Since 1999, college coaches look at girls who have been a part of the NAHA program differently than recruits from other hockey programs and prep schools. They are viewed as having a better understanding of the game, of the preparation it takes physically, athletically and psychologically to compete at the highest levels, and are better prepared to meet the challenges at the collegiate level. Their dedication and commitment to excellence has been tested in a demanding program where they have learned to balance their academic and athletic obligations.

NAHA follows the USA Hockey ADM model. Since NAHA's inception, well before the ADM, the NAHA development model has included an emphasis on practices, use of small area games, and age appropriate training.

The NAHA program is an intensive, high-performance program where the players are treated as athletes with the potential to play at the elite levels of their sport. Players are typically on the ice six days a week, either practicing or competing. All aspects of the program - education, daily schedule, nutrition, and athletic - are integrated and planned to give our athletes the ability to excel on and off the ice.  Our expectations are high, and players learn to be accountable both on and off the ice.

Players select the NAHA program for a variety of reasons: exposure, development, opportunities to train and play with better players, college placement, and to prepare for all aspects of college life.

Exposure: No program in the US or Canada receives more attention from scouts than NAHA. We play a schedule that takes to us to all corners of the US, and to the top tournaments in the US and Canada. Colleges from both east and west make repeat visits to our games, and often practices, to evaluate and track the development of our athletes.

Development: We have continually received feedback from both college and national team coaches that they are amazed with the development and progress of the players at NAHA. Our philosophy, which is the foundation for the template for our on and off-ice training, is focused on making players who are responsible, accountable, problem solvers, can improvise and make decisions. We also have an extensive off-ice program including strength training, supervised and honed over the years by former Director of Rehabilitation with the New England Patriots and current Vice President of the Boston Sports Performance Center, Joe Van Allen. These are coupled with methods that teach players to play the game while developing game sense, and the result has been a rapid development of players while at NAHA. 

Opportunities: Often girls who come to NAHA have reached the end of the development in their local, grass-roots programs. The need to play at a higher level and with better players to continue to develop. We have two teams that, for some, create a progression and a steppingstone.

College placement: We have an excellent placement record for our student-athletes in colleges (NAHA college placement link). Our staff work with all our athletes during all phases of their college search process. 

Life preparation: During their stay at NAHA, girls learn many life lessons, and mature. The NAHA experience is a great vehicle to prepare for the independence of college while receiving support, guidance and preparation for that experience.