TRYOUT PROCESS

Players check-in at front lobby desk to confirm registration and receive tryout jersey, which they will wear through the tryout process and return after the final session.

STMA/NWC colored socks must be worn with no outside association logos or stickers visible on any player.

All tryout sessions and locker room areas closed to spectators (Squirt/10U parents can tie skates prior).

Each session will have at least 1 on-ice coach/ref and appropriate number of bench coaches for scrimmage days.

HOC Admin or Board President will be board representation for each tryout level (no attendance to a level tryout if own player is at that level).

1st tryout session will be all skill drills for each level.

• Drills will focus on forward/backward skating, crossovers, puck-handling and shooting.
• Goalies will perform goalie specific drills and participate in player shooting drills.

2nd-3rd/4th sessions will be scrimmages

Peewees and Bantams will potentially scrimmage outside the association for sessions 3 & 4 with top 3 groups.

3-4 external evaluators per session depending on level.

1-2 internal evaluators per session depending on level (will not have a player at the level for which they are evaluating).

1-2 goalie specific evaluators per session depending on level.

All evaluators will have high school, junior and/or college hockey coaching, scouting or playing experience and be well-versed in player evaluation.

Skating

Stick Handling

Passing

Shooting

Physical Play (Bantams)

Hockey Sense

Attitude/Hustle/Effort

Day 1 skills groups will be created alphabetically.

After completion of Day 1 Skills, player evaluation rankings will be used to tier each level by group for Day 2 scrimmages.

After Day 2 & 3 (or 4) scrimmages, players will be moved up or down between groups depending on evaluator rankings from that day and may be asked to stay over to the next group session.

“Locked” players may be asked not to come for the final scrimmage session because evaluators have determined they would be on top team; evaluators want .

Non-parent head coaches or parent head coach if named prior, will be allowed to attend the final day of tryouts.

Following the final day of tryouts at each level; the HOC, the evaluators, top team head coach and Board President will review player rankings.

Any teams that are playing at equal level (ex. 2 “B2” teams), the players for those teams will be selected every-other based on evaluator rankings.

Final teams will be posted to the association website no later than 72 hours after the final tryout session for that level (exception of 15U which will be posted after High School team rosters are selected).

Any player unable to participate in tryouts due to injury or illness will start with a group chosen by the HOC Director.

The HOC Director may collaborate with last year’s coaches and HOC for determining initial placement.

The HOC Director will make final team placement after further player evaluation.

Any related questions should be directed to HOC Director, Ben Monahan: HOCDirector@STMAYHA.ORG