right away. Especially at Quinnipiac, it has a family environment. As an international player, I didn't speak great English my freshman year so having that family around me has helped a lot.
Nick Jermain: I think that this is your full-time job. You have to balance your social life, academic life, and athletics, which isn't easy. Especially in your freshman year, it isn't easy to get all three of those parts of your life in order.
What is one question that a high school athlete should ask on an official visit?
Alex Whelan: Aside from asking coaches the right questions, you have to make sure you are asking yourself if this school is the best fit for you.
Karlis Cukste: When I came here, I wanted to know what my role would be on the team. Obviously, if you come here, you want to play. Also, getting to know the team and coaches was very important to me because having those experiences definitely enhances your experience a lot.
Nick Jermain: I've always been told to go where you're wanted most. I think that is something you have to be able to feel out. You could go to a high-end school, but you might not be in the lineup or get a lot of playing time. A lower-end school will really value you. They'll put you in the first line and build the program around you. That's why I chose to come to Quinnipiac.
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