Scouting the tryout camps
Players who attend the various and multiple junior hockey tryout camps are not just showcasing their skills to the team they are trying out for.
As an example, Soo Eagles of the North American Hockey League are holding their second tryout camp of the off-season this weekend in Detroit with well over 100 players in attendance.
And not only will personnel from the Eagles be evaluating the talent but so will scouts from teams in the North American 3 Hockey League, Midwest Jr. Hockey League, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League and the new Canadian International Hockey League.
Let’s face it, there are only so many players who attend an NAHL tryout who are actually going to make the team. Ergo, there are a lot of good hockey players out there who may not make an NAHL roster but are easily good enough to play for a team in a junior league that is just a rung below.
Take the Batchewana Attack of the new CIHL.
The Attack, which will play out of Rankin Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, just across the International Bridge from where the NAHL Eagles reside, is on the prowl for high-end players.
Where better to find high-end players than at an NAHL tryout camp such as the one the Eagles are hosting this weekend?
David Maciuk, who is the director of hockey operations for the new Batchewana entry, is a shrewd, seasoned operator with a feel for the game and an eye for talent.
As Maciuk forms the roster for his Batchewana team in the new CIHL, you can bet he will be in close contact with his long-time friend Bruno Bragagnolo, who is the coach and general manager of the NAHL Eagles.
Maciuk and Bragagnolo coached together for many years within the Chicago Young Americans minor hockey program and have remained close associates.
For starters, Maciuk will be looking to stock the Batchewana roster with as many players from the Sault Ste. Mariea area as he can.
Maciuk has already signed two Soo boys — 1997 birth-year forward Jacob Palmerio and 1996 birth-year defenceman Cade Nolan — and there are others from the area who he has talked to.
As stated, Maciuk is giving Soo boys first priority.
But if players from the Soo decide to not take advantage of the opportunity to sign with the Attack, Maciuk will then refer elsewhere — such as Bragagnolo and other NAHL general managers — to stock and stack Batchewana with American-born talent.
Let’s not forget, in the case of Batchewana and all other teams in the CIHL, Canadian and American players share equal status as non-imports.
If the CIHL, MJHL, NOJHL scout the NAHL camps and recruit their cuts, wouldn’t that mean they offer a lower brand of hockey?
As stated in the article, yes, the NOJHL, MWJHL, NA3HL and CIHL are considered a rung below the NAHL. And I think that most hockey folks will say the same thing.
The NAHL is considered to be the second-best junior hockey league in the USA. In fact, there are some who have it on par with the USHL.
Good points made Randy…FYI our Staff is at Suburban Arena for this Tryout of the Soo Eagles’.
Sorry Randy I have bit my tongue for a couple
of days but seriously Luc. That statement would
be like saying these teams waiting for OHL cuts
would get less talented players. I am not saying
that the Na is on the same level as the O but
it is still a slight notch above jr a. Come on Luc
get it together man stick with it you will be ok.
well well: Are you saying the NA is a notch above EVERY Junior A league?
Well Well:
Don’t understand your post!
If you get cut by an OHL team, it stands to reason you are going to a lesser league.
If you get cut by the NA, are you really going to a lesser league?
Consider: a Canadian player gets cut by an NAHL team but he is really the fifth best player at the tryout but because he is an import, they must release him.
Is he really going to a weaker league? Maybe not.?
I would wager on the RBC champion over the Robertson cup champion in a minute.
Luc,
I will take you up on that CJHL v. NAHL champion wager.
Luc I figured you wouldn’t understand. I actually
do think the NA is a league in between the O
and the CJHL with exception of some legitimate
top teams from out west and one or two from the
south.
well well: Thanks for clearing that up. The recent NHL draft does provide a slightly different take however.
Really does it though there has always been late round CJHL direct players drafted well not really from the NOJHL but hey. he hope is from NHL clubs that they go to college and mature which works out from time to time. But your the fan so have at it.
well well: Thanks again and I almost understood what you just said. LOL.
Yeah I understand people need to talk slow to
you haha
I was waiting for this to come out;
http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=9556
for those of you who think the NA is better than all of CJHL. Legitimate future NHL draft picks in the CJHL but none in the NA. ???
why do you think the NA is so good?