Tryouts will be held in April/May for the following Girls Tier 1 teams: U9, U11, U13, U15, U18
Player Eligibility
To be eligible for tryouts, player must complete the tryout registration link below (please select the correct link for your age division) and make payment in full. In addition, if player did not play in St. Marys in the previous season, a signed Permission to Tryout (PTT) form will be required prior to the first tryout skate.
Tryout Fee is $70 payable at the time of completing online tryout registration. Tryout fee is non-refundable.
Tier 1 U9, U11, U13, U15, U18 TRYOUT REGISTRATION LINK
Tryout Attendance, Evaluation and Selection
Players looking to play Tier 1 hockey must attend tryouts held for that team.
Players have the opportunity to participate in the first three (3) tryout skates prior to player release. Players must participate in at least one (1) of the tryout skates to be deemed eligible to be selected.
Please note there are no player releases as part of the U9 player selection process. All U9 players can participate in all tryout skates (if registered and tryout fee paid).
Any player unable to attend tryouts may be given an opportunity to try out and/or be selected for the team per the following conditions:
- The player played Tier 1 or equivalent hockey the previous season and has an injury or commitment preventing participation as deemed reasonable, verifiable, and acceptable to SMMHA.
- The player played Tier 1 or equivalent hockey the previous season and recently moved to the area.
- The player was released from higher level hockey and is eligible to play.
- The player presents any additional circumstance deemed reasonable, verifiable, and acceptable to SMMHA.
A player not able to attend tryouts and seeking to be considered per one of the above criteria, must submit a written (email) request to the attention of the SMMHA 1st Vice President. All requests will be reviewed/verified by the Coaches Committee (CC).
Individuals running the on-ice tryouts must possess the required OHF Police VSC and individuals participating in exhibition games must possess both a OHF Police VSC and Coach/Trainer certification(s). All individuals must not have a real or potential/perceived conflict of interest with any of the players in the tryout process.
Player evaluations will be based on Hockey Canada player evaluation criteria. The SMMHA CC shall appoint an Evaluation Panel to oversee tryout player evaluations. The Evaluation Panel will consist of five (5) members: Head Coach, CC Division Rep, and a minimum of three (3) independent evaluators.
The Evaluation Panel has the responsibility for evaluating players and the Head Coach has the responsibility of evaluating players and selecting the team roster. Head Coaches are not permitted to make final player offers/selections without first reviewing and validating their selections with the Evaluation Panel. If a Head Coach's selections are not reasonably consistent with the assessment of the Evaluation Panel, escalation may occur to the Coaches Committee for resolution. All OHF and OWHA player selection rules must be followed.
Team selection will be communicated using the SMMHA website, under the team page. Players listed on the team site are those players continuing in the tryout process. No player releases will be conducted in-person at the arena. Head Coaches may elect to meet with select players during the final selection stage as these can sometimes be the hardest choices and it will afford the Head Coach an opportunity to explain the decision. Final team roster will be posted on the team site within 24 hours after the final tryout skate.
Players/Parents must abide by the 24hr Rule prior to seeking tryout feedback. Player tryout feedback is always available, but player evaluations will not be disclosed.
At the first tryout skate, the Head Coach and Division Rep will host a parent/player meeting to review the tryout process, expectations of players, upcoming season plan (i.e. tournaments, training etc.) and answer any questions.
The SMMHA 24hr Rule applies to the entire tryout process. All communication during tryouts should be directed to the Division Rep and not the Head Coach and/or Evaluation Panel. The Division Rep will liaise with the Head Coach as required. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in the player being ineligible for selection.
Underage Players
Any player that is underage and is looking to tryout for an older Rep team can do so in accordance with OHF and OWHA regulations and rules. To be eligible, the player must be considered top three (3) in skill within the older Rep team, where top 3 is truly exceptional player status. No player has the right to play up to an older Rep team. If a player is approved to attend tryouts of an older Rep team and is released, the player must continue tryouts with their own age team. Any goalie looking to tryout for an older Rep team must possess skills better than all goalies at that age division and their movement cannot displace a goalie nor deplete their own age division from having adequate goalkeeping.
Players seeking to tryout for an older Rep team must submit a written (email) request to SMMHA VP1 Coach Convenor five (5) days prior to first tryout ice time. Requests will be considered by the Evaluation Panel and Coaches Committee. The SMMHA Executive reserves the right to make all final decisions on all player movement.