Team Placement FAQs
Q: When are the tryouts and where do I register?
A: For the 2024-2025 CSHL season, tryouts are April 22 - 26. Registration must be completed online.
Q: What is the cost to tryout?
A: $250 for skaters / $150 for goalies. This is a one-time, nonrefundable registration fee. $100 is applied to your player's season fees if offers are accepted. This fee covers all tryout days, plus supplemental tryout sessions (if necessary).
Q: What is the payment structure?
A: A $250 for skaters / $150 for goalies nonrefundable tryout and placement fee is due at registration checkout. The balance of your assessment is then divided into 5 equal installments. The first installment is collected when you accept your team offer and the rest to be billed monthly starting July 1st.
Q: What should I expect regarding the amount of travel?
A: We have 2 practices a week and 1-2 games per weekend. The season begins mid-August and ends in March. We have home and away games. Games are played mostly in the Cleveland Area apart from divisions that include Fremont teams. Typically, each team will choose to play in 2-4 tournaments a year. Some of the tournaments will be local and some can be away.
Q: Who do I contact if I have questions beforehand?
A: Email is the preferred method: president@strongsvillehockey.com
Q: Who do I contact if I have questions onsite?
A: We will have members of the SYHC Leadership team at the sign-in area during all tryouts sessions to answer questions. If they do not know the answer to a question, they will take your information and follow-up as soon as possible.
Q: What is the cost if my player makes the team?
A: The cost varies by age level. Current pricing is available on the [Programs] page.
Q: What if we are not available for one or more days of tryouts?
A: Contact webmaster@strongsvillehockey.com . All players must attend every tryout; however, we reserve the right to leave spots open and hold a supplemental tryout at a later date. For example, if a player is injured or sick at the time of tryouts.
Q: Can you tell me more about the evaluation process?
A: Each evaluation will be attended by a panel of reviewers. Members on this panel include the hockey director, coaches from local high school programs, and other independent evaluators with hockey knowledge. Each evaluator completes a form for each player consisting of numbered scores and notes. These score sheets are compiled to ensure consistency and combine scores into a cumulative average per player.
From these scores, all players are ranked. Once the final skate is finished the selection panel reviews the rankings and deliberates on the team. The hockey director is the only person with veto power and full accountability. All questions regarding player selection should be directed to Corey Hicar, SYHC Hockey Director (hockeydirector@strongsvillehockey.com)
Q: What are the evaluators looking for?
A: The best hockey players. The Club is looking for athletes that are highly coachable with strong, positive attitudes. The evaluators are also looking for individuals who are focused and take instruction.
Q: When can I meet the coach?
A: Coaches will usually hold a group meeting or social function in summer to make introductions and start team building. In addition, SYHC holds several skills and conditioning skates over the summer months. These are run by a group of coaches by age level. Contact information is provided at the time of rostering.
Q: Who makes the final selection for the teams?
A: SYHC Hockey Director, Corey Hicar. He will use the evaluation results from our panel and consult with each teams' head coach to place the final few players whose skills straddle two teams (i.e., players on the "bubble").
Q: When are selections posted?
A: Team assignments will be made after 14 days of the last Club assessment. Team assignments will be posted in the Crossbar app and emails will sent to the family contacts. Players who do not make a team this season will receive a phone call to discuss other hockey experiences that we can help offer them.
Q: How is league divisional team placement decided? (i.e., AA, A1, B1, etc.)
A: Teams are placed in the CSHL with input from the coaching staff. The hockey director makes the final decision on level of play based upon his evaluation of where the team will be best suited to continue their skill development. Our league has a rigorous pre-season process that uses formulated scrimmages along with scoring algorithms to validate teams' skill levels and make final placements.