This may come as a shocker, but I wasn't an Aug. 1 college hockey recruiting commit. I also wasn't a college hockey recruiting commit in any of the other 11 months of the year.
I'm in the large majority of hockey players who were nowhere near Division 1 caliber.
So I don't have personal advice for Aug. 1 caliber recruits. Instead, over the last four years, I've been fortunate to pick the brains of people who do. College coaches who are involved with recruiting daily, prep coaches who let players sit in their office and talk through options for hours and advisors whose focus is helping players find the right collegiate fit.
And, of course, the players who've gone through it themselves.
Aug. 1 is the day when rising juniors can accept offers from Division 1 college hockey programs. That's this Saturday, so players getting college attention are thinking about this a lot.
I wanted to get some more advice for them. Let's dive in.
Jake Boguniecki
Last team: U.S. National Team Development Program U17
Committed to Boston College on Aug. 5, 2025
"There's no rush. Be patient! Visit as many schools as you can. Try to surround yourself with people that care about you as a human being first and a hockey player second. People that care about your development on and off the ice, but more importantly, will respect you as a person."
Carl Corazzini
Head coach: St. Mark's
"If you have the opportunity to talk to colleges on Aug. 1, congratulations. A lot of hard work has come to fruition, and there is a lot of work ahead. Surround yourself with people who want you to succeed in life, not those looking for a quick solution. Hockey and life are a long journey. Take your time choosing a college and hockey program — that will be a path forward for you the rest of your life. Take the time to talk to all coaches who show interest and visit as many schools as you have the opportunity to. As you see campuses, facilities and meet the coaches, you will start to understand the things that will be important to you. How do you fit socially, academically and athletically? Those components will help make you happy in any environment. Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you can. Can I take whatever major I want? Do you offer summer programs? Do you often decommit athletes? Where do you see me fitting in if I continue to develop? When you make your decision, have the conversations with coaches that showed interest in you. They may not like the decision, but they will respect you for picking up the phone."
Vincent Fensore
Agent for THE TEAM
"Don't be afraid to be patient; committing first doesn't mean you are getting there first. Everyone is on a different track. Just because your teammate is committing doesn't mean you need to be committing. Building a relationship with the coaches is key. But these coaches may not be there when you show up. They may move on to other jobs and opportunities. There is life outside of hockey. Find the best fit for you on and off the ice. The road to getting to campus is longer than the journey to get committed. Be gracious to all the coaches you speak with because you never know where the hockey world takes both of you."
READ MORE: 17 standouts from USA Hockey’s Select 15 Camp
Connor Gorman
Head coach: New Hampton
"Obviously a special day and moment for the athlete, which is awesome. It’s a moment that validates all the work and sacrifice put in. With that being said, these are just verbal commitments and every player has to continue proving themselves in the junior ranks. Many of these players won’t be at that school for another three years (maybe four). Not trying to be a pessimist, but it’s just the reality of it.
I think it’s important for players to have a relationship with the entire staff, not just the assistant. Assistants look for new jobs as they want to grow and climb too. Slow and steady wins the race, as well as the understanding that the path is probably going to be a gravel road rather than a paved road. There is so much movement in junior hockey now, especially with the mad dash to the CHL. I also think it’s important to take your time and make an educated decision on where you commit to. That’s always been the case, but it’s super important because the hype from the commitment and commitment post will wear off after a week or so, and it’s important to still feel really good about your choice. Be smart about it too. Who else is committed there? It seems like there are more players committed to schools than actual roster spots available, so do your homework and utilize your coach and/or advisor if you have one.
Cliche or not, once you commit is when the real work really starts to ensure you make it to where you committed to. Hold onto the confidence you have from committing while coupling that with a relentless work ethic and drive. Those habits will be crucial to continue developing the right way but also needed to be an impactful college hockey player."
Neil Hall
Agent/advisor for Newport Sports Management
"There's no rush. We like to make sure our clients understand their options, but we also look at two things: hockey and education. For a player like Jack O'Dell, who had 18 calls on Jan. 1, we advise them to narrow it down to the top five or six for official visits. Then, by Aug. 1, it should be narrowed down to your top three. You need to look at the coaching staff, but we prefer education as one of the top priorities because when hockey ends, you've gotta go to work. I don't care if you play 15 years in the NHL or two years in the NHL — there's a lot of life after hockey.
The other complicated piece for the kids in the U.S. is the CHL situation, which has pushed all the American kids back a year or two in their college commitments. We now have a lot of the American kids heading north to play in the CHL, which is taking away spots for some of the Canadian kids. I am very concerned and can't wait to see the roster numbers in 4-5 years to see the ratio of Canadian to U.S. kids at top Division 1 programs.
One more thing: Last year, in the middle of the prep season, O'Dell asked me when he'd know what the right fit was. My advice: You will feel the love from the coaching staff that wants you. Without naming names, there's a school that may be flying to Chicago on Aug. 1 to have lunch with Jack and his family. They know Jack is not signing, but it's their best way of showing how bad they want him."
Evan Jones
Next team: Sioux City Musketeers
Committed to Dartmouth on Aug. 1, 2024
"I think the biggest thing during the recruiting process is taking your time and really considering where you can see yourself thriving, both athletically and academically. Choose a school where you feel confident you'll be developed into the best player and person you can be.
I also think it's important to remember that committing isn't the finish line. There's still a lot of time before you step onto campus, which means there's still a lot of work to be done. That's something every player should keep in mind, whether they're getting a lot of attention in August or their opportunities come later."
READ MORE: 15 potential USNTDP forward prospects from Select 15 Camp | 7 potential USNTDP defensemen prospects from Select 15 Camp
Brian McFadden
Next team: Chicago Steel
Committed to Northeastern on Aug. 1, 2025
"I'd say just to enjoy it but also stay level-headed. It’s a very cool achievement, but at the same time there is a very long way to go. The real work starts at that moment, and nothing is ever given; every piece is earned. The same way they give you that offer is the same way they can take it away. You are now representing that college, so represent it well. Still an unbelievable accomplishment; enjoy it!"
Casey Mutryn
Next team: Boston College
Committed to Boston College on Aug. 1, 2024
"My experience with August commits isn’t like most players. My brother [Teddy] was committed to BC, my parents both were athletes there, and I grew up around BC, so it was a place that I had always wanted to be at. It was a no-brainer for me, and I was fortunate enough that the staff at BC wanted me to be there as well. Aside from those aspects, the staff, facilities, academics, traditions, development, and history at BC made it an even easier choice. I think my biggest piece of advice would be to look at the schools as places you would want to go to if you weren’t a hockey player. You spend a lot of time at the rink, but you also want to make sure that you’re in an environment where you can thrive as a person and hockey player."
Caiden Pellegrino
Next team: Rimouski Océanic
Committed to Providence College on Aug. 1, 2025
"There’s no need to rush any decisions and be grateful for every opportunity because not everyone gets the chance to go through this, and it’s a really cool experience, so make the most of it. Pick the place that genuinely feels like home and where you can see yourself developing the most, not just the place that looks best on paper. There will probably be a lot of buzz, opinions, and people talking during those first few days, but try not to let that distract you. Stay focused on yourself, keep grinding, and trust your own abilities. At the end of the day, it’s your future and your decision, so choose the place where you feel the most comfortable and confident. Enjoy the process because it goes by fast."
Eric Quinlan
Agent for Forward Hockey
"My biggest piece of advice to the players during this period is not to rush the decision because of the excitement or fear of missing out. This is one of the biggest decisions they will make in their hockey careers. Look beyond the logo; find a school where you fit academically and on the ice. Ask yourself, can I develop here? Do I trust the coaching staff? What opportunities will this decision uncover? The right fit always beats the biggest name, although it may be both. Players should also remember that this is the beginning. Schools that recruit you are investing in your potential, and the daily work will ultimately determine your college career. Lastly, lean on the people you trust: family, coaches, advisors, etc. Make your decision for the right reasons and not because of outside pressure or social media."
AUG. 1 RECRUITING: 15 forwards to watch | 12 defenders to watch
Finn Sears
Next team: U.S. National Team Development Program U18
Committed to Boston College on Aug. 15, 2025
"Take a good look at all your options and everything about the school. Don't just go somewhere cause you like one thing. Really fall in love with everything about the place. Listen to what the staff has to say and ask some questions about where they see you and what they are going to bring to the table for you to be the best you can. Get a good feel for the campus and you can usually tell if you can see yourself being there. Look at all the facilities and see what you like and don't and compare to other schools."
