For those of you that know my story, I was fortunate enough to play 12 years of professional hockey. I earned a scholarship to play Division I college hockey, led the USHL in goals, and came out of a prep school powerhouse in Shattuck St. Mary’s. But here’s the part most people don’t expect—I didn’t play AAA until my second year of Bantams.

So when parents ask me, “When should my kid go AAA?”—my answer is almost always the same: It depends.

Every kid is different.

When you’re trying to decide where your son or daughter should play, don’t just chase a label. Look for the right environment.

Start with coaching. Find someone who not only knows how to run a bench, but knows how to teach. Someone who coaches individuals—not just the team. Someone who inspires, who actually teaches the game, and most importantly, who cares.

Next, look for opportunity. Is your child going to get the chance to play in all situations? Will they feel like part of the group? Will they be challenged—fail a little, succeed a little—and learn to compete the right way?

And finally, make sure it’s sustainable. The right program won’t burn your kid out with an overwhelming schedule. There’s a balance that matters more than ever at the youth level.

I work with a ton of kids who go on to play Division I, and I can tell you—many of them played AA during their Pee Wee or Bantam years. Development doesn’t follow one path. The key is finding the place where your child will grow, not just as a player, but as a person.

-Matthew

In youth hockey, success is too often measured by goals and wins. But the game is much bigger than the box score.

Developing a strong hockey mindset means shifting the focus to effort, awareness, and team play. Ask yourself: How did I help my team today? Maybe you didn’t score—but you backchecked with urgency, supported the puck, or made a smart chip to move play forward. Those moments matter.

When players start to see value in the “little things”—staying above the puck, working without it, being first to support—they begin to understand the game on a deeper level. And that’s where real confidence is built: knowing you can make a difference, no matter what shows up on the stat sheet.

Stop bribing kids to score. Start praising when they do things the right way. Keep praising effort.

That’s how we grow smarter, tougher, more complete players.

That’s how you build a championship mindset—by focusing on the process.

Matthew Ford

At Ford Hockey School, we spend a lot of time talking about skating, skills, and hockey IQ. But today, I want to touch on something we don’t talk about enough: how other sports can actually make your kid a smarter hockey player.

Everyone loves seeing their kid play soccer for footwork or lacrosse for hands, but the biggest benefit of playing multiple sports goes beyond just physical skills—it’s awareness and decision-making.

Watch a youth basketball game, and you’ll notice the kids who instinctively find open space, move without the ball, and anticipate plays. Those same kids are the ones who get open on the ice, find passing lanes, and create more scoring chances in hockey.

In lacrosse, players who win ground balls and know when to cut are often the same ones who anticipate loose pucks and make smart reads in hockey. The kids who learn to slide off contact in flag football are the ones who attack defenders instead of getting angled off, forcing them to react and leaving them flat-footed.

The best hockey players aren’t always the fastest skaters or the ones with the hardest shots. They’re the ones who see the game, read plays before they happen, and make the players around them better. And often, those instincts can also be built outside the rink, not just on it.

When we talk about development at Ford Hockey School, it’s never just about extra ice time. It’s about giving kids different looks, different reads, and different environments that make them smarter, more well-rounded athletes.

Hockey isn’t played in a straight line. Neither is development. Let them play.

Matthew Ford

With the spring season kicking off, it’s great to see our kids back on the ice, competing, learning, and having fun. One of the best parts of spring hockey is the chance for players to hear different voices and get fresh perspectives from different coaches. But no matter where your child is playing—whether it’s SELECT, AAA, AA, or another program—the most important thing isn’t just the level of competition. It’s about having a teacher, not just a coach, who truly understands how to develop a well-rounded hockey player.

When we look at the opportunities we provide for our kids, they need:

• A place to learn and be guided in the right direction so they can grow both their skills and hockey IQ.

• Unstructured play to develop creativity and instincts.

• Opportunities to compete and challenge themselves in different environments.

• A fun and supportive atmosphere that keeps them engaged and passionate about the game.

A lot of young players can get by simply by being faster and stronger than their peers. But as they grow, that raw talent alone won’t be enough. Development isn’t just about skating faster, shooting harder, or being stronger—it’s about thinking the game fast. The best players know what they’re going to do with the puck before they get it, understand their options, and stay aware of the players around them.

As we move through this spring season, let’s make sure we’re focusing on teaching the game, not just coaching it. Let’s give our kids the tools to think, anticipate, and make smart decisions on the ice—because that’s what truly separates great players from the rest.

Here’s to the kids this spring—learning, competing, growing every time they step on the ice, and most importantly, having fun.

Matthew Ford