2017 Team DC Tryout Schedule Announced
Team DC Hockey General Manager Tony MacAulay has announced the tryout schedule for 2017 team selections. Team DC will compete in America's Hockey Showcase, a highly scouted USA hockey national high school event, in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 20-24.
The tryout schedule, which includes four dates over 10 days in March, is listed below. The first tryout will take place on Wednesday, March 15, at 4:30 p.m. at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel.
America's Hockey Showcase is for juniors and seniors who played in at least half of their team's high school games and hope to continue playing hockey beyond high school at the junior, ACHA or NCAA level. The event is sanctioned by USA Hockey and includes all-star teams from all over the United States. It is scouted by Under-20 junior hockey programs of all levels as well as ACHA (club) and NCAA college hockey coaches.
"I've seen a lot of great hockey players this year," said MacAulay, the longtime head coach at DeMatha Catholic High School. "This is a very competitive area, and hockey has been growing steadily for quite a few years. The level of play gets better each year, and we have a lot of kids here who have the ability go on and continue playing beyond high school. They just need an opportunity to be seen by the right people, and this event provides that opportunity."
Players are not required to attend every tryout, but are encouraged to make it to as many as they can to maximize their chances of getting a proper evaluation by the coaches selecting the team. Freshmen and sophomores are allowed and encouraged to attend tryouts, but are not eligible to play for Team DC this year. Some underclassmen may be asked to practice with the group once the team is selected. There are a few limited spots on each showcase roster that can be awarded to players who attend a high school that does not sponsor a varsity hockey program.
Archbishop Spalding High School Head Coach and Tri-City Eagles Assistant Hockey Director and 16U AA Head Coach Rob Trantin again will be Team D.C.'s head coach. This will be the seventh year that Team DC has competed in the event, with last year's team posting a 1-2-1 record under Trantin's guidance. He has seen what the showcase has to offer and sees no reason that this year's edition of Team DC can't compete for an opportunity to play for the championship.
"I've seen the talent level for a few years now, and although it is very strong, I'm confident that if the right kids come to tryouts we can put together a team that can advance to the semifinals or beyond," Trantin said. "Most important, though, is for us to put a group of kids who love the sport and really want to keep playing beyond high school so that we can help them achieve that goal. Every kid I've brought to this event has been spoken to by a college or junior scout, and that's what we are most proud of. That's what this is all about."
There will be a small fee to try out for Team DC and additional fees for those who make the team and want to make the trip to Pittsburgh. Those fees will be announced shortly, and registration and other required forms will be added to this website. Fees for those who make the team are all-inclusive for the players and include bus transportation to and from the event as as well as to and from all games, team activities, etc. Also included are room and board for all players. Parents are encouraged to attend the games, but will need to make their own transportation and lodging arrangements.
In the past Team DC players have been taken on tours of local colleges such as Robert Morris University, Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh, and have attended Pittsburgh Pirates games. Similar activities will be included in this year's trip. Since the players will be asked to miss two days of school to compete, we feel that it is important for them to tour the colleges and be productive off the ice as well.
America's Hockey Showcase will take place from April 20-24 at the Island Center, home to Robert Morris University, an NCAA Division I hockey program. The team bus will depart from Gardens Ice House in Laurel on the afternoon of April 19 and return home sometime on Sunday, April 24.
Please keep checking the website for more information about fees and registration forms. In the meantime if you have any questions please email us at TeamDCHockey@gmail.com.
TEAM DC 2017 TRYOUT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, March 15
at Gardens Ice House Laurel, MD
4:30 - 5:50 p.m.
Sunday, March 19
at Gardens Ice House Laurel, MD
3:15 - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 22
at Gardens Ice House Laurel, MD
4:30 - 5:50 p.m.
Sunday, March 26
at Rockville Ice Arena
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Rockville, MD
TENTATIVE TEAM PRACTICE DATES
Wednesday, April 12
Practice at Gardens Ice House
Laurel (Logsdon Rink)
7:00 - 8:50 p.m.
Monday, April 17
Practice at Gardens Ice House
Laurel (Resor Rink)
6:30 - 7:50 p.m.
