Brand new to the forum so be kind........

My son is faced with a dilema. He is a '91, played AAA the past three years (one VFMM, two JRF) but he could not try out last week anywhere due to an injury (broken hand). He was not offered a spot where he wanted to go (JRF) and quite frankly I wasn't surprised. There were well over 60 players on the ice and he wasn't.

Looking at both 18U AAA and Jr teams, he has pared it down to a couple of AAA and three Jr B teams, as well as a strong AA team.

How does a player in this position get a look from the clubs he's interested in? Simply call the coaches and explain the situation?

I may have just answered my own question, but if anyone has some expereince or thoughts on 'non-tryout' placements I'd certainly appreciate hearing them.

BTW, he still can't take the ice for another three weeks.

Thanks for any input you all have.

Looking back now that my son is out of the local club scene. Every parent panics if their kid is not on a team after tryouts. If your son is good enough teams will be killing to get him. If he is just an average player what's all the fuss about. He'll play more on an average team and be happier. There will be plenty of teams with openings before the season. Have him play in the summer and talk to kids from many different teams. They will let him know where the openings are. Absolutely don't rush the decision there is plenty of time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: XFlyersfan,

Team Comcast Midget 18AAA has been calling around looking for players despite 40+ kids at tryouts. They didn't have many returning AAA players from 18U or 16U.
You could always call the coach and talk to him.

Tri-State Junior B always allows players to come skate and check out the program. Just call and talk to them.

I also heard Mercer has low turnouts at 18U AAA also and was looking for players.

Xflyersfan - thanks for helping keep things in perspective. He his playing in a spring league to get his legs back, as well as attending a camp at BU, but we're located in the Lehigh Valley so staying in tune with what's happening in the Philly region is tougher - just requires more work on his part. But again, you make a good point that there are a number of months to find the right fit with the right coach ont he right team. I'm probably guilty of the panic syndrome myself. Hard not to when your kid has so many years invested.

Trmback - we do have a call into Anderson at Tri-State but haven't received a return call yet. My son will call back in a couple of days if still no call. Mercer scrapped their 18u AAA team after low turnout at tryouts (or so the representative on the phone told me). Comcast is just a bit to far, especially considering they are only scheduling one practice a week (or so the website states). I'd also be concerned since Beech and Badger are't the coaches.

I know, I know - I asked for advice and now I'm sounding picky. Just part of the entire evaluation process - getting them to see my son as well as us getting to evaluate them.

But thanks for the input - it certainly is a trying time. First time in 10+ years ending April without knowing where we'll be next year. Certainly not the end of the world, just a bit unsettling.

Just be patient over the spring and summer. At that age alot can happen. Teams will definitely lose players from now until Sept. Just keep playing and explore your options. It may be better that you dont have a team, in some cases an opportunity will arise, that wouldnt have been there in April, due to players leaving teams, getting hurt, deciding on prep or juniors out of the area. Play on a summer team, and attend a few skates. Worst case scenario, you get rostered in December. Theres always a good team looking for players before the add deadline.

defenserules,

Mike Anderson is pretty good about returning phone calls and emails, his email is tristateselects@gmail.com and they have practice on Tuesday night.

As for Team Comcast if your in Lehigh Valley that is a long drive. I don't know anything about the new coach at Comcast.

Another thing that should concern anyone on that team is prep school players coming back when they want to and playing ahead of the kids who goto practice every week. I talked to a bunch of parents who played there last year and were upset their kids would get benched for missing practice for high school games but the prep school kids would just show up whenever and play on the top line. Caused problems on there team, maybe thats why the oldest team All 91's but 1) at Midget Minor with the most amount of returning Midget National players didn't make it to Nationals as they expected and losing to their own Midget American squad who was all 92's at districts.

trimback,
you seem to be in the know, how many players were at the tristate tryouts? was the quality improved and were there a good number of out of state players?

Increased quality of local players, not many out of state players. Few of the out of state players had tryouts for JR A teams not sure how that turned out for them.

will they be able to field a more competitive team this year than the past several.?

Did alot of the Comcast 91s and returning u18 Minutemen end up going to Tri State?

Couple Comcast 91's did come over to TriState. I don't know about any U18 VFMM.

Crusader,

Last years team was pretty competitive when they stayed out of the box.

not certain i agree , but wish them better luck next year.

closer to you is Hershey (Bears). They left the DVHL and are now a tier 1 (AAA) organization.

Hockeyheads - We did contact the Hershey Bears, but there is no 18U AAA team this year - there or Central Penn. But thanks