Before the Model was released in 2009, 43% of players dropped out by age 9, 60% of players dropped out before Peewee and 20% played just one season before dropping out. Since then, player retention has risen and the talent pool is deeper. What was realized is that the game was losing players because of the lack of fun practice structure. Now practices are primarily station based with no laps, no lines and no lectures.
“The generation that was locked into ‘we have to do it the same way we did as kids’ is starting to phase out a little bit. This younger wave of coaches is coming up in the traditional areas that are starting to understand that the program that we’re doing nationally works for everybody. They’re seeing it in their player retention, their player development, and they're seeing that the methodology works,” said Dave Starman, a pro scout with the Montreal Canadiens, Tier 1 Coaching Development Director for PAL Jr Islanders, and USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program.
The game has grown in non-traditional hockey markets. For areas like Minnesota, Michigan and the Northeast, mainstays of hockey for decades, the change is well-received.