Welcome everyone to the U15 BB tryouts.
I would like to address a few items before the kids hit the ice tomorrow and hopefully this will help to clarify any confusion and answer any lingering questions.
Firstly, thank you for considering the St. Thomas Jr Stars program this season. The open borders have made things very stressful and confusing for the players/families involved and I want to be as transparent as possible. My goal is, and has always been, to make this about the kids and their enjoyment of the game. I know this is sometimes forgotten by parents in the stands, but please remember these are still kids and hockey is an incredibly challenging and fast paced sport where mistakes are frequently made. One mistake won’t change a player's chance of making this team. The evaluators will be looking for: effort, teamwork, hockey sense, body language, attitude and skill. I will be selecting 17 players who I think will best fit this team. In the past I have moved players from forward to defense and vice versa. Play the position you are most comfortable with and if you are asked to make a change don’t worry it’s not a negative, I may be looking to see how certain players adjust to different situations.
If you are not yet aware, this season we will be playing in the Alliance BB loop which means non-contact. I will remind the players they are not to body check in the tryouts, but it doesn't mean they shouldn't continue to play with aggression and grit.
Preparation and expectations:
- Arrive with plenty of time to collect your pinnie and sign in
- Register with STMHA prior to the skate to avoid any errors and pay your tryout fee if you have not yet
- Have a water bottle clearly labelled with your name on it
- Make sure all equipment is with your player including: a neck guard and mouth guard(highly recommended, but not mandatory)
The plan is for a warm up followed by a scrimmage for tomorrow's skate. I am in the process of booking an exhibition game for Wednesday, but stayed tuned for that.
Players can be signed or released after only one skate this year, so it's advised to have your hockey Canada information and your Spordle login ID with you.
Thanks again for considering the U15 BB team, and best of luck to all of the players involved.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Marc
[email protected]