Tryouts for SLPYHA traveling teams are designed to be as fair and equitable as possible. Skaters are assigned a numbered jersey the first day of tryouts, are required to wear association issued socks (white with blue and red stripes), and asked to remove any helmet stickers to ensure anonymity. Additionally, the judges scoring the skaters are not affiliated with SLPYHA; nor do they know, or have knowledge of, any of the skaters. The judges are typically high school coaches from surrounding communities and are paid for their time and efforts. 

Tryouts are essentially a three step process:

1) During the first two days of tryouts skaters are scored by the judges on their skills demonstrated during drills, and their play demonstrated during scrimmages. After the first two days of tryouts, the judge's scores are tabulated by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. The skaters are then ranked according to their scores. This ranking determines the A and B "pools" for the second step of tryouts.

2) Each pool of skaters then goes through another two/three days of tryouts that include a scrimmage against another association's AA/A or B pool. This round of tryouts are judged by the coaches of the AA/A and B teams.

3) After the pool tryouts are completed, skaters are placed on teams. The top ranked skaters (this number varies according to team size) after the first round of tryouts automatically make the A level team. The remaining roster spots on the AA/A level team are chosen by the coaches of the team from the AA/A pool.  Any AA/A pool skater not chosen for the A level team is automatically placed on the highest B level team.  This process continues until each team selected.

Questions?  Contact a Traveling Director.

1. Parent/Guardian of a player unable to participate in tryouts must provide a Traveling Director a completed Application for Excused Absence from Tryouts Due to Injury document and a written doctor’s note explaining why the player cannot participate.

2. An injured/ill player must be expected to return to 100% of his/her playing capabilities by December 1st, based on doctors’ estimation, to be eligible for a spot on any A or B travel team.  This date is based on the Minnesota Hockey roster deadlines.  Players who cannot be expected to perform at their full playing potential by December 1st can be placed on a C team for the season, provided there are openings.

3. An appeal by the parent/guardian of the injured/ill player would allow the Board of Directors to consider the appeal and subsequent team placement. However, a 2/3-majority vote of the Board of Directors will be required for any exceptions.