In simple terms, an advisor is your primary source of information when it comes to making decisions concerning your next action. As it pertains to hockey, advisors are essentially the people outside your immediate family that you trust the most to assist you in making the right choices as you navigate through the hockey world. Advisors are typically people who have both played the game at the levels you are aspiring to, and, or also coached, general managed, scouted or owned teams at various levels. There is no criteria for someone to become an advisor. Heck, your uncle Ned who used to play semi-pro in the '60s could give you advice. Whether that advice will be useful is another matter. The point being, an advisor is any person who offers either their opinion or insight into the subject. In the case of compensated, professional advisors, their experience, knowledge, and professionalism should be gauged by you when deciding on which one to partner with.

A hockey advisor helps players and families navigate the hockey world. A good advisor's job is to give honest guidance about development, team selection, leagues, exposure opportunities, and long-term planning. Hockey can be confusing and sometimes overwhelming for families. An advisor should help simplify the process so players can focus on improving and reaching the next level.

An advisor focuses primarily on development and guidance during the amateur stages of a player’s career. Agents typically become involved when a player turns professional and needs contract negotiation. Our role is to help players prepare themselves so they’re in the best possible position when those opportunities arise.

There isn’t a single perfect age, but most players start working with an advisor sometime during their teenage years, usually when they begin exploring junior hockey or college opportunities. That’s when decisions start becoming more complicated, and having guidance can be very valuable. A good guideline is for players who have reached the 14-year-old age or higher.

We work with players pursuing opportunities in all North American junior leagues, NCAA college hockey, professional leagues, and increasingly opportunities in Europe as well. Every player’s path is different, and part of my job is helping determine which route best fits their ability and long-term goals. In simple terms, Hockey Horizons will assist any player, at an skill level, in any league from youth to pro. Of course we don't simply agree to take every player. However, every player, prior to an internal company screening, is eligible.

No reputable advisor can guarantee placements. Hockey is competitive, and teams ultimately make their own decisions. What Hockey Horizons can offer is honest evaluation, strong relationships in the hockey world, and guidance that puts players in the best position to succeed. If any "so-called" advisor offers you a guarantee of a position on a team, don't walk away from that meeting...run. The only person that can guarantee that they will make a team is the person(s) in that organization tasked with doing so. You will make your appropriate team, as a player, based on a variety of factors. The job, as a good advisor/mentor is to make sure you have the skill set, knowledge and tools to succeed at that level of team you are trying to make.

Evaluation starts with watching games, reviewing video, and having honest conversations about a player’s strengths and areas for improvement. We also look at things like character, work ethic, coachability, and consistency. Talent matters, but attitude and dedication matter just as much. Our staff has accumulated decades of player evaluation experience, as compared to any of the outfits in our space. We rely on that training and experience to guide us.

Absolutely. Hockey decisions affect the entire family. We spend a lot of time talking with parents about development paths, education, finances, and expectations. Our goal is to make sure both the player and the family feel confident about the direction they’re taking.

Yes. One of the key roles I play is helping players understand the NCAA landscape. That includes identifying programs that fit their ability level, helping with communication with coaches, and making sure families understand NCAA eligibility rules and recruiting timelines.

Development always comes first. Exposure only matters if a player is ready for it. We focus on helping players improve their game and build the right habits. Once a player reaches the appropriate level, exposure opportunities naturally follow. Many advisors act as "camp brokers." We don't. Attending too many or too few exposure opportunities can harm a player's reputation. Our group is not only made up of hockey evaluators. We have owned, managed, coached, recruited, and trained at most levels of the game. During that time, we've seen our share of spam email invites. Spotting those can save parents a ton of time and money.

Yes. Every position has unique development needs and recruiting pathways. We work with players at all positions and tailor advice based on what their role demands at higher levels of hockey.

We stay involved throughout the year. That can include watching games, reviewing video, speaking with coaches, and helping players adjust their development plans. Hockey development is ongoing, so advisory support should be ongoing as well.

Yes. Part of our role is helping players connect with the right coaches, strength trainers, skating specialists, and skill instructors. The right development environment can make a huge difference in a player’s progress.

That’s actually very common. One of the most valuable things we provide is honest evaluation. We'll tell a player where they currently stand and what it would take to reach the next level. From there, we can build a realistic plan to assist them in attaining their goal.

No. Like players each one is very different. Some simply offer advice, nothing more. Some offer add-on services like training or video review. Before deciding on the right advisor for you, we suggest you audit a variety of advisors and weighing their services, pricing and customer satisfaction before making a decision. Hockey Horizons is a full service hockey advisory and player mentoring service. For a list of our services, please go to the services section of this site. see Hockey Horizons Services(javascript:void(0))

The more appropriate question is whether or not if you need a professional advisor. ​ You actually already likely have multiple advisors and you don't even know it. You may have a relative or family friend who used to play junior, college or pro hockey. They may have coached. You may have a friend or friend of a friend who knows someone who knows someone who knows the coach of a program you are looking at. You may have a guidance councilor at school. ​ A professional advisor is different. While your Uncle Ned may have your best intentions in mind, he may be a slight out of touch with the way things work today. While the opinions of a mom whose son played somewhere last year says it's a good place, that may also be from a very narrow perspective. Professional advisors offer a variety of services, ranging from mentoring to placement to mental training and everything in between. Every player has different needs and depending on what you need, may depend on what advisor you decide to go with. The best way to determine if you need assistance from an advisor is to talk to one. They will lay out the services they provide and you will soon determine whether you need one or not.

Yes. However, it is not recommended. Go with an Advisor or Mentor you most trust. While most quality advisors agree on many things, they may differ their opinion on others. This conflict of opnion could confuse you as you navigate your path. In the end, the final decisions you make must be yours. The right advisor will present you with all of the options available to you.

Opinions on whether or not to have an advisor vary. Usually those with a better than average knowledge of the hockey landscape lean towards not having one, while those with little knowledge of "what to do" lean towards getting one. College Hockey, Inc; the lead source of information on all things related to the college game, has valuable information on the subject: "Family advisors can play an important role for developing hockey players as they navigate the options presented to them both on and off the ice. ​ Not all players and their parents have advisors, and they are by no means required, but many of those who do find them invaluable. Good advisors can also help prospective players understand and follow NCAA rules that ensure student-athletes maintain their amateur status." Read More...(http://collegehockeyinc.com/articles/2013/02/important-answers-family-advisors.php)

The biggest mistake is rushing the process. Every player develops at a different pace. Trying to skip steps or chase the wrong opportunities can actually slow development. Patience and the right environment are key.

Hockey Horizons is built around mentorship and honest guidance. I’ve spent my entire life in the game, and I approach advising as a long-term relationship rather than a transaction. My focus is helping players grow both as athletes and as people. I have assembled a team of like-minded hockey experts who take great pride in assisting the players and families we work with. In addition, our group has more experience in virtually every aspect of the game than any of our competitors. We actually don't see our group as having competitors as no other group has the experience we have attained. We have played the game, coached the game, scouted the game, managed the game and administrated the game...at every level, including the NHL. This is not a boast. This is a mere statement. When prospecting a mentor/advisor, you really have to DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Do want to spend your money taking advice from a person or group who has little to no experience in the game? i.e. How valuable is the information from an advisor about the CHL or USHL of NAHL if that person or groups highest level of play, coaching or managing is much lower than that level. What truly sets us apart is Hockey Horizons and our team of mentors and advisors can offer you PERSPECTIVE on most leagues as we've been involved in them at some point. While we have been placed into the advisory space in hockey, it is a small part of what we do. Our mentorship of our players is something few, If any, in our space can offer.

Our goal is simple: help players reach the highest level of hockey they’re capable of while building character, discipline, and life skills along the way. Whether that path leads to junior hockey, college hockey, professional hockey, or something beyond the game, We want every player to come out of the experience better prepared for life.

Hockey Horizons is built around mentorship and honest guidance. We've spent my entire lives in the game, and we approach mentoring/advising as a long-term relationship rather than a transaction. Our focus is helping players grow both as athletes and as people.

Yes. In addition to North American opportunities, there are many strong leagues and development paths in Europe. I help players understand when those options make sense and how they fit into a player’s overall career plan.

Communication should be regular but natural. I encourage players to check in when they have questions, when major decisions come up, or when they want feedback. The advisory relationship works best when it’s open and honest.

The biggest mistake is rushing the process. Every player develops at a different pace. Trying to skip steps or chase the wrong opportunities can actually slow development. Patience and the right environment are key.

My goal is simple: help players reach the highest level of hockey they’re capable of while building character, discipline, and life skills along the way. Whether that path leads to junior hockey, college hockey, professional hockey, or something beyond the game, I want every player to come out of the experience better prepared for life.