🏒 Hockey tryout season is here… and for many families, that means nerves, pressure, and a lot of unanswered questions.

What are coaches actually looking for?
How are teams really selected?
And what should parents and players focus on when the stakes feel high?

In this annual Our Kids Play Hockey Tryout Episode, hosts Lee Elias, Christie Casciano-Burns, and Mike Bonelli break down the reality of youth hockey evaluations — from both the parent perspective and the coach’s perspective.

This episode takes you behind the scenes of team selection, giving families practical advice on how to navigate tryout season with the right mindset.

Spoiler alert: It’s not just about goals and assists.

The hosts dive into what coaches truly value at the youth level — including attitude, work ethic, teamwork, and development potential — and why the team your child makes should be based on where they’ll grow the most, not just the letters on the jersey.

They also tackle some of the biggest misconceptions around youth hockey tryouts, including why most coaches already have a good sense of players long before evaluations begin.

Most importantly, this conversation reminds parents and players that tryouts are just one moment in a long hockey journey.

🏒 In This Episode, We Cover:

Why tryouts shouldn’t define your player’s hockey future
The biggest mistakes parents make during evaluation season
What coaches are actually evaluating at the 10U level
Why development matters more than team labels
How coaches think about building a balanced roster
The importance of environment, attitude, and team culture
What players should focus on to stand out for the right reasons
How parents can support their kids without adding pressure

💡 The Message for Players

Be the hardest worker on the ice.

That’s advice shared by Olympian Hayley Scamurra and echoed throughout this episode. Effort, attitude, and love for the game are the things coaches notice most.

💬 The Message for Parents

Before your child walks into tryouts, remember the three things they really need to hear:

❤️ I love you no matter what happens out there.
🏒 I love watching you play.
💪 Work hard, have fun, and learn something.

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