For the new player entering Junior Hockey and the veteran Junior Hockey player, now is the most important time to prepare for next season.
It is not simply about the off ice training, and making you self as good condition as possible physically. It is about knowing how, and understanding what too look for in a new team next season.
The first and most important rule is this; BE PATIENT!!!!
Do not make the snap decision. Do not take the first offer without careful thought and evaluation. And never allow you self to be pressure by a coach to sign.
I hear now of team who have the try out camp in April. In April? Do you believe the team pick in April will be the same team that take the ice in September? Do you really think the “top line” promise be there in September after the team find the player from higher level?
As the boss say, pull you head out of you ass.
The process is simple. You start the tryout at the highest level possible, hope to make the highest level possible team, and if not you work you way down to where you fit in.
You do not start at the lower level tryout, sign the agreement and then look to move up. That is the dumbest thing I every hear of. Player in Canada do not go to Junior C tryout before they go to Junior A or Major Junior? Why player go to Tier III tryout before going to Tier I do not make any sense at all!
The lower level coach go to the higher level tryout camp anyway. So you seen by more coach and scout at higher level camps.
If the lower level team want you now, they will want you later or someone else will. Too many coach try to get player to commit without respect to the process.
The second most important is to see if the team fits you individual goals. Not only should you be honored to make the team you want but they should be honored to have you. The long term goals should be simple and should be the same.
Do not be fooled by “fan support” numbers, championships won, or how nice the dressing room is. None of those thing move you to the next level next year.
Ask the important number of how many player move up the past season? Can you contact those player?
Why should you not be able to contact the former player? The coaches will contact you former coaches. It should be the two way street.
Limit the amount of individual team tryout you attend each summer. Attend more showcase event to get more team exposure at one event. Try to impress many coaches instead of just one coach and you will be more successful.
Finally, do not listen to you friends and think that email invites to open camps is any legitimate interest. Do not listen to the rumors or kids saying “so and so talked to me” or “I spoke to so and so”. No one care who send an email, and most of the time the player is full of crap and making a big deal out of nothing.
Climbing a mountain is not about who reaches the summit first, but it is about reaching the summit when the others get stuck on the hill because they chose the wrong path.
Coach
