1.  What is Maritime Hockey Academy?

Maritime Hockey Academy is an independent school where student-athletes bring their passion and love of sport to the classroom and into peer groups; where one need not sacrifice the pursuit of excellence in athletics for academic goals; where student-athletes feel safe, invited and engaged in following their dreams.  It is just like any other school with the exception of phys.ed, where athletes receive elite level training as a springboard to improvement.

2.  Why don't you offer programs for younger students?

Our curriculum and skill development program has been researched and developed by experts.  One of the main principles of athletic development goes against early specialization.  In fact studies have shown that too much training, too early, has the reverse effect, and that young athletes experience burnout if they overtrain at an early age.  We recommend that athletes who love hockey experience a wide variety of sports early in life.  If they have a passion and desire to improve, grade 4 is the earliest age that our program would benefit them in terms of sport specific training. 

3.  Do you offer scholarships?

While we believe Maritime Hockey Academy is the best value in terms of development, we realize that not everyone can afford our program.  To that end we do have scholarships for students who would not otherwise be able to afford our tuition.  We encourage anyone who has an interest in our program to talk to us to see if we can make MHA work for you.

4.  What are Hockey Canada Skills Academies?

At the 1999 Molson Open Ice Summit on player development in Canada, 11 recommendations were identified for the future of Canadian hockey. Recommendation # 10 stated.

"Promote cooperative efforts between school boards, local hockey associations and sponsors, to better utilize ice times and school facilities and move towards the development of sport schools."

Hockey Canada agrees that in order to maximize arena facility use during weekday hours, that implementing a sport school program for hockey, an operating mandate with national standards is required. Hockey Canada Skills AcademyTM program (HCSA) under the auspices of Hockey Canada through collaboration with its 13 member Branches is the step toward realizing this objective.  Maritime Hockey Academy is the first sanctioned Hockey Canada Skills Academy in Nova Scotia.  All of our coaches attend a yearly training session in Calgary and are certified in the area of skill development and skill acquisition.  You can be sure that your son or daughter is getting the right training at the right time in order to maximize their potential.

5.  Where are you located?

Our first year was spent in the Dartmouth Sportsplex.  To expand and accomodate our growth, Maritime Hockey Academy has leased 6500 square feet of classroom and training space in Burnside Business Park.    The address is 21 McCurdy Ave.  We believe that this central location is convenient for students from all parts of HRM.  Our ice time will be at Cole Harbour Place, 3 days per week students will be bused to accomodate the training schedule.