Assets and Obstacles: An Analysis of Ontario Preparatory School Hockey from the Coaches’ Perspective

Abstract

As young hockey players continue to dream of playing at elite levels, the landscape of men’s hockey development in Ontario is has been a popular subject of conversation. Especially as minor hockey eligibility comes to a close or the Ontario Hockey League draft year passes, young players are left with the decision to choose the right path for them to continue to pursue their dreams. While some options have a clear reputation for developing players, there are other options that provide the level of development that players seek but are marginalized in a space dominated by existing heavyweights. This study had the purpose of exploring the assets owned and challenges faced by hockey teams in one of the less-popular development options in Ontario: preparatory schools, as well as how these assets and obstacles impact a program’s legitimacy and reputation. The researcher used the VDF model to gather information about the strengths and challenges of men’s hockey programs at Ontario preparatory schools. The goal was to create a helpful document for these programs to use when making strategic decisions to improve their program. Interviews were conducted with 10 coaches from different Ontario preparatory school men’s hockey teams, with questions regarding organizational reputation as well as the assets and challenges their programs face. Through the results, it became clear that these programs rely on physical and organizational assets primarily to find success and establish themselves as a legitimate or reputable option in the Ontario hockey development ecosystem. Overall, Ontario preparatory school men’s hockey teams have assets unique to each program but face a vast landscape of challenges that vary depending on the context of each school.