Jr B tryout

[LarrieNation9 0]

I'm 15 and will be a sophmore in the fall. I have been asked to try out for a JR b team in Canada 35 miles away (live in NY ).Not sure if I want to play their at this time but would like to tryout to see how I do. If I try out and make it ,and then turn them down am I ruining any chance of ever playing their? If I play JR's in Canada am I still elligible to play USA midgets . Thanks

[stevo 0]

I'm not 100% sure but I had a friend that had scholarship offers (NCAA) but elected to play in the OHL instead. By doing so, he lost eligibility to play college puck.

[kosydar 0]

However, Jr. B is different from OHL/QMJHL/WHL because you don't get paid. I think you'll be fine.

[Neno_41 0]

they still pay you in jr b...but its usually straight cash

[kosydar 0]

Not the Jr. B leagues I know, but those are American, not Canadian.

[biff44 0]

35 miles is not far to travel to play, if it is a good team. Tryout and see what happens. As you get to know the coaches, players, and facility a little better, then you can make an informed decision. Be sure to ask what time their practices are! Some Junior team's practices are not conducive to being in high school. Another factor is that Junior B play is a bit more physical than what you are probably used to. If you are big/strong for your age and skate with your head up, you will do fine there. If you tryout, they want you, but you want to wait another year instead, bow out gracefully. You never want to burn any bridges behind you.

[Chadd 916]

Two jr A players were drafted in teh first round and both are going to US collegs in teh fall, I can't imagine that jr B is any different. I'm sure the coaches/management can tell you for sure.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Go for it, as long as you decide to turn down their offer on polite terms you should be fine. If your of age to play Midget once you return then you won't lose your eligibility. There's a drop-off date where you'll lose your eligibility for that year. As well they may sign you to an AP card and have you play the whole season, well making whatever Midget games you can. When I played Midget half of the teams we played were made up of mostly Junior B kids from the smaller cities.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I have been asked to try out for a JR b team in Canada 35 miles away (live in NY).

I'm from The Niagara Region originally....what team are you talking about?. I assume for a 35 minute trip from NY State you mean the Golden Horsehoe Jr. B League? Niagara Falls...maybe Fort Erie.

Either way...good luck. The Golden Horseshoe has traditionally had some really good teams & rivalries.

Cheers.

[joshy207 15]

15's a tough age to play Jr. B. Most of those guys are going to be 17, 18, 19... usually bigger, stronger, faster, smarter... You should definitely try out, it's not only worth the experience, you could make the team which should help you develop quicker. Make sure though, if you're going to play there, that the coaches are good with player development, see if they help move their players on to the next level, find out how they plan on using you (you're better off being a top midget player than sitting in the press box or on the bench in junior)... Good luck, and make sure you research the situation before you decide.

[#94 3]

You only lose your NCAA eligibility when you play Major Jr. because the NCAA considers it losing your amateur status. So you will not be effected by that. There are many kids that play Jr. in Canada (non-CHL) that go on to play at major D-1 schools. If you make the team and you are told you will be skating a regualr shift, then it sounds lieka great opportunity to me. Scouts LOVE to see young guys playing with guys 3,4,5 years older than them, especially if you can hang.

[biff44 0]

I would agree with the last post...to a point. Scouts love to see young men skating with the older men, but with the following two important points on playing-up:

1) You have to be doing something good on the ice. Mearly surviving is not going to impress a scout. You have to at least be holding your own, with an occasional burst of greatness thrown in to whet their appetite. If you are a big guy, they will expect you to play big (heavy checks, clear out the net, etc, despite being only 15). That means a serious commitment to off-ice body building. If you are a small guy, they expect you to have serious speed and whiz in for scoring chances. Come tryout time next year, will you have good stats to brag about?

2) You have to be playing on a team/league where scouts actually show! If you are playing on a bottom team on a bottom league, where no one ever scouts, you might as well not be doing it (unless that is the only hockey withing driving distance, and then know you have to move up asap). Did the team make it to their finals the last couple years in a row? Are they at least in the top 1/2 of their league. Did they go on to nationals, or at least compete in some of the better tournaments? If not, scouts looking for young talent will go looking where it mostly is--at the midget level. Do a little leg work first and you will not be sitting around in a dark cold rink some day asking, where are the scouts?

Trust me on this, been there, done that.

[#94 3]

Yeah I totally agree with you, biff. I didn't mean for it to sound like you merely have to survive, even though that's the way it came out. If your showing that your a smart player, strong on your skates, and show whatever attributes that make your game what it is, scouts will notice. Especially at that age playing junior.

[mac 0]

LarrieNation9, what team asked you to try-out if you are going to the Niagara Region because I live there and play Jr B., so I can tell you if it will be worth your travel to go a certain organization, or if you should try and go try-out for another team around here.

[LarrieNation9 0]

I'm in northern ny ,Its the Eastern Onterio jr b league. The head coach is a scout for Hawksbury of the Central Jr A League and has sent many of his players up to that team. I ve got 2 years of high school hockey (1st line center) but the team is weak and most of my teamates only play during hockey season and do not take it to "serious" , and I don't get challenged much in practices, but they are my friends and I like the coach......Playing time will do that...

[wolveshockey10 0]

they still pay you in jr b...but its usually straight cash

So, Jr. hockey players get paid?

[Eazy_b97 1]

they still pay you in jr b...but its usually straight cash

So, Jr. hockey players get paid?

Depends on the team and how much they need you.

[Neno_41 0]

ya...mostly every junior A team pays their players...and it all depends on the team on how much they will pay the players...most junior B teams still pay their players but not as much usually...and also in major junior hockey they don't get paid lots...you will make more playing junior A hockey in canada then playing in major junior...so ya...but it all depends on the team mostly

[wolveshockey10 0]

Thats pretty awesome.

[biff44 0]

If you get paid, I am almost certain you lose your NCAA eligibility. Watch out.

[Neno_41 0]

your getting cash so its under the table...just like if you had a job and you where being paid cash under the table...you don't have to pay taxes cause nobody know's about it...and actually lots of jr a players from canada get lots of scholorships from div 1 schools in the u.s.

[hocckey77 0]

find out how they plan on using you (you're better off being a top midget player than sitting in the press box or on the bench in junior)...

That's so right. I read in some article that the midgets that move up quicker than everyone else won't make it as far because you won't play as much but if you wait a year or 2 then you'll be more devlopeped, unless of course you're amazing.

[Gongshow11 1]

if you play major junior you have to red shirt a year to become eligible again in NCAA, but don't have to sit out a year if you go CIAU

and they don't pay you in jr.a , you have to pay to play jr.a and your billett if needed gets money, not you

[Pats 0]

I have a couple of buddies that played Junior A last season and various teams, not all do pay players based on specific reasons such as for a win, and some teams need to pay their players or else no one would play for them because they are in the middle of nowhere. Also, high end players will get paid so that they will come to certain organizations. Yes, theoretically you lose your college eligibility if this happens, but as previously mentioned, its all cash so they cannot prove anything if it really went to court.

[Neno_41 0]

hey yglod11...actaully in canada mostly every junior a team pays their players...at least out west...and they also pay the billets every month...and you get bonuses also...