Try Outs for Junior Teams?

[Rocket 0]

Hey Guys!

I am a 20 years old european, who wants to play the upcoming season in a high skilled north-american Junior League!

I would like to ask you, If anybody knows if there are open Try-Outs during the next weeks?!

I would like to play on the level like the NAHL / USHL, or leagues like that, because that is the level, I have played home in Europe!

I would have the chance to play in the GMHL, a junior "A" league in Canada.

I would be happy, if somebody could tell my sth. about the reputation and the level of this league.

As I would like to play college in USA after this season, I would like to know which leagues would be a good chance to get a scolarship for a D-I or D-III college. ( Does the D-III colleges even offer financial help for their players?)

Best regards to all and thanks for your replies!-)

[forbs02 20]

Hey Guys!

I am a 20 years old european, who wants to play the upcoming season in a high skilled north-american Junior League!

I would like to ask you, If anybody knows if there are open Try-Outs during the next weeks?!

I would like to play on the level like the NAHL / USHL, or leagues like that, because that is the level, I have played home in Europe!

I would have the chance to play in the GMHL, a junior "A" league in Canada.

I would be happy, if somebody could tell my sth. about the reputation and the level of this league.

As I would like to play college in USA after this season, I would like to know which leagues would be a good chance to get a scolarship for a D-I or D-III college. ( Does the D-III colleges even offer financial help for their players?)

Best regards to all and thanks for your replies!-)

If you are looking at playing in college you will want to try-out for NAHL/USHL teams as they are feeding programs for the NCAA. At 20 yrs old though you are getting close to the maximum age allowed in the league. D-III schools do not offer financial aid for athletics but you may be able to get a need based grant and/or academic scholarship. D-I scholarships are hard to get, you will have to have a great year in a jr league to get noticed. Again, your age is going to be a factor in this. A lot of D-1 college guys commit when they are 17 or so, but some play a year of jrs first before they are offered a scholarship. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

[Flack38 0]

I know in my Jr Days (95-01-ish) to play in the NAJHL atleast for 95-96 and 96-97 we were asked to come to select camps then teams would make offers. Then you were told it was about 6500 per season, then you would say "we cant afford that" they would inturn say "we have a great baliff program to sponsor you" then we would say "Thats great sign us up" then they would say "Your household income is too high" Then I said ok off to Germany I go to play watered down JR hockey for free!!!

In all honesty, at 20 its going to be pretty hard to Jump on a quality JR squad and get a major University interested in you. You would be better off sending season stats and or videos of your play at your current JR squad to some Div 2 and lower end Div 1 schools. I know RPI is known for taking "older guy" and I've gotten calls from them up until I was 25

[flymonty3 0]

I know in my Jr Days (95-01-ish) to play in the NAJHL atleast for 95-96 and 96-97 we were asked to come to select camps then teams would make offers. Then you were told it was about 6500 per season, then you would say "we cant afford that" they would inturn say "we have a great baliff program to sponsor you" then we would say "Thats great sign us up" then they would say "Your household income is too high" Then I said ok off to Germany I go to play watered down JR hockey for free!!!

In all honesty, at 20 its going to be pretty hard to Jump on a quality JR squad and get a major University interested in you. You would be better off sending season stats and or videos of your play at your current JR squad to some Div 2 and lower end Div 1 schools. I know RPI is known for taking "older guy" and I've gotten calls from them up until I was 25

How can you get calls from a D1 school when you are 25, when the NCAA D1 age cutoff is 24? D3 age is irrelevant, but that is why in d1 they usually redshirt the younger players, so they can develop them and still get maximum eligibility out of them.

Oh and most Jr. leagues (at least those worth your time) have a restriction on the # of foreign players per team. I believe it is 2, but dont quote me on that.. But regardless, most of those players are recruited early on in the summer, and trying to find a good team to play on as an EU import in August is damn near impossible. You might want to try a league like the AEHL or EJHL because I believe they arent required to conform to the import quota as they are tier III Jr. "A."

onestly though, if you played the level you said you did, you should have no problem as a walk on at a mid level NCAA D.3 school, and they will help you financially if your academics are up to par.

[Flack38 0]

I know in my Jr Days (95-01-ish) to play in the NAJHL atleast for 95-96 and 96-97 we were asked to come to select camps then teams would make offers. Then you were told it was about 6500 per season, then you would say "we cant afford that" they would inturn say "we have a great baliff program to sponsor you" then we would say "Thats great sign us up" then they would say "Your household income is too high" Then I said ok off to Germany I go to play watered down JR hockey for free!!!

In all honesty, at 20 its going to be pretty hard to Jump on a quality JR squad and get a major University interested in you. You would be better off sending season stats and or videos of your play at your current JR squad to some Div 2 and lower end Div 1 schools. I know RPI is known for taking "older guy" and I've gotten calls from them up until I was 25

How can you get calls from a D1 school when you are 25, when the NCAA D1 age cutoff is 24? D3 age is irrelevant, but that is why in d1 they usually redshirt the younger players, so they can develop them and still get maximum eligibility out of them.

Oh and most Jr. leagues (at least those worth your time) have a restriction on the # of foreign players per team. I believe it is 2, but dont quote me on that.. But regardless, most of those players are recruited early on in the summer, and trying to find a good team to play on as an EU import in August is damn near impossible. You might want to try a league like the AEHL or EJHL because I believe they arent required to conform to the import quota as they are tier III Jr. "A."

onestly though, if you played the level you said you did, you should have no problem as a walk on at a mid level NCAA D.3 school, and they will help you financially if your academics are up to par.

RPI wasn't partial/Full ride, it was more of a "Have you finished school yet" as long as you haven't used your your 4 years up you're able to play NCAA sports at any age(I think) but you're probably right about the 24 year old cut off maybe my 25th fell after a cutoff date?

I had intrest in a lot of D3 schools Life University was the D3 school that was the most agressive at trying to get me on campus. I really only had 1 really good year of Jr B hockey with the Jr/Lil Flyers, asked to skate at the Select camps, I couldn't afford to play NAJHL after a few teams asked. Infact Bob Kelly (Worked and played at his roller hockey rink "The Hounds Pound" in Delaware) Held a fundraiser to get me the money to play, someone at USA hockey got wind of this and we were told that this wasn't allowed even though we couldn't find any rules saying so. My choices then were Go PAY to play D2/D3 hockey or Follow my Friends Paul Pipke and Carl Kaplan to Germany to play Pro hockey. I didn't Make the pro Erfurt Black Dragons squad but they offered me a spot on the Jr Team. I didn't have to pay and I was able to get a student visa To allow me to finish Highschool there, then get a VERY CHEAP college Education at the University of Kiel (about $3000 USD/year)

[Project824 0]

Hey Guys!

I am a 20 years old european, who wants to play the upcoming season in a high skilled north-american Junior League!

I would like to ask you, If anybody knows if there are open Try-Outs during the next weeks?!

I would like to play on the level like the NAHL / USHL, or leagues like that, because that is the level, I have played home in Europe!

I would have the chance to play in the GMHL, a junior "A" league in Canada.

I would be happy, if somebody could tell my sth. about the reputation and the level of this league.

As I would like to play college in USA after this season, I would like to know which leagues would be a good chance to get a scolarship for a D-I or D-III college. ( Does the D-III colleges even offer financial help for their players?)

Best regards to all and thanks for your replies!-)

Weren't you trying to go pro a few months ago?

[Dan Tessier 0]

Basically I will be blunt and honest here. Why would the US or any other country want to waste money and a spot on their rosters developing a player from another country over one of their own? The US wants to develop American players, the same way the Euro countries cap imports in their leagues to develop their own players. Basically unless you are a star in the making who is going to the show you're not worth it to them. The US is up there as the TOP country for producing jr players and as seen by the last few drafts the US developmental leagues are very highly regarded, so some unknown player from europe will be given no chance. Forget about it and focus on working your way up the ladder in your own country's league and once you are at the top of it then look to other countries.

[Project824 0]

I had intrest in a lot of D3 schools Life University was the D3 school that was the most agressive at trying to get me on campus.

Life University is a Club Division 2 school.

[Sicklook 0]

Basically I will be blunt and honest here. Why would the US or any other country want to waste money and a spot on their rosters developing a player from another country over one of their own? The US wants to develop American players, the same way the Euro countries cap imports in their leagues to develop their own players. Basically unless you are a star in the making who is going to the show you're not worth it to them. The US is up there as the TOP country for producing jr players and as seen by the last few drafts the US developmental leagues are very highly regarded, so some unknown player from europe will be given no chance. Forget about it and focus on working your way up the ladder in your own country's league and once you are at the top of it then look to other countries.

i got to tell you man, this has to be one of the most ill-advised posts i have ever seen on this site, and that is really saying something. Having played in the NAHL and the USHL in the last couple years I can tell you that EVERY team in both leagues has imports..and they aren't usually what can be considered 'top prospects'. Tons of imports come in search of college opportunities, because a US education is looked upon VERY highly in countries like Sweden, Finland, etc. Maybe you are being "blunt and honest," but unfortunately you fail to be truthful/knowledgeable.

[Flack38 0]

I had intrest in a lot of D3 schools Life University was the D3 school that was the most agressive at trying to get me on campus.

Life University is a Club Division 2 school.

I might totally be wrong, maybe Divisions don't change but at that time I'm like 99% sure Life was DIII and if I'm not mistaken RPI was DI, I know RPI is now DIII and Im not even sure about Life. Most of this took place in 96-97 or maybe 97-98, most contact was established the summers and breaks I came home.

I didn't have much interest in the college teams because they weren't offering full rides. I think the ONLY reason RPI had any interest in me was because I had a coach/friends father that had strong ties to RPI Mr. Cardillio, I played with his sons Mark and Ken on the little Flyers.

I never really knew or even understood the USA hockey and college structure.

I played for teams that let me play for free and when I was offered ice time I went. I was far more into football, hockey was a side attraction until I found out I had at least some talent. I always thought I was just playing in a shallow talent pool and figured if those JR teams though I was any good I could play for free. I still think that's the case IMO. Aside from free hockey and being in a new country, the only reason why I went to Germany is because I was pretty much at the German drinking age of 16