USHL Tryouts

[mxihockey 0]

So I've had three teams tell me they are going to send me "invites" to their tryouts immediately after the draft. Are these invites simply a registration form for an open camp? I don't want to waist my time if they are. When are the "Main camps" that are free? I thought those took place in August, but these teams are telling me they will invite me to camps in June. Also, if I was to sign with an EJHL team, am I still able to attend these camps for the USHL?

[shooter27 116]

If they're not drafting you and simply sending you an invite to camp in June instead then that generally means they're inviting you to a tryout camp, from which they'll select some players to go on to the main camp. I don't know if all players have to go through this camp or if there are players (e.g. veterans, draft picks) that automatically get invited to the main camp. As far as signing with an EJ team, I would guess it would be up to the team you sign with if they were to allow you to sign with them and then go to a USHL camp, but I wouldn't imagine they would be too happy about that setup.

[hockeyfreak7 0]

Unless you have been heavily pursued by either of the three teams, I would suggest signing the EJ contract and still attending the camps. If they are going to send you invites for June camps, then that means that if you impress them, you will be brought back for camps in August. Even in August, you have a chance of being cut real late in the game, then getting screwed, so its better to be safe.

Obviously a closed USHL camp is a great opportunity for exposure, so dont pass it up. But being kept on for the final roster is no easy task. Its best to keep your EJ opportunity open. Thats no slouch of a league either.

[mxihockey 0]

I found out that the main camps are in June now. All the teams have to submit their 25 man roster by July 1st, with 2 guys being cut after the Fall Classic. I'm skating with one of the top EJ teams this week and they offered to pay for my hotel and everything, so I'm guessing they are interested. I should probably just sign with them but part of me just REALLY wants to play in the USHL.

[shooter27 116]

If they've invited you to play in the main camp thats definitely something to think about. Certainly, if there is a way for you to hold off on signing the EJ contract until after you go to the USHL tryouts then you may want to try that. But, the one thing you don't want to do is piss off the EJ teams and end up in July scrambling for a place to play. I think it also depends how old you are (e.g. how many years of Juniors you have left). The younger you are, the EJ becomes a more attractive option, in my opinion, because, assuming you have a good year there, then you could play in the USHL next year. If you've only got a year left then its a tougher decision.

[mxihockey 0]

Yea I still have 3 years left, I'm a Sept. 92 going into my senior year.

[raganblink 82]

If you got an invite then your invited to the main tryout camp (atleast this is how it is in des moines). The open camp is something anyone can do basically, and you have to pay like 300 to do it. This is mainly locals and kids who can't get NA or US invites so their parents blow a couple grand on them going around the midwest to do camps for the US and NA.

If you aren't paying anything, then this means that its the main camp, of which they will select the team from. All draft picks that can play (ie, not injured or can't get into america or something) are here, all returning players are here, about 15 kids that are selected that weren't drafted or returning are here (what you seem to be) and then a select few from the open camp are invited back, if any are invited back. There will probably be 40 kids here, if you impress enough they'll put you on the 30 man, if you blow them away you'll be on 25. Odds aren't too great though making the team. Don't want to get your hopes up, as 99% of the time the returning players are selected again, the top 6-7 draft picks are taken like 100% of the time, so that really only leaves like 7-8 spots for the 25 man roster left, and if you were drafted you'll have a higher picking order than the rest of them. But don't get discouraged either, one of my buddies paid for open camp, got invited back, made the team, played the full year then is now playing D1. So if you are determined you can make it further than if you just relied on your talent alone.

BTW what teams are you talking to? And don't worry for scrambling for a place to play... If your good enough to get invited to US, alot of EJ and NA teams would take you if you showed up with your skates and a stick. And if that didn't suit you you could go play Junior A in canada and still maintain college eligability. I'd definately recommend canada Jr. A over NA... same skill set basically however in the NA you go all over the ducking place, which is kind of cool going to alaska and stuff, but, really lame as it takes like 3 weeks to do it. Cool vacation though.

[mxihockey 0]

I sent you a PM. Don't know if I should be naming the teams on here.

Also, are the main camps free? The final 50 or whatever? Some friends of mine are telling me everything is paid for, hotel, etc. while others are telling me its like $300 plus expenses.

[Hradsky 1]

Well over here if you want to play Junior A Hockey in Ontario/Canada there is usually an open camp, which costs about $250 to attend.

That's all I know but I'm assuming if you get invited then it should be free, because they INVITED you.

[raganblink 82]

It's all free except like maybe the 50 bucks you'll spend in food but I think you have to pay for the ride to the arena.

[jjmills22 0]

if the tryouts listed on ushl.com do not specify if its an open camp, or invite only what is it?

[starsfan71 9]

if the tryouts listed on ushl.com do not specify if its an open camp, or invite only what is it?

If it's not specified I would assume it's a tryout camp.

[raganblink 82]

most likely that is their main camp. Most teams have an open and an invite. Some have a futures (full of 14s and 15s). If you are interested you really need to contact the team(s) your thinking about.

Oh and since you might not notice it; Omaha, Dubuque, Fargo and Sioux City do not have their information on there for some reason. Omaha, Fargo? and Tri-City for the last couple of seasons ran their camp in Vegas, and not in their city or region. Dubuque and Sioux City will (should) have their camps in their cities.

If you don't really know what team you are interested in most, I strongly recommend contacting several, and make sure their tryout dates do not over-lap. Ex, if you have no idea who you want to play for, you just want to play USHL, contact like Sioux Falls, Indiana, Muskegon, Des Moines,

Try to pick 3-4 teams which have the open camps and basically throughout June travel throughout the midwest skating and trying out. Doesn't hurt though to contact almost every or every team, as its best to have options, because stuff comes up and if you put all of your money on horse A and B, and horse A goes down so you only have horse B, and don't have a horse C or D, your odds go down significantly of playing. Also I have found out from experience that it seems to be best if you are picking only two teams, to have some recoup time in between, so you can work on something learned from the first tryout to apply to your second.

[jjmills22 0]

I'm a 94 birth year, so I still qualify for the futures camp I'm looking into one with one of the teams (have already contacted coach) and Fargo has, in years past, held their tryout in Newark at the Prudential Center. I still have a year or two of filling out and developing before I would be able to seriously contend for a spot.

[raganblink 82]

The experience gotten from tryouts is tremendous. Even if you don't make the team, the 200-400 fee goes a long way, so its not money wasted, by a long shot.