All Prep Skate and Tryout information, including schedules, rules, releases and any pertinent information, will be posted here first or on the respective level pages.

📌 Please do not send emails requesting schedule updates—this page or the respective level pages will always have the most current information.

Prep Skates begin September 1, 2026

View the full schedule on the Prep Skate Schedule Page 👉 Click or Tap Here

To register for the 2026-27 Blues Tryouts 👉 Click or Tap here

• U14 Body Checking Clinic: Will be offered during one of the prep skate ice times.

Tryout Dates

• September 8-15: U10 - U15
• September 1-15: U6
• September 25 - October 3: U18 TBC

Full details available on the Tryout Schedule Page 👉 Click or Tap here.

There are two steps in the registration process:

• ⚠️ Players must be registered with their home association. Players won't be allowed to participate in the Blue prep skates and tryouts if they aren't registered.
• Blackburn Minor Hockey Association 👉 Click or Tap here
• Eastend Minor Hockey Association 👉 Click or Tap here

• Sign up for the 👉 Blues 2026–27 tryouts, before the respective registration deadlines.
• Registration Deadline for U10 - U16: August 18th
• Registration Deadline for U18: September 18th

A Note on Registration Costs

For the 2026-2027 season, Blues has adjusted our tryout registration fees, team fees (maximum allowable) and top up fees to reflect the following variables.

For the 2024-25 / 2025-26 seasons, as we transitioned to player-owned jerseys, these fees were either reduced, didn’t increase, or modestly increased. At the same time, we also increased ice allotment along with an increase in team/goalie development reimbursements and included team photos last season. We were able to provide this with the funds originally set aside for future replacement jerseys (funds that were no longer required due to the player-owned jersey model).

The fees this year are readjusted as there is no longer a jersey credit as it was only for the first two seasons of the jersey transition, and any other amounts is necessary to reflect rising operational costs. Specifically, costs related to ice rental rates, as well the addition of some costs such as but not limited to: extra playoff ice/officiating (referee) fees due to new playoff format, costs associated with the transition of league paper game sheets to electronic games sheets, and coach honorarium reimbursement (previously included in all individual team budgets). 

We appreciate your understanding as we continue to provide a high-quality hockey experience for our players. 

Tryout Information:

This guide outlines the procedures and expectations for players and families participating in the Blues Competitive Tryouts. Please review the following information carefully to help ensure a smooth, fair, and positive tryout process for all participants.

Tryout attendance is mandatory for selection. To be eligible for selection for one of the Blues teams for the 2026-2027 season, players must register and fully participate in the tryout process by attending all required sessions. Health exceptions for those unable to participate will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Arrival and Check-In

All players must check in at the designated Blues Registration Table before their first tryout session. Upon Check-In:

• Players will be issued a new navy blue and grey reversible tryout jersey along with blues socks, theirs to keep.
• Evaluations shall be completed utilizing that players number to identify them. Every effort should be made to ensure player remain anonymous to evaluators during evaluations.
• Players must wear this same jersey number for all tryout sessions, unless changed by the Blues.
• Before each session the player will be informed of which jersey colour, they are and assigned locker room.

Note: Jersey numbers are used to anonymize players for evaluation purposes, ensuring a fair and unbiased assessment process.

Player Equipment 

To help maintain fairness and ensure evaluators can assess players consistently, all players must wear only the jersey number assigned to them for all tryout sessions.

• Players are asked to remove all team helmet stickers and pant shells (exception: helmet numbers, goalie helmet decals and wraps). Players failing to comply will be sent back into the dressing room to remove these items. This may reduce their ice time.
• All players/goalies must wear all the required protection equipment outlined by Hockey Canada Rule 3.6 – Protective Equipment

Evaluators

Blues is committed to providing a transparent and impartial evaluation process.

• All evaluation sessions shall utilize a minimum of four (4) evaluators, with a goal of having 5-10 evaluators. Ideally, there will be 1 evaluator for every 6-7 players per evaluator. We are targeting to have at least 5 scores per player per session. The key to statistically valid evaluation scores is to collect as high a number of scores as possible. Higher numbers mitigate over and under evaluation of a player’s skills and abilities.
• Evaluators will be independent (non-parent) evaluators, with exception of the Coach.
• Evaluators are selected/approved based on their hockey knowledge, coaching/playing background, experience with player evaluation and objectivity.
• Some evaluators may be positioned on the bench or in the dressing room (following the Two-Deep Rule) to observe interactions, communication, and team conduct more closely.
• The joint-GHA Rep B goalie technical evaluation will be led by an independent (external) goalie specific technical evaluator(s). The Associations will strive to secure an evaluator that best meets the criteria of independence and evaluation skills. It is impossible, however, to guarantee that any goalie-specific evaluator has not previously instructed goalies in the evaluation group.
• The evaluation scoring will be performed by a team of up to 5 evaluators, all who specialize in goaltender training and development. Scoring will be based on a set list of evaluation criteria determined by the Association Reps, the evaluation company leading the technical sessions on ice. The goalies will be ranked in order from strongest to weakest during the sessions and not based on which associations they are from.

Evaluation Criteria (Game and Skills sessions)

Players will be evaluated on a framework that considers technical skills, hockey sense, teamwork, and overall game impact.

• Evaluations will be based solely on performances during these tryouts, as opposed to past seasons or previous levels of competition.
• Previous level of play is not a focus for team selection; i.e. Playing house league last season doesn’t mean you won't be selected; alternatively playing Blues, Rangers, Jr.67’s (or equivalent) last season also doesn’t mean you will be selected.
• Players declared a position(s) or their preference(s) when registering for tryouts and the position will be confirmed at check-in prior to the start of the first session. The Blues Executive reserves the right to meet with players and their guardians regarding a change in position, i.e. evaluation staff feel that a player may be better suited as a defenseman than a forward or vice versa, thus having the best players play at the highest level based
• Declaring position(s) or preference(s) does not guarantee those are the position(s) a player will play during the season, if selected for the team. Coaches reserve the right to play a player in any position they feel is best for the team or best for the player.

Skater Evaluation Categories

Goalie Evaluation Categories

Goalies will be evaluated on position-specific skills, including:

Player Selection

Player selection is based on more than tryout performance alone. Additional factors include previous season conduct, attendance, coachability, positional needs, and overall team dynamics. These elements help ensure that team formation supports both competitive success and a positive developmental environment for all players.

Ice Time During Tryouts

To ensure fair evaluation and promote team-oriented play: 

• Players are expected to self-regulate their shift lengths to provide all participants with adequate ice time.
• Evaluators may assess awareness of shift changes, including unselfish play and line rotation.
• Bench staff will monitor ice time and may adjust as necessary.
• Evaluators may choose to be on the bench to observe player behavior, communication, and bench conduct.

Dressing Room Expectations & Conduct Observations

To provide a well-rounded evaluation: 

• Evaluators, Coaches or Blues Executive may enter dressing rooms to address teams and observe general player characteristics.
• All interactions will follow the “Two-Deep Rule” (two adults present at all times).
• Evaluations will include attitude, listening skills, leadership, and respectfulness in addition to on-ice performance.

Evaluation Schedule, Player Assignments & Player Releases

• The tryout schedule will be on the Blues website. Please be sure to double check the dates, times, and locations of your tryouts before heading out to the rink as information may change without notice.
• An email will be sent and the results will also be published on the website after each session (expected timeframe: late evening/morning the following day). Releases will be posted on the website; player numbers listed will be of those continuing with the tryout process.
• With multiple players of varying skill level, we encourage you not to have any misconceptions of who is or is not in any particular session. Player assignments are made prior to each session to ensure proper ice time distribution. This does not impact the evaluation or release process.
• Not playing in a game (including the final session) does not guarantee a player a spot on the team. Given the numbers, we simply do not have the capacity to have every player play every sessions/game.

Parent and Spectator Conduct

To maintain fairness and allow evaluators to focus on the process: 

• Parents and spectators must not interact with evaluators during or between sessions.
• Parents may not contact evaluators at any time before, during or after evaluations to discuss any part of the process or results.
• All questions or concerns about the tryout process shall be Blues host director or designated tryout coordinators.
• Under no circumstances are parents/friends etc. allowed to video/record other players during their tryouts.

Blues Hockey reserves the right to modify or update any part of this evaluation policy and process at any time without prior notice.