A hockey advisor, also known as a family (hockey) advisor, is a professional who can help guide young hockey players and families throughout the complex hockey landscape. The advisor serves as a mentor, while also helping place players on their target teams, whether that’s at the AAA, Prep, Jr. A, & Collegiate (NCAA/USports/ACHA) levels.
Do you need an advisor?
Short answer, if you’re an elite player, no, you probably need an agent. However, an advisor can be useful in the following situations:
- If your goal is to play NCAA/USports/ACHA hockey. Advisors specialize in advancing players to college hockey, and will likely facilitate your path with their connections.
- If you’re a good player who needs to be promoted to gain an edge over other players, an advisor can be useful because they will save you time, maximize your opportunities, and get you out of tricky situations.
- If you don’t understand the hockey industry well, or you don’t have a coach or colleague who can help you navigate the hockey industry for free.
Advisor vs Agent
Both are quite similar in the type of worth that they do, but with two major differences.
- Advisors help good players advance to college hockey, while agents help elite players advance to pro.
- Advisors charge their fee up front directly to parents, while agents take a commission of the player’s future pro contracts and endorsements.
What to Look For When Hiring an Advisor/Agent (VERY IMPORTANT)
- Results & Reviews: Positive feedback from past players and their families highlights the effectiveness of the hockey advisor’s skills. Do your research, look for great website testimonials, ask the advisor for references, and try to find coaches & parents who have interacted with the advisor in the past.
- Playing Experience: Pick an advisor who has a good background in hockey who you can find on Elite Prospects. Sufficient playing experience at the junior & college level is necessary for an advisor to provide you proper guidance in your career.
- Chemistry: Pick an advisor who you think has your best interest in mind, and where your gut is telling you that you can trust them.
- Professionalism: Ensure that your advisor maintains the highest standards of integrity and respect, ensuring that all interactions, from team negotiations to player development plans, are handled with discretion and diligence.
- Honesty: pick an advisor who provides transparent guidance and sets realistic expectations, ensuring that you understand both the opportunities and challenges ahead in their hockey careers.
- Response Time: Quick to response times to inquiries and concerns is one of the biggest indicators to determine if the advisor will do a good job for you. An advisor that consistently responds in a few hours is a good sign.
- Network: Ensure that your advisor has an extensive network of coaches, scouts, and teams. you can ask them to show you their database of coaches, and also ask coaches you know well if they’ve heard of this advisor before.
Summary
The hockey industry is complicated, and there’s a finite window to succeed. So, having a knowledgeable professional in your corner can be a huge advantage because they can save you time, maximize your opportunities, and get you out of tricky situations. Advisors help good players advance to college hockey, while agents help elite players advance to pro. When choosing an agent or advisor, make sure you do your research and trust your gut.
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