Excellence, both on and off of the ice, is what you can expect from EXCEL Hockey Academy. Established in 2017, EXCEL is a partnership between North Catholic High School and the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex -- the Official Practice and Training Facility of the Back to Back Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins! The program will prepare graduates of the academy with the academic background to advance to top tier Colleges and Universities, while the world-class hockey training will maximize each student athlete’s individual potential.
Open to student athletes in grades 3, 4 and 5
Academy runs September 1 through April 1 allowing for spring sports/activities
Two days per week
Fifty (50) minutes of on-ice training each day
Preseason performance evaluation (on-ice)
Individual player assessment including video analysis
Open to student athletes in grades 6, 7 and 8
Academy runs September 1 through April 1 allowing for spring sports/activities
Two days per week
Sixty (60) minutes of on-ice training each day
Forty-five (45) minutes of performance training in the UPMC Sports Performance each day
Preseason performance evaluation (on-ice and off-ice)
Individual player assessment including video analysis
Open to student athletes in grades 9-12
Academy runs mid-August through May allowing for spring sports/activities
Four days per week
On-ice training each day
Performance training each day
Preseason performance evaluation (on-ice and off-ice)
Individual player assessment including video analysis