#42-Craig Barnett, Executive Director of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)

Craig Barnett, a  6-foot goaltender out of Oakville, Ontario, wears many hats. He is at once the Executive Director of American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), Director of NCAA Compliance and Education for the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and Director of the NJ Titans Academy.
+++
If you are a youngster with aspirations to continue hockey beyond high school, or the parent of such a player, this is the episode for you. Recorded in late May, Craig Barnett keeps one eye on the Leafs playoff game as he speaks with us about: What is the profile of a typical ACHA player? What are the different Tiers of junior hockey in the United States? What is the deal with these hockey academies? Why do hockey players typically take a "gap year" (or two or three) before starting college? Why do hockey birthdays matter? What is Craig's connection to Arlington MA?

Plus our usual fun and funny stuff, including a recap of Matt's pilgrimage to Kasabuski Arena and HockeyTown USA in Saugus MA, which, after only finding locked doors, turned into beer and chicken wings at the nearby Hooters on Route 1.

Included are snippets from these past episodes:

#8 & #10 - John Messuri, Head Coach of the Arlington (MA) HS Spyponders#37 & #38 - Joe Bertagna, former Hockey East Commissioner#39 -  NWHL Playoff Press Conference with Toronto Six Coach Digit Murphy#40 - The Hockey Mom Panel

+++
The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Artwork and music by Ken Klein. Additional music from the Mo'Nobs.

If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Matt's new podcast, Throwin' One Back, is available wherever podcasts are found
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram

Work hard. Have fun. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.