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USA Hockey Updates National Bound Tryout Date Restrictions

By Mass Hockey, 02/10/21, 5:00PM EST

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Mass Hockey to allow "closed" National Bound tryouts as of March 13

On February 8, 2021 the USA Hockey Executive Board voted to approve updated language to the current tryout restrictions that all “National Bound” teams are required to follow. The existing rule prohibits any team/program from conducting tryouts for a National Bound team until a minimum of 48-hours after the conclusion of the USA Hockey National Championships.

Due to Covid-19 issues and the decision to move of the dates for this season’s USA Hockey National Championships until early May, USA Hockey voted to allow any affiliate (Massachusetts Hockey) to conduct tryouts early if they so desire, upon written notice to the Youth Council. Any permitted early tryouts are required to be “closed”, meaning that they are only open to players who are currently registered and played in the affiliate as of 12/31/20. Any players not meeting that criteria and wishing to tryout for a National Bound team in Massachusetts for the 2021-22 season are prohibited from trying out or being offered a contract until the traditional date as governed in the USA Hockey Annual Guide (May 5, 2021 at 4pm for the 2021-22 season). Massachusetts has submitted a request and has been approved to conduct early "closed" tryouts for its National Bound teams as of Saturday March 13, 2021.

Here are the earliest tryout/contract offer dates for ALL Massachusetts Hockey programs:

March 13, 2021: Any Tier I or Tier II teams (14u, 15, 16u, 18u and 19u) intending to register and participate in the 2021-22 National Bound tournament.

March 15, 2021: All other teams (All levels and all age-groups for both town and/or club programs that are NOT intending to enter the National Bound tournament).

Age Group Categorty Tryouts Can Begin
8u, 10u, 12U Youth & Girls March 15, 2021
14u, 16u, 18u, 19u

Youth & Girls

(National Bound)

March 15, 2021
14u, 15, 16u, 18u, 19u

Youth & Girls 

(National Bound)

March 13, 2021

"Closed" Tryouts

 

Penalties for Non-Compliance: If any association does not comply with this rule, they will be ineligible to participate in any Mass Hockey State Tournament for the following season at the specific age classification that held the tryouts prior to the specified date. If the violation occurs within a National Bound age group, the association will be ineligible to participate in the National Bound State Tournament for three seasons. Additionally, associations may lose their membership and good standing status with Mass Hockey and USA Hockey, lose access to USA Hockey's Registration Portal and be unable to prepare rosters or register teams. Any violation of this rule results in the offending coach not being eligible for the 2021 national tournament and the offending coach and team that violates this rule shall be not in good standing and ineligible for the 2022 national tournament. 

Questions may be sent to: tryouts@mahockey.org