When we send out our annual girls prep hockey coaches survey, we cover a myriad of topics.
There are the usual staples, asking for coaches' thoughts on the previous season, the upcoming winter, who the best players were, who the best players will be and who else we should keep an eye on.
We always make sure to ask some big-picture questions, too.
In Part 3 of our coaches survey, we asked coaches about women's college hockey, from feedback from their alumni to what traits they feel make players successful in the jump from prep to college.
Two more topics near the top of mind this offseason were the NCAA's new eligibility rules, as well as a new player in the New England hockey scene: Masters Academy International.
We made sure to ask coaches about both topics and selected the best answers for Part 4.
All answers were anonymous, and we appreciate all who participated. As such, names won’t be listed. Instead, they will be attributed to “Coach 1,” “Coach 2,” and so forth.
Let's dive in.
What kind of impact will Masters Academy International have on girls prep?
Masters Academy International (MAI) is set to open its doors this fall with the goal of "trying to create the IMG Academy of the North,” Peter Masters, the founder of MAI, told the Boston Globe in 2025. Former Winchendon director of hockey and 19U coach Jeff Pellegrini will lead MAI's girls program.
Among Masters' inaugural girls players are former Winchendon standouts Gia Orizotti (Harvard) and Ashlee Marsala (Long Island), as well as former Lovell Academy standouts Kelly O'Brien and Zoe Dix. Both Winchendon and Lovell Academy play full-season schedules.
READ MORE: How Winchendon has taken advantage of the full-season model
NEPSAC coaches were fairly split on how much it might affect prep both in the short and long term. Mostly, coaches felt the traditional prep path can coexist with MAI the same way it has with other full-season offerings, like Lovell, NAHA, Bishop Kearney and Shattuck-St. Mary's.
Coach 1: "They're a factor. They have academic credibility and very strong leadership. It might take a few years, but they'll be a significant player in girls hockey."
Coach 2: "Not much. Families who choose Masters probably don't realize the overall value of the prep schools, especially the non-hockey benefits."
Coach 3: "It will have less of an impact than the perception currently out there. Families looking for the overall prep experience are not looking at the hockey academies."
Coach 4: "We will see — unclear how it will impact compared to Bishop Kearney/Shattuck-St. Mary's/Lovell Academy. My guess is it will be in the same mix."
READ MORE: What does it take to play college hockey? Girls prep coaches weigh in
Coach 5: "None. If kids want that type of experience (Lovell Academy, etc.), then they will go there. But they are not getting a true prep school experience — academics, athletics, and residential."
What kind of impact will the NCAA's new five-year eligibility rule have on women's college recruiting?
On June 23, the NCAA came down with the new age-based eligibility model, stating that it would be “permitting Division 1 student-athletes up to five years of eligibility if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday.”
While the ripple effect will most likely be felt in boys hockey, where prospects play multiple years of junior hockey before reaching college, girls hockey could still feel some impacts. There could be effects on older recruits who reclassified or took a postgraduate year, while roster limits (26 players) and now an additional fifth year of eligibility could reduce open spots for upcoming recruiting classes.
RECRUITING: 15 takeaways from the last month in women’s college hockey recruiting
Coach 1: "Too early to tell."
Coach 2: "It probably means more focus on existing college players. Most coaches will prefer a more seasoned, experienced, mature player if they're available inside your program or via the portal."
Coach 3: "It will really hurt the 2027 and 2028 classes, as obviously fewer college players will graduate after their fourth year now. There will be fewer spots for prep kids. It will be similar to the COVID backlog."
Coach 4: "Less opportunities each year."
Coach 5: "It’s causing the 2028 recruits to have a tighter experience in recruiting, especially the non-Ivy schools. It’s making it harder to figure out since the D1s don’t necessarily know what they are doing with their rosters. And the D1 roster limits make this tough too."
Coach 6: "Not as much as it will on the boys side."
Coach 7: "Shouldn't hurt schools who don't PG."
COACHES SURVEY: Who were the best players, teams last season? | Who will be the best next season?
Coach 8: "I think this will help with prep and high school recruiting as well as limiting the transfer portal mentality."
