NAHA Tournament Update - Day 2 - Touring Day

Day 2 in Vermont saw the Steelers team break up into different groups.

The Steelers blue team visited Middlebury College in the morning, and then had a 45 minute practice in the afternoon. Middlebury College has one of the best hockey rinks in women's hockey, and an impressive athletic facility and campus. The tour was led by Middlebury assistant Emily McNamara.

Seven of the younger players on the Steelers black team stayed last night in Andover, MA and made the 40 minute drive to Boston, where they had an opportunity to go on a tour of the campus, led by Alan Chim, who showed players the major landmark/buildings of Harvard including the John Harvard Statute (pictured on the right), Harvard Yard, Annenberg, Memorial Church, and Widener Library.

This was then followed by a tour of the athletics facility led by Harvard assistant Coach Melanie Ruzzi, and assistant coach Joakim Flygh (UK). Players then had an opportunity to tour the rink, and see the new Harvard dressing room, and had an informative Question & Answer session with Harvard head coach Katey Stone. The players came away from the tour with a better understanding of what Harvard Hockey is about, and what it will take to get there.

The players then drove up to Dartmouth College and had a tour of the athletic facilities with Rob Morgan including seeing the Dartmouth rink and dressing room, and the impressive new weight training facility, followed by a Question & Answer session with Rob. Rob was asked, and gave great practical advice about the SATs/ACTs, the importance of finding a school that is a good fit for the player, the recruiting process and the difference between recruiting and being recruited, admission standards and the importance of players displaying good hockey habits.

Although it was a long two days of traveling, the players came away with some great advice from the both the coaches of Harvard and Dartmouth, and seeing both schools gave players a great perspective on the difference between the two Ivy League schools.

Special thanks to Don Boyd and Tim Gilligan who volunteered to drive the players down to Boston and back, and were able to do so successfully without getting lost!

The rest of the Steelers black team players had the day to relax at the hotel. Some players went on unofficial visits with their parents to various colleges.