Hey Lawson great vid! So I’m going to play D3 hockey next year and I wanted to know if there is a chance to go D1 from there? Are there Try Out Camps for D1 or how does that work. I’m really excited to play D3 that’s a dream come true and now my dream is it to one day maybe play D1.
If you majorly excel at D3 level you have a chance, but tryout camps don’t really exist. I would suggest reaching out to a D1 coach and trying to get in touch with them and talk about wanting to reach that goal and if they’d be interested.
I have the option to play for two different teams next year, one in the USPHL (metro jets) and one in the ECEL (95 giants). If you know these leagues and have any recommendations on which path I should choose to further my hockey career please let me know!
Great summary of main differences, but in my humble opinion you forgot to mention one very obvious difference between D1 and D3: the SIZE of the players!! D1 teams have taller, bigger (heavier) players overall, than D3 teams. I've watched many, many games in both divisions and the size difference is very noticeable. It's similar to the difference between NHL players and ECHL players....SIZE.
I agree, I played DIII then transferred and by chance had a chance to play DI (goalie) and size was a huge difference. I had a teammate reach out to Castleton for DIII as a forward and the first question they asked before any serious conversation was started was, “what’s your height and weight” Our best player on my DIII team was just to small to play division 1
Very good video. I still have one question though. If the two Divisions are close, why don't we see more D3 guys getting scouted??? I mean, it sounds sad that a guy could be a standout player at D1, yet is playing D3 and gets overlooked. Or DOES D3 hockey also get the scouts a calling??
Depends on which scouts you're talking about. I've known a bunch of guys who went on to play in the SPHL, ECHL, and CHL when it was still a thing. If you mean the NHL, Keith Aucoin (Norwich) and Guy Hebert (Hamilton College) are the only guys I can think of who made it. One thing that was alluded to but not explicitly mentioned in Lawson's video is that the average age on a DIII roster will generally be older than that of a typical D1 roster. A lot of guys will use up all their junior eligibility hoping to get a D1 offer before committing to play for a D3 school so you see a lot more 21 year old freshmen in D. That's not to say that there aren't D1 players who use up their junior eligibility before starting school, but most of the stud NHL players coming out of college hockey are starting their college careers at 18 or 19 (some even accelerate their high school so they can go a year early).
They don't get scouted as much because as of 20 - 30 years ago D3 programs started taking older freshmen and requiring 2 years of Junior. This means a kid in major JR with as much experience is younger and has more high level exposure. That being said D3 is exponentially better than when I was playing in the mid 90s. Club hockey is now the new D3 and is decent. D3 kids are getting minor league exposure and from overseas.
I know you didn’t play d2 but i was interested if there was any sort of skill gap or if d3 is better or worse because I know a couple of friends who play d2 but never got any stories or experiences from them
What’s up with all the hip-hop theme music mixed with hockey related content lately? The two do not go together at all . I don’t like this as do many others. I guess to each their own . This crap started in the NHL and is now trickled all the way down to high school athletics in hockey. Let us maintain the unique integrity of hockey apart from the other sports if you understand what I mean. Does hockey need to be ruined too just because it’s the thing to do? Sergio di Lugano
Very good analysis Lawson - your insights are bang on, great job and thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Such a good video. You make really good points you’re becoming one of my favorite accounts for sure.
Thank you that means a lot!
Could you make a model sometime about how to make it to the college level and include tips and a good path to take to make it there
Charlie Casey good idea!
Love the new intro!
Chase H. Factsss
Thanks bro!
Hey Lawson great vid! So I’m going to play D3 hockey next year and I wanted to know if there is a chance to go D1 from there? Are there Try Out Camps for D1 or how does that work. I’m really excited to play D3 that’s a dream come true and now my dream is it to one day maybe play D1.
If you majorly excel at D3 level you have a chance, but tryout camps don’t really exist. I would suggest reaching out to a D1 coach and trying to get in touch with them and talk about wanting to reach that goal and if they’d be interested.
Focus on d3 for now. Do you expect to absolutely tear it up d3? Your gonna need to kill it before you can even think about d1
Thanks! There’s a chance but yeah you’ll need to be a standout player. There’s no tryout camps for D1 they pick the team through scouting
Lawson McDonald Okay thank you. Looks like I got some work to do!
Good luck man
Thanks for putting this out there for us mere mortals!
Lawson bringing the informational vids. Nice tan bud. Those new edits 🔥
Thanks man!
Great point you make about your role. Great discussion!
great video again, love the new intro.
Thank you!
the intro is sick
Thanks!
Nice vid hope to more day in the Lifes
Yes especially when I get back to school!
Hey man great video I want to know more about university and college hockey is there anything I should know and how I can make the teams
I have the option to play for two different teams next year, one in the USPHL (metro jets) and one in the ECEL (95 giants). If you know these leagues and have any recommendations on which path I should choose to further my hockey career please let me know!
Sammy Yeamans Usphl ncdc is better but if it’s usphl premier or elite I wouldn’t know
Hey man being from Canada I don’t really know much about these leagues so I can’t give you a good answer
Great summary of main differences, but in my humble opinion you forgot to mention one very obvious difference between D1 and D3: the SIZE of the players!! D1 teams have taller, bigger (heavier) players overall, than D3 teams. I've watched many, many games in both divisions and the size difference is very noticeable. It's similar to the difference between NHL players and ECHL players....SIZE.
That’s a good point and initially didn’t come to mind to me but I would agree with that too
I agree, I played DIII then transferred and by chance had a chance to play DI (goalie) and size was a huge difference. I had a teammate reach out to Castleton for DIII as a forward and the first question they asked before any serious conversation was started was, “what’s your height and weight”
Our best player on my DIII team was just to small to play division 1
Dope video you really explained it well
Very good video. I still have one question though. If the two Divisions are close, why don't we see more D3 guys getting scouted??? I mean, it sounds sad that a guy could be a standout player at D1, yet is playing D3 and gets overlooked. Or DOES D3 hockey also get the scouts a calling??
Depends on which scouts you're talking about. I've known a bunch of guys who went on to play in the SPHL, ECHL, and CHL when it was still a thing. If you mean the NHL, Keith Aucoin (Norwich) and Guy Hebert (Hamilton College) are the only guys I can think of who made it.
One thing that was alluded to but not explicitly mentioned in Lawson's video is that the average age on a DIII roster will generally be older than that of a typical D1 roster. A lot of guys will use up all their junior eligibility hoping to get a D1 offer before committing to play for a D3 school so you see a lot more 21 year old freshmen in D. That's not to say that there aren't D1 players who use up their junior eligibility before starting school, but most of the stud NHL players coming out of college hockey are starting their college careers at 18 or 19 (some even accelerate their high school so they can go a year early).
They don't get scouted as much because as of 20 - 30 years ago D3 programs started taking older freshmen and requiring 2 years of Junior. This means a kid in major JR with as much experience is younger and has more high level exposure. That being said D3 is exponentially better than when I was playing in the mid 90s. Club hockey is now the new D3 and is decent. D3 kids are getting minor league exposure and from overseas.
What are the best d3 teams you have played around the country and just in wisconsin?
When you go pro will you remember me
Great video.
Shoutout Kygo 💯
🙌🏼
Accurate video
how did you play d1 and d3?
the difference is about 25k per year
🔥🔥🔥
Do you think there will be a season this year? If not will you get another year of eligibility?
I think there will be, and I’m not sure but I probably would
great intro maybe new song though.
Can you make a comeback to D1?
No I won’t be
Nice video.
You play ncaa d3 right? Not acha
Yes he does. Big difference.
Yup!
I know you didn’t play d2 but i was interested if there was any sort of skill gap or if d3 is better or worse because I know a couple of friends who play d2 but never got any stories or experiences from them
There’s only like 6 d2 teams n there all in ne10 my buddy said d3 and d2 are same skill but d3 might be better
Logan Cruickshank thank ya for letting me know it’s odd how d3 is better but seems lower cause of number
I don’t know much about D2 so I couldn’t really tell ya
I don’t believe NCAA has D2 ice hockey. College CLUB hockey may have “D2.”
What AAA team were you on before Junior A
PV hawks
So there’s no d2?
Fleury29 Cards no
do players in D3 transfer to D1 if they are playing well?
No. Not really, it’s very rare
Why did you chose d3 over another d1 team ?
playing time
Chris Packet ik that but i didn’t know if he had any other offers from any other d1 schools ( don’t get me wrong d3 is still very good )
Is division 2 a thing?
Not really
i need to know that intro song
It’s a SoundCloud song! Tove Lo // Branchez
개 사랑함 !!
Nails
First
What’s up with all the hip-hop theme music mixed with hockey related content lately? The two do not go together at all . I don’t like this as do many others. I guess to each their own . This crap started in the NHL and is now trickled all the way down to high school athletics in hockey. Let us maintain the unique integrity of hockey apart from the other sports if you understand what I mean. Does hockey need to be ruined too just because it’s the thing to do?
Sergio di Lugano