The more appropriate question is whether or not if you need a professional advisor. ​ You actually already likely have multiple advisors and you don't even know it. You may have a relative or family friend who used to play junior, college or pro hockey. They may have coached. You may have a friend or friend of a friend who knows someone who knows someone who knows the coach of a program you are looking at. You may have a guidance councilor at school. ​ A professional advisor is different. While your Uncle Ned may have your best intentions in mind, he may be a slight out of touch with the way things work today. While the opinions of a mom whose son played somewhere last year says it's a good place, that may also be from a very narrow perspective. Professional advisors offer a variety of services, ranging from mentoring to placement to mental training and everything in between. Every player has different needs and depending on what you need, may depend on what advisor you decide to go with. The best way to determine if you need assistance from an advisor is to talk to one. They will lay out the services they provide and you will soon determine whether you need one or not.