Now it is the time for Junior A Canada and NAHL main training camp. Every team have approximately thirty player on the roster, some team more, some team less.
Clearly though it is easy to see that Junior A Canada can only have 23 man on roster and NAHL can only have 25 in a few weeks. Do you do the math? Many player are to be cut from team in the next two or three week. Hundreds of player actually.
Do you have the backup plan in place if you are one of those player?
Have you contacted the Junior B, or Tier III team to let them know what you are doing and where you are? Or are you one of the arrogant player who think there is no way you are cut?
The backup plan is important for every player no matter what level you are at. USHL and Major Junior player always have a backup plan, so why is it so many of you do not when you are not at that level? NHL player always have a backup plan in the AHL or Europe, so does it not make sense that you should have one too?
A backup plan is the safety net should you stumble and fall. It is a safe place to go where you know you will be wanted and appreciated should you end up there.
Every backup plan is not equal though. You need to look for certain thing with each team you consider, and there are some thing you should not consider but some player do.
You should not consider how many fans any team get when looking at a backup plan. It may be fun to play in front of the fans, but it has nothing to do with your development.
You should not consider how often the team plays for a championship. Championship have nothing to do with your development.
You should not consider where the coach played when he was a player. Former NHL player does not mean great coach.
What you should consider is how many player they move up to higher levels.
You should consider their off ice training program.
You should consider whether or not the team is active in community service. It is a critical factor higher level teams look at.
Just because you may be coming from a higher level camp does not mean teams will line up to take you if you are cut. You are just another one of the hundreds of player that were cut from higher level.
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Planning for the worst case scenario is always best. It is better to call a team and say thank you for keeping a spot for me but I do not need the spot than to be one of the players calling that needs a spot.
Coach
