Understanding the Path and Pitfalls: Insights from College Hockey Inc, Episode #105

Today’s guest is Mike Snee, the Executive Director of College Hockey Inc. He is a talented hockey executive with experience in amateur hockey and the NHL. Mike is College Hockey, Inc.'s Executive Director and guides their marketing efforts to promote men's college hockey and its work to help grow the number of institutions offering the sport. 

Mike spent nine years with Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He served stints as Director of Corporate Sales and Director of Ticket Sales and worked closely with college hockey as the Xcel Energy Center hosted the annual WCHA Final Five and the 2002 NCAA Frozen Four. 

Mike was part of one of the most successful sponsorship groups in the NHL and helped spearhead the creation and execution of Hockey Day in Minnesota in 2007, a state-wide celebration of the game. Listen in for some great takeaways about Mike’s journey in the sport of hockey and how he is impacting the growth of college hockey as a Division I sport. 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• Learn more about Mike Snee and College Hockey Inc. [3:28] 
• What parents of youth hockey players need to know [8:38] 
• The biggest mistake teenage hockey players make [12:35]
• Why the path to professional hockey is different [17:50]
• How young hockey players can get noticed by NCAA coaches [22:44] 
• Where to get more information about the NCAA rules [27:30] 
• A verbal commitment vs a national letter of intent [28:44] 
• 93% of male hockey players earn a college degree [31:20]
• What student-athletes need to know about Name, Image, and Likeness [37:25]
• The landscape around scholarships for college hockey players [40:53]
• What brought Mike joy and put him in the right mindset for success [42:50] 

Resources & People Mentioned

• NCAA Student Athlete Eligibility

Connect with Mike Snee

• The website
• On Instagram
• On Twitter
• On Linkedin
• On Facebook
• On YouTube

Bio

A talented hockey executive with experience in amateur hockey and the NHL, Mike Snee was named College Hockey, Inc.'s Executive Director on Aug. 28, 2012. In this role he guides College Hockey Inc.'s marketing efforts to promote NCAA Division I men's college hockey and its work to help grow the number of institutions offering the sport. 

Snee is a member of the USA Hockey Board of Directors and serves on USA Hockey's Junior Council. He is also a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Board of Directors and is on the Board of Directors with the Minneapolis Youth Hockey Association.

Snee joined College Hockey Inc. from Minnesota Hockey, where he spent four years as the Executive Director. During Snee’s tenure with Minnesota Hockey he led the creation of a strategic plan to ensure the long-term growth of the sport in Minnesota. 

Prior to joining Minnesota Hockey, Snee spent nine years with Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He served stints as Director of Corporate Sales and Director of Ticket Sales and worked closely with college hockey as the Xcel Energy Center hosted the annual WCHA Final Five and the 2002 NCAA Frozen Four. 

Snee was part of one of the most successful sponsorship groups in the NHL and helped spearhead th