Four skates. One weighted score. Everything you need is on this page — how your skater is evaluated, the full ice schedule, and the drills they will be asked to run.
Every skater is scored by an independent evaluation team
Your skater receives a final weighted score at the conclusion of their four skates. Scores are assigned by a qualified evaluation team — head coach candidates have zero say in your skater's score, though they may be selecting the remainder of their team at their level.
The first skate is set alphabetically and is purely a basic skills assessment. Those scores determine the first set of pools for Skate 2. From there, pools are updated after each skate based on the skater's cumulative score.
The bottom line
Once all four skates are complete, skaters are ranked by overall score only.
4Skates make up a full tryout, from skills night through full-ice scrimmages.
0Say head coach candidates have in your skater's score. Evaluation is handled by a qualified evaluation team.
1Final weighted score per skater, and rankings are set by that score only.
The four skates
The ice gets bigger as the week goes on
Each day asks a different question of your skater — from individual technique in station work, to decision-making in tight space, to full-ice hockey sense.
Skate 1
Skills
Basic skating, passing and shooting. Every evaluator sees every skater individually and through all phases of the night. Ice is set alphabetically.
Sets the first pools for Skate 2. See the drills your skater will run.
Skate 2
3-on-3 Small Area Games
Skaters are assigned pools per level based purely on their skills score, then rotate in and out of 3-on-3 scrimmages.
Each evaluator scores overall hockey play 1–10. Those scores are averaged into one score for the day.
Skates 3 & 4
Full Ice Scrimmages
Pools are updated based on each skater's cumulative score after each day, then play 5-on-5 full ice.
Evaluated and scored the same way as the small area games.
Team selection
Locks, pick pools, and how a roster fills in
Rankings come from score alone. From there, teams are built from the top down.
Skaters are ranked by overall score only once all four skates are complete.
The top team at any level selects first. The top 50% of that roster size are LOCKS — they cannot be omitted from the team.
The head coach fills the remaining spots from a PICK POOL, which is double the number of picks remaining.
The next 50% of the roster size — the next highest scoring skaters — become the LOCKS for the next team down, and the process repeats through the entire level.
Example — a 14-skater roster
7 Locks — highest scores, guaranteed spots
14 in the pick pool — coach selects 7
7 locks + 7 coach selections from a pool of 14 = a full 14-skater roster.
When each level's tryout is complete, FYHA begins the team selection process. Teams are posted on our website, and players are contacted by their head coach.
Ice schedule
2026 FYHA Tryout Schedule
Every session, September 14 through 26. Use the filter to show only your skater's level.
Show
Monday September 14
5:15 – 6:15 pmBantam SkillsSession 1
6:30 – 7:30 pmBantam SkillsSession 2
7:45 – 8:45 pmBantam SkillsSession 3
Tuesday September 15
6:15 – 7:15 pmU10 Skills
7:30 – 8:30 pmBantam Goalie SkillsGoalies
Wednesday September 16
5:00 – 6:00 pmBantam SAGSession 1
6:15 – 7:15 pmBantam SAGSession 2
7:30 – 8:30 pmBantam SAGSession 3
Friday September 18
5:00 – 6:00 pmU10 SAG
6:15 – 7:15 pmBantam 5-on-5
7:30 – 8:30 pmBantam 5-on-5
Saturday September 19
9:30 – 10:30 amU10 5-on-5
10:45 – 11:45 amSquirt SkillsSession 1
12:00 – 1:00 pmSquirt SkillsSession 2
1:15 – 2:15 pmSquirt SkillsSession 3
2:30 – 3:30 pmSquirt Goalie SkillsGoalies
3:45 – 4:45 pmPeeWee Goalie SkillsGoalies
Sunday September 20
8:15 – 9:15 amBantam 5-on-5Final day
9:30 – 10:30 amBantam 5-on-5Final day
1:15 – 2:15 pmU10 5-on-5Final day
2:30 – 3:30 pmPeeWee SkillsSession 1
3:45 – 4:45 pmPeeWee SkillsSession 2
5:00 – 6:00 pmPeeWee SkillsSession 3
Monday September 21
5:15 – 6:15 pmSquirt SAG
6:30 – 7:30 pmSquirt SAG
Tuesday September 22
5:00 – 6:00 pmPeeWee SAG
6:15 – 7:15 pmPeeWee SAG
Wednesday September 23
5:00 – 6:00 pmSquirt 5-on-5
6:15 – 7:15 pmSquirt 5-on-5
Thursday September 24
5:00 – 6:00 pmPeeWee 5-on-5
6:15 – 7:15 pmPeeWee 5-on-5
Saturday September 26
8:15 – 9:15 amSquirt 5-on-5Final
9:30 – 10:30 amSquirt 5-on-5Final
1:15 – 2:15 pmPeeWee 5-on-5Final
2:30 – 3:30 pmPeeWee 5-on-5Final
No sessions scheduled for that level.
No sessions are scheduled Thursday, September 17 or Friday, September 25. Goalie skills sessions are marked separately — note that Bantam and PeeWee goalies skate on a different day than their skaters.
Skills night drills
What your skater will be asked to do
Skills night covers basic skating, passing and shooting. Every evaluator sees every skater individually and through all phases of the night. Drills vary by level — use the tabs to find your skater’s sheet.
U10 & Squirt — Day 1 skater drills
Five stations, ten minutes each. Skaters run every direction on every drill.
Drill 1 — Transitions
10 min
Forward around the first circle.
Transition at the top of the circle, then transition again at the bottom of the circle.
Backwards around the third circle.
NotesSkaters go from opposite corners at both ends at the same time. Two reps, then switch corners so players go both directions.
Drill 2 — Power turns & cone weave
10 min
With puck, three power turns toward the boards.
Five-cone weave, finishing with a shot.
NotesOpposite sides go at the same time. Three reps, then switch corners so players turn both directions.
Drill 3 — Cones with transitions
10 min
With pucks, players go through the cones with transitions and finish with a shot.
NotesGo through three times, then run it from the opposite side in the reversed direction.
Drill 4 — Transitions & passing
10 min
With puck, out and transition around the cone, then backwards back to the line.
With puck, out and power turn at the cone, then make a pass back to the next player in line.
NotesAll three lines run the same drill in the same direction. Three reps, then change direction for three more, then move to part 2 and repeat three times in each direction.
Drill 5 — Shooting off the circles
10 min
With puck from the corner, forward around the circle, take a shot from the slot.
Retrieve the puck from the corner, around the second circle, and finish with another shot.
NotesThree reps, then switch corners and direction.
Bantam and PeeWee skater drill sheets will be posted here before their skills nights.
Goalies — skills night
A crease warm-up followed by four evaluation stations.
Warm-up skate
Goal line to blue line
Shuffles
T-pushes
T-push, set feet, butterfly — T-push, set feet, butterfly
Crease drills
V drill
Butterfly at the top, recover to feet at the post
Butterfly slide from top to post, recover back to the middle on feet
Butterfly slide from top to post, recover back to the middle on knees
Butterfly at the top, recover to the post on knees, recover back to the middle on feet
Butterfly at the top, recover to the post on knees, recover back to the middle on knees
X drill — goalie starts on the post, shuffles post to post, T-push to the opposite corner of the crease, T-push back to the same post, repeat
W drill — goalie starts on the corner of the crease, backs to the post, T-pushes to the middle, back to the opposite post, out to the corner of the crease
Y drill (breakaway simulation) — starts on the post, moves to the top middle of the crease, takes a few strides out of the crease, backs up, moves to the opposite post
Station 1
Evaluated on
Lateral movement
High saves
Positioning
Rebound control
Shooter 1 starts on the faceoff dot. Shooter 2 starts in the high slot, opposite side of Shooter 1. Shooter 3 starts in the middle of the blue line. Shooter 4 starts on the opposite faceoff dot.
Goalie starts lined up with Shooter 1.
Shooter 1 passes to Shooter 2; goalie follows.
Shooter 2 passes to Shooter 3; goalie follows.
Shooter 3 passes to Shooter 4; goalie follows.
Shooter 4 shoots high. All shooters play the rebound until the puck is covered, under the goalie line, or in the net.
Needs 4 shooters, net, pegs. Can be run in the neutral zone with the crease drawn on the ice.
Station 2
Evaluated on
Positioning
Rebound control
Shooter 1 starts at the top of the circles with pucks. Shooter 2 starts below the opposite circle with pucks.
Shooter 1 takes a low shot; goalie makes the save.
Goalie recovers to Shooter 2, who has the option to take a shot or wrap the puck around.
Both shooters play the rebound until the puck is covered, under the goalie line, or in the net.
Needs 2 shooters, net, pegs. Run in the zone.
Station 3
Evaluated on
Positioning
Rebound control
High shots
Low shots
Lateral movement
Shooter 1 and Shooter 2 start at the neutral zone dots, each with pucks.
Both take off at the same time toward the net, with Shooter 1 carrying the puck.
Shooter 1 has the option to shoot or pass to Shooter 2. The shot must be taken before the player reaches the slot, and the drill is limited to one pass.
Both shooters play the rebound until the puck is covered, under the goalie line, or in the net.
Needs 2 shooters, net, pegs. Run in the zone.
Station 4
Evaluated on
Lateral movement
Low saves
Positioning
Rebound control
Shooter 1 is at the faceoff dot with pucks. Shooter 2 is in the high slot with pucks.
Goalie starts square to Shooter 1.
Shooter 1 shoots low to the far side.
After the save, the goalie recovers to the middle and squares up with Shooter 2 — on feet or on knees, reading the play.
Shooter 2 shoots low.
Back to Shooter 1 to start over.
Needs 2 shooters, net, pegs. Can be run in the neutral zone with the crease drawn on the ice.
We sincerely hope this is helpful to our members and our skaters. We all understand there can be a lot of anxiety for everyone involved in this part of the season, and we are continuing to make every effort to minimize that for every child.
Can. Not. Wait. to get the squads going on their seasons.
Coming next: one more email goes out the weekend before Monday, September 14 with arrival details, what to wear to tryouts, and other general information.
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