10 Hockey Tryout Tips: How to Get Noticed and Make the Team

Are the pre-tryout jitters starting to kick in? Do you feel like you’re ready to jump out of your skin the moment you pull into the rink parking lot? You aren’t alone. Every hockey player, from the mites to the pros, feels that pressure when the clipboard comes out and the evaluators take their seats in the stands.

But here’s the secret: Tryouts aren’t just about who has the flashiest hands or the hardest shot. They are about who is prepared, who is coachable, and who wants it more than anyone else on the ice. I’ve sat on both sides of the glass: as a player and a coach: and I’ve seen the same mistakes made year after year.

If you want to stop worrying about the roster cuts and start focusing on playing your best game, follow these ten tips. This is how you separate yourself from the pack.

10. Get Enough Sleep

It sounds simple, right? Just go to bed. But between school, stacks of homework, and the general chaos of the hockey season, the day can get away from you fast. If you show up to the rink with "heavy legs" because you stayed up until 1 AM scrolling through TikTok or playing video games, you’ve already lost the battle.

Be disciplined. Manage your schedule. When tryout week hits, your priority is recovery. Eliminate the mindless texting and the late-night Netflix binges. Your brain needs rest to process drills quickly, and your muscles need sleep to repair. If you want to be the fastest player on the ice, you need to be the most well-rested player in the locker room. Deep sleep. Peak performance.

9. Focus on What You Eat and Drink

Think of your body like a high-performance engine. You wouldn't put cheap, dirty fuel into a Ferrari, would you? Then why are you eating greasy fast food two hours before a high-stakes tryout? If you want to perform at an elite level, you have to eat a well-balanced diet.

Stay away from heavy, fatty foods that will sit like a rock in your stomach. Avoid caffeinated energy drinks that lead to a massive crash halfway through the second session. About 1-2 hours before your ice time, start your hydration protocol. Don't just chug a gallon of water right before you dress; take consistent drinks every 10-15 minutes. Hydrate. Fuel. Dominate.

8. Check Your Equipment

There is nothing that spikes anxiety faster than realizing you’re missing a shin guard or a sock while everyone else is already hitting the ice. That "scramble" ruins your mental focus. You should be thinking about the first drill, not searching for a spare lace in the bottom of your bag.

The night before, lay everything out. Check your laces for frays. Make sure your helmet screws are tight. Ensure your sticks are taped and ready to go. Being prepared off the ice allows you to be composed on the ice. When you walk into that rink, you should have one thing on your mind: hockey. Everything else should already be handled.

7. Sharpen Your Skates

This is a non-negotiable. I have seen so many kids step onto the ice for the biggest tryout of their year only to realize their edges are gone. It’s discouraging, it’s frustrating, and it’s completely avoidable.

Remember, it is the player's responsibility to know when their skates need a sharpening: not the parents'. Telling your mom or dad that you have "no edges" five minutes before you leave for the rink is a recipe for a fight and a massive spike in stress. Take care of your steel a day or two in advance. Having a fresh edge gives you the confidence to lean into your turns and explode out of your starts. Sharp skates. Sharp game.

6. Be a Great Listener

Nothing aggravates a coach or an evaluator more than a player who doesn't pay attention. When a coach is at the white-board explaining a drill, your eyes should be locked on them. If you don't understand the drill, don't be afraid to ask a quick, smart question.

If you’re still a bit fuzzy on the pattern, don't be the first person in line. Move to the back, watch the first few reps closely, and then step up and knock it out of the park when it’s your turn. Coaches are looking for "coachability." They want players who can take instruction and execute it immediately. Be that player.

5. Communicate on the Ice

Most tryouts devote a huge chunk of time to scrimmaging. This is where most players go silent. They get nervous, they get inside their own heads, and they stop talking. Don't do that.

Be a chatterbox. If you’re open, call for the puck. If you’re in the defensive zone and need a line mate to pick up a man, let them know. Silence on the ice leads to confusion and missed assignments. Constant communication shows the coaches that you are passionate, engaged, and that you have a high "hockey IQ." Leadership isn't always about wearing a "C"; it's about being the loudest, most helpful voice on the ice.

4. You Don't Know When Someone is Watching

From the moment you step out of your car in the rink parking lot, the tryout has begun. You have to assume there are eyes on you at all times. Coaches aren't just looking at your crossover; they are looking at how you carry your bag, how you treat the rink staff, and how you behave on the bench.

Don't get sucked into the "group-think" of players who are screwing around or acting unprofessional. Stay focused on the task at hand. You have a very limited window of time to prove you belong on the top team. Every second you spend goofing off is a second you aren't proving your worth. Eyes up. Focus on.

3. Get Noticed Every Shift

"Getting noticed" doesn't always mean scoring a hat-trick. In fact, most coaches are looking for the "little things" that show grit and determination. They want to see the player who wins the puck battle in the corner, the player who blocks a shot, or the player who puts in a massive back-check to stop a breakaway.

This kind of "grinder" mentality is what wins games. It’s much easier to have the hands to make these plays if you’ve been putting in the work at home on ice hockey slick tiles. When your stickhandling becomes second nature because you’ve spent hours on dryland hockey tiles, you can stop worrying about the puck and start focusing on where you need to be to make an impact. Dig deep. Show some grit.

2. Effort

When it comes down to the final roster spots, coaches are usually choosing between 3 or 4 players who have similar skill levels. Who gets the spot? 99% of the time, it’s the player with the unbelievable work ethic.

Coaches can teach a player how to shoot better, but they can't teach a player how to work hard. Be the first one to the puck. Be the hardest worker in every single drill. This is where your off-ice preparation pays off. If you've been at home putting hundreds of pucks into a hockey practice net, you’ll have the muscle memory to execute under pressure without hesitation. Don’t be the "lazy talent." Be the "unstoppable worker."

1. Enjoy the Process

At the end of the day, we play this game because it’s the greatest sport on earth. You will always perform your best when you are relaxed and having fun. If you’re gripped with fear, your muscles will be tight and your decision-making will be slow.

Take a deep breath. Trust the work you put in during the off-season. Enjoy the smell of the cold air and the sound of the blades on the ice. Leave everything you have out there so that when you walk off the ice, you have no regrets. If you do that, only good things will happen.

Go out there and earn your spot. See you at the rink!

Edited in September 2025 from an original article written in 2016 by Coach Lance Pitlick. Based in the Minneapolis area, Lance is a former NHL player with Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers, played collegiate hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and is a top hockey training professional both in-person and through onlinehockeytraining.com. He is also the founder and former owner of Snipers Edge Hockey.