2023/24 U18 A Aurora Tigers Tryouts
Welcome, and thank you, all parents, guardians,
and players for taking part in our 2023/2024 “U18A” team tryout. My
name is Dave Pinder, and I have the pleasure of being your head coach for the
2023-24 season. I am also pleased to announce that Jamie Fryer will
be joining me as an Assistant Coach this season.
Tryouts will be held September 16th,
17th, and 18th. Our tryouts will consist of one on ice
skills session and 2 Exhibition games (September 17th vs North
Durham and September 18th in Newmarket). During the
tryouts, you will have the opportunity to showcase your skills and compete with
other talented players. We encourage you to bring your best effort and
enthusiasm to every drill, exercise, and game.
I am aware that some players (and/or
their parents) may experience anxiety during this process. PLEASE kindly
reinforce with your child that they perform at their best when feeling relaxed
and confident.
Selecting a team from
a collection of talented players is very difficult on everyone. Please remember
that this is a game, we are all volunteers and selecting a team of players is a
tough decision to make. Unfortunately, not
every player who tries out will be offered a spot. It is important for parents
to help manage their child’s expectations during this process. A roster
position on this team should never be assumed. Let’s all make the tryout
process an enjoyable one!
We hope that you are excited about
this opportunity and are looking forward to seeing you at our tryouts. Please
don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Good luck, and we'll see you on the
ice!
Coach Dave
Head Coach – U18 A
Please see the below information on
details for the upcoming season.
Tryout Schedule
Tryout 1: Saturday September
16: 3:15pm-4:45pm Aurora CC (2-McAlpine Lincoln) Arrive 45 min before
Tryout 2: Sunday September
17: 2:15pm-3:45pm Aurora CC (2-McAlpine Lincoln) Arrive 60 min before
Exhibition Game against North Durham Warriors U18A
Tryout 3: Monday September
18: 8:00pm-10:00pm Ray Twinney (Newmarket) Arrive 60 min before Exhibition Game
against Newmarket Renegades U18A
For Final Rostered
Players Selected Important Dates:
For final rostered players selected
only.
1.
Tigerware / Jersey
Fitting (Mandatory)
a. Date: Tuesday September 19th:
6:00pm
b. Location: Lion
Share Marketing, 16610 Bayview Avenue, Unit 8.
c. Located one light south of Mulock on the west side of
Bayview.
2.
Exhibition Game vs North
Durham (Mandatory)
Date: Wednesday September 20: 8:00pm
Location: Uxbridge Community Centre-Pad 1 please arrive 60 min
before
Tryout Process:
The first three tryouts will consist
of a variety of drills and scrimmage time. Body contact will be included
in our tryout sessions.
1. You must
pre-register your child online (AMHA Website) for the upcoming season &
purchase a tryout passport.
2. You will see your
child’s passport number on the U18 A – Tryout Player List page on the website.
If your passport number is present, you are welcome to come to the tryout. If
the number is not there, please contact the AMHA.
3. Please arrive at least 45 minutes before tryout 1 and
60 minutes before tryouts 2, and 3.
4. When you
arrive at the lobby of the ACC rink #2, please go to the AMHA table to sign-in
and receive your child’s tryout jersey. THIS JERSEY MUST BE
RETURNED AT THE END OF EACH TRYOUT. It does not go home.
5. Full
protective gear is mandatory, including neck and mouth
guards – players without, or missing
such equipment, will NOT be allowed on the ice.
6. You MUST attend
the first tryout to be invited back to the second or third tryout
unless provided permission by the Head Coach. If for whatever reason you
are unable to attend, please email me to discuss.
Drills and Evaluations
The tryouts will be
an anxious time for all of us while the players are evaluated.
It will be an extremely difficult task choosing
players (15-17 players, 2 goalies) for the team from a large group of
hardworking athletes. Player selection will be based on their individual
abilities within these categories.
|
Skating
|
Work Ethic
|
Team Play
|
|
Passing/Shooting
|
Positional Play
|
Coachability
|
|
Hockey Sense
|
Compete Level
|
Checking
|
Evaluation Team
Several INDEPENDENT and experienced coaches will
act as evaluators and/or on ice instructors. Their opinions together with
my own and the AMHA’s independent evaluators will select the U18 A team.
Please do NOT approach
evaluators, as they have a job to do. All
questions should be directed towards me through the 2023/2024 U18A webpage
email link.
The first on ice
session will be open to any 2006/2007 registered AMHA players redirected from
the U18AA tryouts. The second session will include all candidates asked
to return from the first ice session. The Third and final session will include
all candidates asked to return from the second tryout.
Selection or Redirection
Process
Communication of my
decisions after each tryout will occur via the website and NOT in
person. Your child’s passport submission ID number is the code that identifies
them on the website (look at the U18 A website for the team and the tryout
page).
· After the 1st tryout, results
will be posted after 11pm on September
16th
· After the 2nd tryout, results
will be posted after 11pm on September
17th
· After the 3rd tryout, results
will be posted after 11pm on September
18th
Parents/Guardians of
‘redirected’ players are welcome to reach out via email to the Head
Coach but please respect the OMHA protocol of waiting 48 hours after the final tryout, should you have specific questions
or desire additional feedback.
A parent meeting for those selected to the team
will be scheduled shortly following tryout three.
Team Expectations
There will be a
financial commitment from each family. The estimated financial commitment will
be approximately $3,000 to $3,500. We will be looking for
sponsorships and/or fundraising to help reduce the cost per family.
There will also be a
time commitment required of each family. We will be on the ice 3 to 4 times per
week with practices and games. It is expected that all players attend
all practices and games.
We expect to attend 3 tournaments
this season, though it may increase to 4
1.
Early Bird Tournament Targeted
September 29th – October 1st
2.
TBD Tournament (possibly
travel) Targeted for November
3.
Ottawa Travel Tournament
December 8th-10th
Coaching Staff
I will be selecting the remainder of the
coaches/staff after the final tryout once the team is selected.
I will be looking for
the following parent positions:
· 1 assistant
coach
· 1-2 practice
coaches
· Team
Manager
· Team trainer (and
backup)
· Other roles (Home
Game DJ, videographer, stats manager, etc.)
Positions:
All
decisions about player positions are at the discretion of the coach and will
most likely change during the season based on the needs and best interest of
the team.
Tiger
Jersey Fitting Day:
If your player is successful
in making the team, they MUST attend the Tigerware fitting on September
19th at
6:00pm. Lion
Share Marketing, 16610 Bayview Avenue, Unit 8.
I wish all candidates the best of luck at tryouts and I look forward to seeing
you at the rink.
Dave Pinder
Head Coach –U18 A