Hockey schools for 2026

At a hockey school, your child will hone skills in stickhandling, playmaking, shooting, goaltending, and more.

Finding the best hockey camp for you

Hockey schools are about an even split between overnight camps (residential camps) and day camps. The advantage of an overnight camp is that your child is immersed in hockey for the week.

Benefits of hockey summer camps:

Time at hockey school enables kids to extend their hockey-playing experience into the summer. The benefits of this are many:

• Kids get an extra edge in playing time and experience when hockey starts up again in the fall.
• They get to meet other kids from elsewhere in the province, many of whom will also be exceptional young hockey players.
• They will get to meet and learn from NHL players who lead the camp or make special appearances in hockey schools and camps.

More specifically, camps offer young hockey players a variety of specialized benefits:

• Off-ice hockey training regimens. Many camps will have specific exercise programs that target specific muscle groups that benefit young players. Off-ice training is a key component in the development of the very best players, a major difference between players who succeed and those who do not.
• Targeted skills development in the areas of stickhandling, playmaking, shooting accuracy, etc. Cultivating specific skills gives kids an edge on the ice. To pursue your NHL dream, you need to have an edge in as many skills as possible. At hockey school, you'll be given both instruction and personal time to make constant improvements in things like shooting accuracy, stickhandling flair, and continued development of "hockey sense."
• Application of skills in scrimmage time. The extended scrimmage time in a hockey school adds to the fun of camp but also helps kids to further develop skills and apply what they have learned at camp in an actual game setting.

Consider the following as you search for hockey camps or hockey schools:

• What references can they offer you?
• What level of commitment do instructors have? If they advertise the presence of one or several pro hockey players, how often are those players present at the school?
• Apart from hockey skills, what else does the hockey school teach about conditioning, training, fitness, etc?

If your child is serious about the pursuit of a pro hockey career, check out our listing of hockey schools and camps above. Beneath specialised hockey camps, you will find a list of camps offering hockey as one of many activities, including skiing, martial arts, and gymnastics. Hockey schools are one of the more popular types of sports camps for kids, especially in Canada.

The strong Canadian orientation of the sport of ice hockey also makes it a destination for kids from throughout the northern United States. Many of these camps allow kids to participate in the traditional kids camp experience that includes things like late nights around the campfire, canoeing, and other outdoor activities that kids can only experience when they are at camp.

Frequently asked questions about hockey camps

What age are hockey summer camps for?

Most hockey summer camps accept players from ages 6 to 16, although some advanced hockey schools offer elite training programs for older teenagers preparing for competitive leagues.

Do hockey camps focus only on ice time?

Many hockey camps combine on-ice training with off-ice conditioning, strategy sessions, and skills development that help players improve strength, speed, and overall hockey awareness.

What should kids bring to hockey camps?

Players typically bring full hockey equipment, including skates, a helmet, pads, a stick, and athletic clothing for off-ice training. Some hockey schools also recommend water bottles, training gear, and extra practice jerseys.

Related pages