And
Pacific District Select
Tryouts
What are they? Are they important?
PACIFIC DISTRICT TRYOUTS
Heading to USA Hockey National Player Development Camps
What is the Select tryout?
Each year USA Hockey conducts Select and Player Development National Camps for its top female players. This tryout serves as the final evaluation process that will determine which girls will advance onto one of the National camps.
The tryout consists of 3-4 on-ice tryout sessions and a development program including off-ice seminars. The off-ice seminars cover speed, agility, and quickness training, strength training, nutrition and accessing opportunities in NCAA college hockey and the USA Hockey National Program. All session are tailored to the female hockey players whether playing on an all female or mixed youth teams.
Who serves as evaluators and coaches on the bench?
Generally it is members of our National programs and NCAA coaches that serve as part of the coaching and evaluation staff.
What is the tryout process?
1. Evaluators are chosen from around the country to show no partiality toward any of the participants.
2. Evaluators (only) choose the players that will advance onto the National Camp.
If the evaluators feel there are more players qualified
than slots allotted, they will give the Director those numbers and they will be submitted as at-large players
along with the allotted slots.
3. The tryout Director submits to USA Hockey the list of players the evaluators have chosen to advance onto
the National Camps along with the at-large list. The at large list contains comments received from the evaluators on each player. These comments are not shared with anyone but USA Hockey.
4. The at-large list is combined with all twelve district and national office at-large candidates throughout the
5. A conference call with USA Hockey personnel is called to discuss all at-large candidates. This call can take up to 4 hours to discuss all the three birth years eligible.
6. Each District can submit at large recommendations to the national office. The National Team Scouts can
7. The at-large players that are chosen ultimately come from USA Hockey. The District merely submit names of players the evaluators feel may perform well at the National Camps.
Alaska Affiliate Tryouts
What will the Affiliate tryout determine?
The Affiliate tryout process will determine the quality players from each Affiliate who will advance onto the Pacific District Select Tryout. this will be the first step in reaching the final process - the National Development Camp.
What determines the number of girls selected from each Affiliate?
The number of girls that are registered USA Hockey players in each Affiliate will determine the number of girls that will be able to advance onto the Pacific District Tryout. A percentage will be determined before the first Affiliate tryout commences.
What if I can't make the Affiliate tryout?
A small number of slots (at-large) are set aside for players that are playing out of District or otherwise unable to attend the tryout. Players that fall into this category must tryout in either another District at their Affiliate level tryouts or tryout at another Pacific District Affiliate tryout. Players that choose to take this avenue will be placed on an at-large list, this does not guarantee a slot to the Pacific District tryout.
How do I apply for an at-large slot?
To apply for an at-large slot at the affiliate level, the player must fill out the necessary forms provided by their Affiliate. These forms must be submitted to their Affiliate representative and the registration fee paid to the Alaska State Hockey Association (via Rocky Mtn web page) before the Affiliate tryout. It will be the player's responsibility to find a venue for their affilliate tryout and have their ranking sent to their Affiliate representative.
If you are unable to attend your Affiliate tryout contact your Affiliate representative right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nationally how many girls will attend the National Player Development Camps? (subject to change)
Girls U18 National team camp: Selected by USA scouts and from District and National camps
Girl 17 camp: 5 teams (each team 9 forwards, 6 defense, 2 goalies = 85 players
Girl 16 camp: 6 teams (each team 9 forwards, 6 defense, 2 goalies = 102 players
Girl 15 camp: 6 teams (each team 9 forwards, 6 defense, 2 goalies = 102 players
I already know where I will attend college, do I really need to tryout?
The tryout and the National Camp is not about being scouted for colleges. This is not the purpose of the National camp or this tryout. True, both venues are scouted, Lake Placid and St Cloud are major scouting venues for NCAA coaches, but the purpose of the camp is for USAH to identify and contribute to the development of its top female athletes. If you have aspirations of participating in the National program this is your only direct venue to be seen and interact directly with the National coaching staff.
If I wasn't selected last year, do I really have a chance to be select this year?
Yes, every year the evaluation staff looks at each player with new insight. Some players grow and develop during their hockey season and other remain the same. Every year there are players that are selected that were not selected the previous year. It is always heartbreaking when a player doesn't tryout. The goal is to select our top players and that might be the player that chose not to tryout. You must tryout to be selected.
How many players will be selected in each age division?
The National office has not released the numbers for this year. Each District receives an allocation based on the number of players in the District and the performance of the players the District has sent in past years. We anticipate our allocation will remain consistent with past allocations. These numbers serve as a baseline.
Can I choose who I skate and room with?
No, the best effort is made to mix up the players from different areas. Players are roomed with their tryout
team. Players will be roomed 3-4 per room.
What if I am unable to attend a district tryout due to a injury or family emergency?
If you are unable to attend the District tryouts for due to injury or family emergency contact the GWC Chairman to make sure your name is considered.
If I live or play in another District (i.e. Prep schools) do I have to come home for to tryout?
No, you can tryout in any District but you can only be selected in the District in which you legal reside. It is best if you tryout in your home District. If you tryout in another District you will need to notify your District representative and the representative from the District in which you are trying out. Your tryout evaluation will be compared with players in your home District that are trying out at home. You cannot tryout in more than one District.
Do my parents or guardians need to accompany me to the tryout?
No, but spectators and supporters are welcome to watch the on-ice skates and attend the Opportunities in Hockey seminar. If parents attend, please note they may not stay at the same hotel as the players and the players once checked into the tryout must remain with their teams at all times. If a player drives themselves, they are required to check their car keys into the camp director at registration.
What is the U18 National Team?
The U18 National Team consists of 20-22 of the top players in the nation. The players must be 15-17 years of age and have
How are fees determined?
The District has made a commitment to having the tryout cost and process be as equitable as possible throughout the District. Each year the District board allots grant funding to off set some of the cost for every player. The less expensive areas to travel from pay slightly more than the base price per player which off set the most expensive areas.
Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Information
Pacific District GW Rep: Kathy McGarrigle email: kathymc.pacificgw@gmail.com
Alaska: Kirk Payne (Chair GWC) president@palmerhockey.org
California:
Oregon:
Nevada:
