Tryouts (Choosing Where to Play) & Climbing Levels
Every year we receive many phone calls asking for advice from parents on what they should do with their player. While every scenario is different, here are some of the most common questions/age group advice we can give...
Climbing Levels (AA to AAA, U16/U18 to Jr, etc.)
Whether you are U16 (drafted or undrafted) or you have already played 1 year of U18, here is our advice: DON'T RUSH to get to Jr. We say this for many different reasons:
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Ice Time: Often you are "promised" ice time in your 1st season, and not too often does that come true. You're now at a level where coaches are coaching for their job security (meaning they need to win) and you would also think politics would play less of a role at Jr compared to Minor Hockey, but very often that's quite the opposite and you have conflict/different views between owners (many in Ontario with their kid on the team), GM's and Coaches. These things can cause quite a tough scenario for your 16 or 17-year old 1st-year player.
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Development: You are unlikely to get much or any of PP & PK if you're coming straight from U16 to Jr (or even some 1st year U18's to Jr) - play where you will be able to continue to develop in these scenarios and showcase your skills.
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Wanting a Trade: You may think "I'll play for this Jr. B/Jr.A team, get experience against older players, and then at the end of the season get a trade to a different/better Jr. A team - there is NO guarantee a trade will work out!! I can tell you this from my own experience, if I went back and did it all over again, I would have played U18 Oakville for 1 year and then for the Oakville Blades the following year like they wanted me to do, instead of jumping at a Toronto Jr team that asked me to come to them right from U16 (first 1.5 months was great, but then coach got fired, new coach came in, only played guys 18 & older, and the rest of the season was a waste for me - then at the end of the season, they couldn't work out a trade with the Blades, as the Blades players offered rejected the trade, so the Blades then offered maximum money, but my Toronto Jr team lost a bunch of 20-year-olds and wanted players instead of money. I ended up on a different team).
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Choosing WHERE in Jr to Play: This is similar to the last point - but many players will have let's say "2 or 3" Jr options to choose after their U16 year or their 1st U18 year - truthfully, there aren't a lot of "great" options out there these days at the Ontario Jr level if I'm being honest - so why rush to a poor organization if those are the only ones interested in you. Instead, dominate your next season at U18, and have 10-15 Jr teams now interested in you the following year, where you can not only CHOOSE a better organization, but also go into a scenario where you are MORE READY and get MORE ICE TIME.
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GETTING LABELLED EARLY: This is a HUGE one!!! And pretty much ties everything together. Let's use the example of a "mid-pack skill player" or to be blunt - a player who THINKS they're a "points guy" but didn't even put up a point per game at their currently level: they weren't top 3 in points the year prior, their game is about skill and offense, and they want to jump to Jr. If you weren't in the top 3 of your team in points, and your game is to be offensive and produce - what makes you think you'll be able to do that at a higher rate at the next level? If you go to the next level too quickly, you'll be a ROLE player, and other coaches/GM's/scouts will SEE you as a role player and LABEL you as a role player. And unfortunately, once you're labelled that way, it's almost impossible to change that.
Now, I'm not saying you can't be a role player - personally, when I coach U16 & older, I WANT role players on my team, I think they're super important. I'm just saying, you need to figure out what type of player you want to be KNOWN as. So in this example, if I had a player after U16 who put up "good points" (not "elite points") and considered themself a skilled/points player - I'd highly recommend a year of U18. Whereas, if I had a player who was a role player - grind, forecheck, block shots, penalty kill, etc. and they wanted to be that style of player and they had quality Jr offers, I'd look at those offers more seriously as that's the role they'd be put in at that level and they're ok with it so they can continue to develop at that role. (And a U16 player is probably a bad example for the "role player", more often this is a U18 player looking to go to Jr).
An example we have come across very often, especially players looking to play AAA for the first time at U15. If you've dominated U14 AA, and you have the ability to be an impact player at U15 AAA, then it makes sense.
But for those who are "on the cusp" of being ready for AAA - take 1 more year to prepare!! It doesn't make sense to go up to AAA at U15 when you're not 100% ready, struggle at that level, lose your confidence, and then at U16 OHL draft year you're getting moved back down to AA and going backwards.
As always, move up levels when you have dominated your current level and are over-ready to make an impact at the next level. But now, there is 2 additional things to consider here:
1. Contact Hockey - are you prepared for contact at the next level? If this is an area you might struggle with, you may want to take 1 more year at your level. If this is an area you. know you're excel, then I'd say point #2 will apply to you...
2. Longer Development Plan to U16: If things didn't work out and you did get sent back down to AA for U15, at least you do have that season to get back to AAA for U16. You would also hope that the coach would see this as a longer-term development plan, perhaps taking you now at U14 to begin to develop you in the hopes you're at where they think you can be at come U16.
With all that said, again: my rule #1 is always move up when you are over-ready.
Tryouts - Choosing WHERE to Play:
When parents and players get to this level, I think there is a big mis-understanding as to what they value as most important. Now, first off, I will say - no matter what age level, if you're in an environment when you're surrounded by good players, you'll be pushed in practice - AND PRACTICE IS WHERE YOU GET BETTER. So that is a bonus. I do also think in games it teaches you how to face adversity and compete for ice time, which will prepare you for Jr/OHL hockey.
But with that said, choosing a team at U16 is different than when you choose a team at U18...
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U16 AAA:
In a perfect world, you'd like to be on a COMPETITIVE TEAM that will get to the OHL Cup, and showcase yourself to scouts in the biggest moments where they'd like to see you: OHL Cup, Sundays of Tournaments, Playoffs, etc. This is where they want to see you perform, not when you play against bottom teams.
(With that said, as always, there are different scenarios: if you're a player who knows getting drafted is unlikely, and you understand you will have a longer path to get where you want to go, this isn't AS important for you).
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U18 AAA:
U18 is less about being on "the top team" and much more about INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT - which coach will teach you the most, spend time doing video with you individually and your team as a whole, teaching the most possible to try and get you to the next level the following year.
Again, don't get me wrong - being surrounded by good players is beneficial in practice environment and can make you look better in games, and getting to OHF's or Telus Cup would obviously be an incredible experience - but at the end of that season, what is going to have you the most prepared individually to showcase yourself at OHL/Jr.A/Jr.B camps to get their attention and get you selected for the next level.
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IMPORTANT: U18 doesn't have to be your 1st choice, it can be your 3rd choice behind trying to make the OHL (option 1), trying to make tier 2 Jr. A (option 2), then U18 can be option 3 - however, it would be very smart of you to commit and register to a U18 in April, until waiting to August to see what unfolds, that way you have a secure situation should options 1 & 2 not pan out.
Ideally, find a balance if possible, between a competitive team where you will get pushed in practice and compete for ice time in games, combined with a coach who will develop (short-term and long-term). "Coaching to win" (shortening the bench, having special teams units, etc.) right from September is not developing - giving everybody opportunities on special teams, late in games up a goal or down a goal, etc. is developing players. So if you're able to find that perfect balance, that would be your best scenario.
Play where you will have a coach who will develop and teach!! This is far more important than winning regular season games, winning championships or getting extra ice time at this age - I cannot stress that enough!!! A coach who will hold you (and every player) accountable and discipline, will teach you short-term and long-term development, teach you how to be a better human being outside of hockey, etc. Long-term hockey and life lessons go far beyond winning non-contact hockey games/championships and playing 19 minutes per game instead of 13 minutes per game. Your ice time at U10 to U13 or your championships won has zero impact on your abilities and results come U16 & older - I could give way too many examples of "little superstar Jonny" at U12 being nobody come U16.
Play where you will get puck touches, you'll learn, you'll develop from getting proper skill & IQ teachings in practices and situational opportunities in games, and you will have fun. Quit trying to climb levels too fast because of peer pressure or to have an extra letter on your winter jacket.
If your player is not getting regular ice time for at least 70% of the season (September to December), getting opportunities in every situation in games, isn't getting puck touches in games, and isn't having fun - they're probably playing at a level above where they should be for their development.
This is always an interesting one...
Short Answer: it doesn't matter, play in any league.
Long Answer: when I hear "you have to play in the GTHL to get noticed, and playing against that competition is better for your development" always makes me laugh.
Is the top 5 of the MyHockeyRankings usually filled with more GTHL teams than any other league? Yes, that most often seems to be the case. But not every year does the GTHL lead in draft picks for the OHL Draft - they did last season with the 2009's, but they didn't the 2 years prior with the 2008's or 2007's - the OMHA did both years.
So I need someone to explain why it's better for your development?
First off, if you STILL think development happens in games, you're wrong. It happens in practices. How many studies from professionals and ex-NHL'ers with statistics saying "1 game is equal to 10 practices" do you need to read before you'll understand?
Second, if you're on a mid-pack or low GTHL team, your player is always losing 6-0, 9-1, etc. every time you play the top GTHL teams in league play, they're not touching the puck much, they're not advancing past 1st round of playoffs to play in more "meaningful games", etc. - somebody needs to tell me where they're getting so much better by being in the GTHL.
Lastly, when it comes to playing against the bottom teams - they are equally as bad in both leagues.
So how are you really getting that much more development for your player?
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I'll tell you again: which league you play is, does not matter. One league is not better than the other.
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What Matters: your player needs to learn short-term and long-term skill development, hockey IQ, get opportunities in every scenario, learn how to be a better human being on top of a hockey player, learn how to be a team-player, be held accountable for their words and actions, face discipline and adversity, etc. THIS IS WHAT MATTERS!!!
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If you are getting those things, on your GTHL team - then play there!
If you are getting those things on your OMHA team - then play there!
The grass is rarely ever greener on the other side.
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Both leagues have Pros and Cons, but the one thing that is undeniable: the GTHL focuses much more on "Win Now" at every age group - that is proven in their setup where only 8 of 12 teams make the playoffs, unlike the OMHA where all 10 teams make the playoffs. By no means am I a "don't keep score, everybody is a winner" person - but I do believe for minor hockey if everybody made playoffs, there's less pressure on coaches "coaching to win" every game of the season, which would allow more development for every player - which is what matters.
I have seen so many times over the years, a U11, U12 GTHL team, sitting 9th or 10th place, and they're playing the trap right from the first shift, for 80% of their regular season games, because they need to pull off wins to make the playoffs. Please, explain to me how your player is developing, rarely having the puck, playing a trap 80% of the season, practicing the trap in practice to perfect it for their games, which means limited puck-touches and skill development in practice too... how are they getting better?
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PLAY WHERE YOU WILL LEARN, DEVELOP, BE TREATED WELL AND HAVE FUN. Trust me, it will go a long way...
"Already a Top Player on That Team - Should I go There" ???
I've never understood this one. What team only plays one player?
I'll use an example from our 2008's: Callum Croskery was an exceptional defenceman since U11 - at the end of U11, we had a defenseman leave because "Croksery will always be the #1", and at the end of U15 we had a very good defenseman from a mid-pack GTHL team tell us "we would come there, but you already have Croskery who is #1".
For the life of me, cannot understand that.
What team only plays 1 defenceman? Would playing with a player of Callum's calibre not make your player look even better in games? Would competing against Callum in practices not make you better? Could you not learn things from Callum playing alongside him in practices and games? Should you not teach your player that to "be the best, you have to beat the best" and make them engage in friendly teammate competition to compete for ice time and the "#1 spot"?
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So my answer - yes, you can 100% still join a team if they have a "top player" or multiple very good players - for all of the reasons I just mentioned. The only time I'd say it doesn't make sense, is if you're playing for a coach who is going to make you sit on the bench most of games from September to March.
"Free Ride"/Promises or Earn-It & Develop ???
I'll keep this one short and sweet: up to you as a parent to determine what you want for your player out of hockey - to given a free ride for the hockey season and taught that you get what you want and you don't have to work for it. Or to teach them life lessons such as work for what you want, earn it, face adversity, and develop.
Completely your call.
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I only bring this one up as the sense of entitlement and the amount of people that want promises and special treatment these days in minor hockey is insane - and I'll be very clear: you ain't getting any of that stuff from our staff.