Tryouts (U11-18)

2024 - 2025 Competitive Tryouts

Spring tryouts for U11 to U18 competitive teams for all levels will commence on Tuesday, April 16th, 2024.  The tryout schedule will be listed (Here) and is subject to change as the total number of participants may induce change.

Following the Hockey Canada Pathways for U9, tryouts and conditioning sessions will be held in September.  Details and registration will be available later this summer. 

To register for tryouts:

• Tryout Registration for ALL U11-U18 Levels is now CLOSED. If you have issues or concerns please contact the Competitive Registrar (compregistrar@gcgh.ca)
• Registration for Tryouts will be found under the 23-24 season selection and not the 24-25 season.
• Tryout fees must be paid in full by the end of the day Tuesday, April 16th. This is not the full-season registration. Season registration will take place after tryouts are complete and players have been assigned to a team (23/24 Season registration was $1075 for U11-U18 and expect this will increase for the 24/25 season)
• Fees for tryouts are will vary depending on the level selected and these costs can be within RAMP. The tryout fee is a flat fee and covers all tryout sessions, so if a player is released from the AA & A tryouts, they can continue without additional fees at the BB and lower levels. Tryout fees are non-refundable.
• Players registered last season with another OWHA-affiliated association must have a signed Permission to Tryout (PTT) form (Click Here) or a formal release from their previous association.  Before their first tryout session, documentation must be emailed to the Competitive Registrar (compregistrar@gcgh.ca).  Players coming from minor hockey or who have been formally released from their previous OWHA-affiliated association do not require a PTT.
• Players require a GCGH-issued black and grey reversible tryout jersey.  A new one can be purchased separately through the RAMP registration system for $40.
• No player will be allowed onto the ice unless all documentation and fees are in order. 
• Registration can be completed (HERE).

As outlined in the GCGH Policy Manual, harassment, abuse, bullying and misconduct as defined in the OWHA Harassment, Abuse, Bullying and Misconduct Policy will not be tolerated at any time. A member may not be allowed to register if they have been deemed, by the GCGH Board to have exhibited such behavior towards members of the GCGH Board, team staff, players, referees, timekeepers, or other volunteers.

Team Selection:

Team selection will be based on a combination of the tryout sessions, evaluations from the previous season and in certain situations discussions with previous year coaching staff.  Statistics where available, would also be used at the older age levels as a criteria in finalizing a team. 

Each division will have a "Selection Committee."

• Head Coach of the team in that division
• Up to 4 paid/non-paid non-parent evaluators with hockey backgrounds.  Could be coaches from other divisions
• Competitive Director (Sr or Jr), VP or other designate
• For AA teams, the Director and staff of the EO stars will be involved and will play an integral role in the formation of these teams

When a conflict exists after a session, where the ratings and total score seem to differ, the VP Comp or another designee will review against the in-season data and other information.

The Tryout Process:

For 2024 we will be combining some but not all of the tryout levels for certain age groups (eg: U11AA&BB combined, etc), please refer to the tryout schedule for the specific times and their groupings.  These combined sessions will be based on the number of registrants and the ice availability; thus we urge you to register as soon a possible to help in creating a detailed schedule. 

Please choose the level you wish to try out during tryout registration. If you want to change this selection, please notify the VP Comp and Comp Registrar before the start of tryouts. In terms of where your daughter should try out, a good guideline to follow is to start at two levels above your current team with a jump in age counting as one level. For example, if you currently play U15B as a minor then you may want to consider starting at U15A this season.   If you play U15B as a major then you may want to consider starting at U18BB.

• All skaters will attend the initial session for a level, but the session will be divided in into 2-3 groups of skaters. The number of sessions may depend on how many skaters are trying out at that level and if levels are combined.  Due to the large numbers anticipated, it is likely that there will be players released after the first session to the lower-level tryouts.
• A reasonability check using in-season data will be reviewed prior to cuts being made.

Tryout Evaluation Criteria:

Players will be evaluated based on skills such as skating, passing, puck control and shooting as well as their overall score in gameplay in scrimmages.    Actual skill category rankings will be weighted higher at the younger age groups with progressively lower weighting as we move up in age.

Other Information:

• Prior to each level commencing, the parents will receive a document outlining the team's expectations in terms of time commitment and costs.   By continuing with that specific tryout you are agreeing to those expectations. 
• All releases will be done via posting on the GCGH website, therefore check the website frequently for information about releases.  The head coach will contact the final roster for each team.
• GCGH will allow a maximum of 3 players total from Nepean, Kanata or Ottawa to make a team at AA and 3 in total for the remainder of the tryout levels.
• These players are required to be a top 5 Forward or top 3 Defense to be offered a spot at the level they are trying out for.
• There are no restrictions for players from other associations (except Nepean, Kanata or Ottawa) that don't offer the level trying out for. 
• There are no restrictions for any player coming from minor hockey (Boys).
• Due to the shortage of goalies and their critical nature, they will be accepted at all levels and not count against the limits described above.
• GCGH reserves the right to accept the required number of players to completed a team at the lowest competitive level.

Feedback Request: 

Feedback from coaches/evaluators will only be provided to the last players released at each level.  Please allow 24 hrs to pass before reaching out to vpcomp@gcgh.ca to request feedback.  All feedback meetings will be scheduled after all tryouts have been completed and will consist of the board designate, VP Comp, the player, and one neutral person to observe the exchange of information.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Attendance: Injuries or missed tryouts:

• If a player misses a tryout session, an email must be sent to VP Comp (vpcomp@gcgh.ca), the Senior Comp Director (srcompdirector@gcgh.ca) and the Junior Comp Director (jrcompdirector@gcgh.ca) 48 hours in advance.   They will provide you with more info regarding any impacts.
• If a player is unable to participate due to injury, a medical note must be provided to VP Comp stating she is unable to participate and when she is expected to return to play.
• Medical limitations or absence will impact tryouts and placement as this is a very competitive process. The GCGH Competitive Committee evaluation team will use past performance, coaching evaluations, previous season statistics and other pertinent information to place the injured or absent player at the correct level.
• An injury or absenteeism may not mean automatic placement on a competitive team. Any placement by the evaluation team is not appealable.
• The injured or absentee player is still required to register and pay for tryouts to be considered.

Schedule

The dates for tryouts listed (HERE) are subject to change. Please be sure to check for the latest news and updates.  Players may be divided into groups for some sessions and an email will be sent in advance to advise if a player should attend the first or second hour of the session. Please check your SPAM or Junk mail folder frequently during tryouts to avoid missing important notifications.