Great first tryout everyone. By the look of the talent on the ice, this years Peewee MD team is going to be very strong.
Last night I spoke with the players before going on the ice and let them know the criteria in which the coaching staff is using to select this years team. I also put up a poster in each dressing room stating the criteria we are looking for as a reminder to the players. There is no secret to making this team. It is up to each player to demonstrate what we are looking for as coaches at the tryouts. I have listed more detail below on specifically how we are assessing the 3 criteria for forwards and defense and the 4 criteria for goaltenders.
FORWARDS AND DEFENSE
There are three categories that we are looking for in the players this year. If we as a coaching staff feel a player demonstrates all three during the course of the tryouts then they will make this team. If a player does not demonstrate all three but demonstrates two of the three they will still have a chance to make this team.
The three categories we will be assessing forwards and defense on are:
1) Speed and Skill
· Can the player keep up with the play or do they struggle to stay with the other players on the ice?
· Can the player perform proper shots (wrist,snap,slap)? Is the puck shot with some velocity? Does the puck sit flat in the air or does it wobble?
· Can the player make an accurate pass to a moving target?
· Does the player appear to be comfortable handling the puck while skating or do they appear to fight the puck and have trouble skating with some speed while handling it?
· Can the player keep his head up while carrying the puck?
· Can they execute dekes and fakes with the puck?
· Can the player quickly transition from forward to backwards and vise versa?
· Can the player accelerate quickly? Do they have a powerful first three strides from a stopped position?
2) Hockey IQ
· Does the player seem to understand where he is to play on the ice?
· Do they support the puck in defensive and offensive situations?
· Does the player show patience or do they tend to panic when pressured?
· Do they protect the mid lane and force opposing players to the outside?
· Does the player force the play or do they wait too long?
· Does the player “see the ice” well and anticipate the play?
· Does the player look for open ice and put themselves in a position to make a play?
3) Level of Compete
· Does the player get pushed or checked off the puck easily?
· What does the player do while in traffic and under pressure?
· Will the player go hard into the corners and battle for the puck?
· Does the player try and win every race to the puck?
GOALIES
Goaltending is a unique position in hockey and will therefore be evaluated separately from the rest of the players. Each goaltender may have a unique style of play. We are looking for consistency among other things at the tryout. We are not looking for the “big save”. Many “big save” situations are caused by weakness within the goaltender’s game (a poor rebound, weak shot preparation, or shoddy puck handling are examples)
The four categories we will be assessing goaltenders on are:
1) Physical Characteristics
· Balance (holds ready position, recovery)
· Mobility
· Quickness
· Fitness Level
2) Technical Characteristics
· Low Shots (rebound control, quickness)
· High Shots (rebound control, quickness)
· Use of Stick
3) Situational Tactic Characteristics
· Positioning and Angles
· Face-Offs
· Deflections and Screens (locates shooters, control of rebounds)
· Play at Posts (position, later movement)
4) Mental Characteristics
· Concentration (alert, follows puck)
· Anticipation (read shooter, finds puck in scrambles)
· Consistency
· Confidence
· Desire (never gives up on puck)
· Discipline