HOCKEY TRYOUT GUIDE
How to prepare for hockey tryouts at every level — youth, high school, junior, college, and adult league. What to expect, what to bring, and how to stand out.
THE TRYOUT LANDSCAPE
Tryouts vary dramatically by level. Knowing what to expect helps you calibrate effort, prep, and mental approach. Most leagues publish tryout dates, fees, and format on their team page — browse the team directory to find listings near you.
Youth house / rec
Low-stakes. Most leagues place every player who registers. Focus on having fun and learning.
Travel hockey (A/AA/AAA)
Competitive. Coaches rank players across multiple sessions. Cuts happen after final session.
High school (varsity/JV)
Open tryouts in most states. Some schools have closed tryouts — coach invite only.
Junior (USHL/NAHL/NAHL)
Most competitive amateur tryout in the US. Players travel from across the country. Spring tryouts are main entry point.
College (NCAA D1/D3)
Most NCAA Division I programs recruit, not run open tryouts. D3 and ACHA run open tryouts.
Adult league (rec/competitive)
Friendly. Most leagues cap roster size and use sessions to balance teams.
PRE-TRYOUT PREPARATION (6-8 WEEKS)
Use the 6-8 week window before tryouts to peak. Don't try new skills cold — tighten what you already know.
8 weeks out
Cardio base
4-5 days/week of zone-2 cardio. Long bike rides, jogs, or steady-state skating. Build aerobic base. Avoid intensity work — that comes later.
6 weeks out
Skating mechanics
On-ice sessions 3-4 days/week. Focus on edges, crossovers, transitions, and backwards skating. Goal: clean technique under fresh legs.
4 weeks out
Intensity + skills
Add interval training (sprints, repeated shifts). Stick-handling in tight spaces. Shooting off the catch. Begin video review of your own shifts.
2 weeks out
Taper
Reduce training volume by ~30%. Maintain intensity but drop total volume. Sleep more. Hydrate. The goal is to arrive at tryouts rested, not fatigued.
1 week out
Sharpening
2-3 light on-ice sessions. Full gear practice. Skate sharpening. Wash and prep all equipment. Mental prep: visualize successful shifts.
Tryout day
Execution
Eat 2-3 hours before. Arrive early. Warm up properly. Compete. Be coachable. Shake hands after — coaches remember poise.
TRYOUT DAY: WHAT TO BRING
Equipment checklist. Show up with the full kit in working order.
Helmet
CSA or HECC certified. No cracks. Chin strap adjusted.
Skates
Sharpened within 2 weeks of tryout. Bake-fit if needed.
Stick
Two sticks — pre-taped. One in your bag, one ready.
Mouthguard
Boil-and-bite or custom. Non-negotiable.
Jock / Jill
With cup or pelvic protector. Skate-cut for goalies.
Hockey pants
Belt snug. Coverage to mid-thigh.
Shin guards
Knee wing centered on kneecap. Straps snug.
Shoulder pads
Cap over shoulder. Sternum covered.
Elbow pads
Cover from bicep to forearm.
Gloves
Cuff fits under jersey sleeve. Not too tight.
Hockey socks
Two pairs — fresh in bag, one in use.
Practice jersey
Light, dark contrasting. Some leagues assign pinnies.
Pro tip: Label every piece — helmet, gloves, stick, pants, jock, water bottle. Rinks lose equipment by the bagful during tryouts. Use a paint pen or vinyl labels.
WHAT COACHES LOOK FOR (RANKED)
Across every level — house through junior — coaches evaluate the same five things. The order shifts slightly by level, but the top three are universal.
1
Skating
30%
Edge control, acceleration, top speed, backward skating. The fastest skater in tryouts gets noticed first. The slowest skater needs to be elite at everything else.
2
Compete level
25%
Battle for loose pucks. Win board battles. Finish checks. Skate through traffic. Coaches can't teach compete — they recruit it.
3
Hockey IQ
20%
Positioning without the puck. Anticipation of play. Smart decisions under pressure. Look for the open player; make the safe play.
4
Skill execution
15%
Clean passes tape-to-tape. Accurate shots. Soft hands in traffic. Important but developable — coaches can teach skill.
5
Coachability
10%
Listen to instructions. Apply corrections on the next shift. Support teammates. Avoid showboating. Coaches remember poise, not goals.
The 80/20 rule: Skating and compete level together account for 55% of the coach's evaluation. If you can only work on two things in the 6-8 week window, work on those.
HOW TO FIND TRYOUTS
Tryouts are listed by the team or league. RinkStop's directory has 3,243+ teams across 240+ leagues — filter by level, country, and age to find tryouts near you.
Pro teams
NHL, AHL, KHL, PWHL, top European leagues
Junior teams
USHL, NAHL, OHL, WHL, QMJHL, USPHL
College teams
NCAA D1/D3, ACHA, U SPORTS, NAIA
Adult leagues
Beer leagues, rec leagues, club hockey
For youth players, browse the youth hockey directory for travel and house programs with tryouts in your area.
AFTER THE TRYOUT
Whether you make the team or not, the tryout is a learning experience. Use it as data.
If you make the team
Confirm your spot within the deadline. Pay any deposits. Add the schedule to your calendar. Reach out to incoming teammates via the team page. Begin the off-season training plan with your coach.
If you were cut
Ask the coach for feedback — most will give you 5-10 minutes if you ask respectfully. Identify the weakest area (skating, compete, hockey IQ) and build a 3-month plan. Look for other teams in the same age group; many players make a team on their second or third tryout.
If you were waitlisted
Stay in touch with the coach. Keep training. Cuts often happen after the first week of the season when players quit. A strong follow-up email 2 weeks into the season can land you a spot.
RELATED GUIDES
- Hockey Positions Explained — know your role before the coach assigns it
- Hockey Nutrition Guide — what to eat the day of tryouts
- Off-Ice Hockey Training — the 6-8 week prep plan in detail
- Hockey Cost Calculator — what to budget for the season
- From Youth to Junior Hockey — the next step after travel hockey