Why Mount? The Road to NCAA Hockey: With insights from U18s Tristan Haggerman and Ryder Kinzler
-Kayla Hoben

When someone thinks of Mount, it’s likely they will think of hockey. With an impressive record of state championships from both the men’s and women’s teams, Mount’s hockey legacy attracts attention from scouts and program directors all across the world.

With the recent revamp of the boy’s Hockey Academy, the program is more prominent than ever.

While the Academy program at Mount is impressive, it’s not the only option out there for young athletes considering playing for a prep team. Programs including Shattuck-St.Mary’s, South Kent, Culver and St. Andrew’s College all have competitive, highly successful programs as well.

With that in mind, the question arises: Why Mount?

What makes the Hockey Academy Program at Mount unique?

As one of the fastest growing developmental hockey programs in the country, Mount’s Hockey Academy Program attracts countless young athletes every year. The unique, all-inclusive experience offered plays an important role in getting students into the classroom, as well as on the ice.

Witnessing players in action has proved to be an effective attraction for those considering Academy Hockey at Mount.

When asked about how he first discovered the program, Tristan Haggerman, captain of the U18 team at Mount, explained, “Mount was kind of put on my radar by one of my friends at the time… I went to nationals that year, and watched them play, and the all inclusive model of school, dorm life, and elite hockey really drew me in.”

Ryder Kinzler, senior forward on the U18s, described a similar experience when he witnessed Mount’s national victory over the St. Louis Blues in April 2022. During the game, he noted how the positive, driven nature of the U18 Mounties influenced him. “The character of the kids on the ice, how they play, their work ethic, really drew me in,” Kinzler said.

As a college prep school recognized nationally as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, Mount has a long legacy of academic, as well as athletic, pride. As a result, it is no surprise this central focus on education applies to the Hockey Academy as well.

“At Mount, school is prioritized over hockey,” Kinzler said. “That really drew more of my family, but also me in as well.”

All Mount student athletes have a GPA requirement in order to continue participation. The school’s core values of faith, service, discipline, and community collectively create well rounded students that graduate well prepared for their future.

Preparation for the Junior Level

To develop the skills necessary for the college level, high school players work to get recruited on a junior team first. The junior leagues serve as a crucial bridge from high school hockey to college teams, helping athletes focus on skill development, experience heightened competition, and gain exposure for scouts.

“It has developed my skill tremendously, but also developed the type of person I am,” Kinzler described. “It’s really made me a better person, and carried my character throughout these past couple years.”

The dorm structure alone forces young athletes to develop the maturity, responsibility, and initiative that is characteristic of a Mountie.

“You’re on your own,” Haggerman explained. “A lot of people don’t experience it until they’re in college.”

Team Culture

So what is it like to actually be on the team? The social environment plays a key role in performance, especially in competitive sports. At Mount, the close-knit nature of the Academy program fosters a strong sense of mutual identity.

“I spend more time with guys in the dorms than I do with my family most years,” Haggerman remarked.

“Surrounding yourself with like ninety people, people who want to compete, people who want to win, is probably the best thing around.” Haggerman said. Considering that most athletes in the program are collectively from all around the country, it becomes something similar to a second home for many.

The students are not the only ones that contribute to the community. Teachers, nurses, trainers, coaches and other staff all work together to create an environment that closely resembles a family.

“Having these…motherly figures and a father figure in the dorms…it brings everybody closer together,” Kinzler said, recognizing teacher and mentor Catherine Breault, who teaches in the English department and coaches the Elite Dance Team at Mount.

A Note to Future Mounties

It’s no secret that the Hockey Academy program at Mount requires a deep level of commitment, from families and athletes alike. However, when Mount players were asked what advice they would give to those considering Mount, this is what they said:

“I love it here. I came here as a fourteen year old, and I grew so much,” Kinzler recalled. “Everything has worked so well together that I do think it is structurally, one of the best programs in the country.”

Reflecting on his own experience, Haggerman explained, “Coming here, you will have to learn accountability, and you will have to learn time management, but if that’s something you’re seeking out, look into a prep program.”

In conclusion, Haggerman described, “It’s probably the most fun you’ll ever have…when you really step back and look at it, you have everything that you could ever want.”