2019 Team DC Tryouts Announced
Team DC Hockey General Manager Tony MacAulay has announced the tryout schedule for 2019 team selections. Team DC will compete in America's Showcase St. Louis, a highly scouted USA Hockey national high school event, in St. Louis, Mo., April 11-15, 2019.
The tryout schedule, which includes five dates starting March 10, is listed below. The first tryout will take place on Sunday, March 10 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:20 p.m. at Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge, Va.
America's Showcase St. Louis 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.
"Every year it seems like our area produces more quality hockey players who hope to pursue the sport beyond high school," said MacAulay, the longtime head coach at DeMatha Catholic High School. "Hockey is growing tremendously in the DMV area, with the caliber of play and number of quality players increasing yearly. With more kids looking to play hockey beyond 18U and high school, the first step toward reaching that goal is is to play in an event like this and be seen by the right people."
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.
Returning to serve as head coach this year is Joe Vonakis. Vonakis played junior hockey with the Jr. Flyers before going on to skate for Towson University's ACHA Division I team. More recently he was named ACHA National Coach of the Year while guiding the U.S. Naval Academy women's program, which he has coached since the 2016-17 season. Vonakis also has coached at the high school level and is the Hockey Director for the Navy Youth Hockey program. Last year he led Team DC to a 3-1 record and a victory over A Pool-opponent Team Midwest. Joining Vonakis on the bench again will be Ben Hammock, a former Tier 3 junior, ACHA and youth AAA coach who is a Quebec Tier 1 junior scout.
"We want to improve each year and be competitive against teams from the more traditional hockey areas around the country," Vonakis said. "We took a step forward last year, and the goal is to keep improving. The better you do, the more opportunities there are for players to get seen by scouts. Most important, we want to continue our streak of having every player on the roster talked to by a junior or college scout."
The cost to try out for Team DC is $130. You can CLICK HERE to register. There will be additional fees for those who make the team and want to make the trip to St. Louis. Last year, the fee for players was $750, but that may change slightly this year depending on flight costs. Those fees, which will NOT BE less than $750, will be announced shortly, 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 all transportation to and from the event as as well as to and from all games, all team activities, etc. Also included are hotel room fees and some meals. Parents are encouraged to attend the games, but will need to make their own transportation and lodging arrangements as we will travel to and from the event as a team.
In the past, Team DC players have been taken on tours of local colleges such as Robert Morris University, Duquesne University, Chatham University, Lindenwood Universty and the University of Pittsburgh, and have attended professional sporting events in the host city. Similar activities will be included in this year's trip. Since the players will be asked to miss AT LEAST 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 Showcase St. Louis will take place from April 11-15 in the St. Louis area. More details on the event will be provided shortly.
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 DMVProspects@gmail.com.
TEAM DC 2018 TRYOUT SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 10
at Prince William Ice Center, Woodbridge, VA
11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13
at Gardens Ice House, Laurel, MD
4:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.
Sunday, March 17
at Reisterstown Sportsplex, Reisterstown, MD
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 20
at Gardens Ice House, Laurel, MD
4:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.
Sunday, March 24
at Reisterstown Sportsplex, Reisterstown, MD
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
