Is there any other sport like hockey, where parents find it necessary to send their kids away from high school teams to get better? Probably not.

Basketball players get noticed in AAU ball during the summer, but then return to their high school teams and, with few exceptions, complete their careers at home. But if you're a good hockey player, it's off the junior hockey, or in some cases prep school. There have been several examples right here in central Maine of kids who have left high school to play juniors. Is it necessary?
Many say it is, because juniors offer more games and better competition. I've been working on a story about Waterville's Zach Jochem and Gardiner's Bass Chadwick, two players who were on junior teams last season and returned to play on their high school teams. Both are sold on the benefits of junior hockey and expect to return there next year to gain exposure for college.
The coaches I spoke with — Colby College's Jim Tortorella, Waterville's Dennis Martin and Gardiner's Matt Dineen — aren't so sure.
All say that players can develop after high school. "You're only 18 once and with your friends," Martin said.
Tortorella and Dineen are both concerned that junior hockey doesn't do enough to promote academics and it takes a good student as well as a good player to get through college.
The track record of juniors is mixed. It delivers on its promise of more games, better competition and more exposure, but the percentage of players who go on to college is not that great.
"Do the math," Tortorella said, explaining there are many more kids playing than there are college roster spots."
Some make it, though, and Chadwick and Jochem seem likley candidates. Both are bright kids willing to work hard at the game. Others who follow the same path would do well to remember that junior hockey programs are a business first and with any business venture there are risks involved.