So, we are now about to “try camp” season type. This is a very large and high season for business in the United States. It is also time of confusion for players and parents to the United States. Why? Since the “try Camp” is an unregulated process, the unstructured mess.
How is it that a team at Tier III, have a “tryout” held before a team of Tier II? How is it that a a Tier II a “tryout” before the USHL How is it that all these “Tiers” may have camps at the same time and a large number on the same dates?
The “tryout” process in the United States is more like a clown car pulling up to a drive through bank window, than it looks like a legitimate “tryout” system.
Why is the United States tryout process such a mess?
Canada has the best system, and it is easy. Major junior tryouts as they are completed, Junior A trial versions as they are completed, junior B and so on. Every player naturally filtered in the appropriate level of play. Simple. It does not make sense?
In the United States, you are Tier III teams with tryouts in April, means Nahl team begins with tryouts in May throughout the summer, and do not start until USHL tryout in June. You do not see what’s wrong with that? Who is responsible?
The answer is simple: the USA Hockey Junior Council, and USA Hockey. Neither group responsible for junior hockey in the United States will take appropriate steps to correct the problem. Why? Because people need to keep this camp as a fundraiser for his team and these people sit on the junior council that profit from these acts.
In the economy the government regulation saftey, taxes and all sorts of other objects. USA Hockey is the “government” of hockey in the United States. You have the power to change this mess, but refuses to act.
Recently, I’ve actually heard of Level III coaches say they do just a good a job at getting the player the NCAA Division 1 college hockey as the NAHL and USHL. I could not believe what I was hearing.
The fact is that the USHL and Nahl always put more players in college hockey than Tier III teams. Tier III teams promote players that have their commitment NCAA before signing with the team. This is what they use to justify their camp, running at the same time or earlier than NAHL or USHL camps.
If junior hockey player is about development, and the players, then why is there no structure?
Is not the player better off in a position to play for free in the USHL or the NAHL? Is it not better to just pay the billett fee for NAHL, or for everything at Tier III? And why are not you being a natural structure of filtering: tryout “process in the United States?
If you were in his place, and a player wants to play close to home, whatever the cost, the player can choose not to participate earlier higher camps. When you try out a player for a team in USHL, who wanted to get this experience, players are not forced to choose between a USHL and NAHL camp. This is better for the player and the teams involved.
This has been repeatedly discussed as a structure in various publications. Why is USA Hockey do not act on this? Are they afraid of the wrath of its members, or is it something that should be elected by the members.
Members of the Junior Council would probably not approve of such a structure. Why? Since the Junior Council is composed of people who have a financial interest in having tryouts. Keeping things in place confuses the players and parents and keeps the money coming in camp after camp.
In the United States, it is not uncommon that good players end up at the wrong levels in the wrong leagues because of this confusion. It is also not uncommon for some players to play in the USHL. NAHL or Canadian Tier II organizations, because better players went to the wrong camps.
Structure is needed. Not only for players and organizations to succeed on the ice, but also for organizations and leagues to be the best they can be off the ice das well. Someone needs to make a change. The questions I ask you, are you prepared to force those in charge to make the changes needed in order to benefit yourself? If the answer is “no” then do not expect change.
