Dallas Ice Jets

The Ice Jets Hockey Association opened the Ice Jets Academy, a collaboration with iSchoolHigh in southern Denton County, in 2010 to offer academic excellence, intensive hockey training, and career and life skills development to student-athletes ages 12 to 18. Here are answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the Academy:

Q. Why do the Ice Jets believe it is necessary to expand beyond the traditional “travel hockey” concept?

A. Today’s hockey players struggle to receive enough hours of ice time and quality coaching to reach the higher levels of hockey. There simply are not enough hours in the day for athletes to train and develop within a traditional public school/athletic system. A new system of training is needed for serious athletes who want to combine the necessity of a quality education with their passion for hockey.

Q. How much will it cost to be in the Ice Jets Academy program and what does that include?

A. It is $7,999, excluding travel expenses. The program is 10 months, divided into off-season and in-season phases. Covered in the Academy fee are 400 hours of ice and off-ice, which includes dryland training and class instruction in nutrition, leadership training, sports psychology, and video review. Teams will play 45 to 60 games.

Q. How much is tuition at iSchool High?

A. iSchool High is a public, fully-accredited Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Academy with AP and Pre-AP courses. Because it is a public school, there is no cost for tuition.

Q. How do kids get between iSchool High and the rink during the day?

A. A bus service is provided to shuttle players between school and Polar Ice.

Q. What Academy teams will you have for the upcoming season?

A. We plan to have  teams at 18U, 16U, 14U and 12U. Please see the "Teams" tab at the top of the page for a complete list, or click on the link above.

Q. Who are the coaches?

A. Ice Jets hockey directors Karson Kaebel and Paul Taylor will join Butch Kaebel as head coaches of Academy teams.

Q. When will Academy players train and where?

A. Players train Monday through Friday at Grapevine Polar Ice. Practices and academics will be on a split schedule during the day, so players will have nights free for homework and social activities.

Q. What facilities do you have for off-ice training?

A. We have two weight rooms, plyometric room, synthetic ice rink, fast-twitch, running track, and performance-proven training equipment. There will also be full-size locker rooms for all Academy teams.

Q. Will the Ice Jets still have their Hockey Association program?

A. Yes. In addition to our Academy teams, the Ice Jets will contiune to operate its Hockey Association with teams at all levels, from Mite to Midget Major. These teams will practice in the more traditional method at night after school.