Open tryouts infos

Question
Hi, Martial my name is Samuel. I'm from Quebec, Canada and i'm 20 years old (1988/26/12). I've been playing hockey for over 15 years and i'm now playing in the LJAALL (Junior AA). The next season's gonna be the last for me cause Junior AA ends at the age of 21. I was looking at playing hockey after my junior's career and was wondering if you have any informations regarding open tryouts that I could attend for the next season ? (europe/N-America or everywhere)

I played Midget Espoir, Midget AA, Junior AA

Thanks!
Sam

Answer
Hi Sam,

Most of the tryouts are typically in late summer... though some leagues will run some screening skates at the end of their seasons in  the spring.  

You can write to the team's scouts and managers that you are interested in, sending in your resume, and most will let you know when their open tryouts are!

The hockey news will advertise exposure camps during the summer months.  There is usually very little TRYOUT recruiting during the season.   

Sending in your resume COULD get you call though!  If for some reason a team suffers alot of injuries -- I've heard stories that some teams have had to call up (men's league) players in a road town to see if they could come out and SUB...  and some guys have even stayed on after the game!!!


So if you are looking for minor pro - there are several leagues you can look up --  SPHL (http://www.thesphl.com/), UHL (http://www.theuhl.com/) and CHL (http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/)to name three, or if you want to go to Europe - you can check out the Elite League (http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/) -- if you really want to aim higher you can try ECHL or AHL as well.  They usually have their open tryouts a little later in the year.

As I said you can also buy the Hockey News or maybe look up their site - they will occasionally have an ad or two in there about OPEN FREE AGENT CAMPS (see: http://www.ihchockey.com/news.htm OR http://www.bloorstreetwest.com/hockeytech_old/agentcamp.html) for Minor Pro players who want to get scouted and maybe get an "agent".  These camps will get you exposure and from there you may get a tryout...  be prepared as sometimes it is in Europe...  It pays decent in Europe -- but it can be a trek if you are not used to it!

Again know that there are alot of "players" on the market --  so what will make it tougher for you is if you don't have a track record...  i.e. recent stats? references.  However, some coaches are more open to 'risking' than others - you may have to PR yourself for that.

Notwithstanding -- if you can stand OUT each and every game they watch you play -- you may get a shot somewhere and the key will be for you to keep the same level of play (or higher) going.

Feel free to follow up with anything if I missed something or if you wish that I elaborate.

Thanks and good luck with the puck!

Martial