TrailBlazer Players & Parents,

As the regular season and playoffs begin to wind down across North America and around the world, we wanted to share with you what we feel are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT player tips going into Spring Tryout Camps.

TrailBlazer Hockey Spring Camp Tryout Tips

It is IMPORTANT to understand what GM’s, Coaches & Scouts are looking for at Spring Tryout Camps and what you need to show them.
First and foremost, every player should have his or her own identity going into tryout camps. You need to be unique in your own way based on your unique personal skills & abilities. And you must be very honest with yourself related to your self assessment for this. If you do not have your own IDENTITY as a player, you run the risk you are “invisible” to the GM, Coaches & scouts. You have likely heard the term “a million shades of grey”. This term is used in the scouting world often and is typically used when scouts are watching a game and they see no one on the ice that is doing anything unique or showing a skill that jumps out at them, that no one else on the ice is doing. This is NOT good if you are a player trying to earn a spot!

FORWARDS:
A typical hockey team needs 6-forwards who are offensively skilled, can put the puck in the net, and/or are great play makers. Those 6-players will make up the top 2-lines on a team. That team will also want 3-players that are close to being in that top 6, but maybe don’t have the high-end offensive skills yet, but show the potential. They show a bit of decent offensive skills with upside potential, along with some solid defensive skills that make them a well-balanced player that can play in all areas of the ice. Those players will typically make up the 3rd line. Last, but certainly not least are the role players that every team needs. These are players that might bring energy to a team, typically are bigger more physical players, are willing to fight if required and are often the most popular players on a team. These are the 4th line players.

DEFENSE:
From a defense position, hockey teams will typically be looking for 1, possibly 2 offensively skilled D that you might hear termed as “mobile, puck movers”. They also need 3-4 rock solid “shut down” D that are usually bigger bodies that are physical and can prevent goals in their own net. A D unit is then often rounded out with 1 or 2 D that might be younger and are being groomed for future years to be the next “shut down” D or future “mobile, puck mover”. These will be the 3rd D pairing and typically won’t get near as much ice time as Top 4 D.

GOALIE:
Finally, and maybe MOST IMPORTANT of all – every team needs a Goalie that can win them games by him or herself. Every single GM & Coach you talk to at any level of hockey will tell you a GREAT goalie is by far the MOST IMPORTANT component of a great hockey team. Ultimately teams need to find goalies in camp that can stop almost every puck coming at them. If a goalie has a bad camp and let’s in some soft goal’s, there is a strong possibility you will not move on from that camp, regretfully. Further, the goalie position remains likely the one position that is most biased toward SIZE. Right or wrong, this is a fact of life in hockey at the vast majority of levels. So, if you are an above average height goalie, you are instantly going to be placed ahead of any average height or below average height goalies at the camp. Remember what I mentioned earlier about standing out, doing something to catch coaches’ attention and NOT being a “million shades of grey?” For a goalie nothing screams out like being 5’10’ – 6’ for females or 6’4” plus for males. This all said, there absolutely is still great opportunity for average and below average height goalies. You just have to be that much better at keeping the puck out of the next then the BIG goalie. If it’s a tie when coaches look to make a decision on a goalie, the BIGGER goalie will win the position 99% of the time.

Player Tangibles & Intangibles at Tryout Camps
Our players that have been with TrailBlazer Hockey for a couple years will have heard how important showing your player TANGIBLES & INTANGIBLE traits at tryout camps are. A bit about both:

TANGIBLES:
Tangible player traits include body size, skating & playmaking abilities, physical play, ability to put pucks in the net or as a goalie the ability to keep pucks out of the net. Tangible skills are typically skills you either have – or you don’t. Tangible skills typically take months if not years to develop.

INTANGIBLES:
Intangible player traits include your effort – how hard you work on the ice, do you skate onto the ice hard as well as off hard on a change, do you engage in puck battles like that puck is the last puck on earth, do you have good body language or bad body language (bad body language will get a player cut in itself), are you a good teammate on the ice and on the bench (do you tap teammates on the pads after good plays, do you console your goalie after a bad goal, do you stand up for a smaller player in a scrum, etc.), are you polite and professional when you interact with any of the team staff, are you neatly dressed & groomed (this does NOT mean suits / business wear or expensive clothes & jewelry) – blue jean or casual shorts, clean sneakers and a polo shirt are more than adequate for most camps when coupled with well kept hair and good hygiene when you report to the rink. INTANGIBLE traits are 100% in a players control! You can choose to do them, or not. Your decision in this area will play a key role on if you move on in the camp – or go home. It most definitely helps differentiate you from any other players who choose not to leverage these INTANGIBLE traits at spring camp. Sometimes this can be the difference maker when coaches are making a decision on two players who showed EQUAL tangible skills on the ice. The player demonstrating great INTANGIBLE skills will win the tie breaker every time!



I hope you find these tips insightful and helpful. Should any of your have questions or require support in this area leading up to your tryout camps please do reach out to your Family Advisor assigned to you.

Wishing you all the best at these upcoming camps and we look forward to any updates you wish to share during or coming out of these camps.

Thank you for your ongoing support and trust in TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors, we feel honoured and privileged to work with such a great group of players and parents!

All the Best,
Wayne

The post TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors’ Newsletter | March 2024 first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

We felt it important to update you all on what we view as the short term and potential longer-term impacts of Brooks Bandits, Okotoks Oilers, Blackfalds Bulldogs, Sherwood Park Crusaders and Spruce Grove Saints leaving the AJHL.

First some brief background, late last week news leaked that the 5-AJHL teams had secretly negotiated agreement with the BCHL to join their league in 2024-25 – WITHOUT informing the AJHL of their intentions. This leak forced the BCHL and 5-AJHL teams to make their intentions public in a formal press release. As a result, the AJHL reacted by postponing any AJHL games involving these 5-teams playing any other AJHL team, while they work with the CJHL and Hockey Canada to determine any other sanctions – as well as determine a longer-term strategy for the AJHL as a whole.

We feel it is also important to understand the background of the BCHL and their similar decision to leave Hockey Canada in 2023 off season, and the results YTD. Some of the rational the BCHL gave at the time for leaving Hockey Canada was to raise the level of play by allowing Europeans, create more
opportunities for BC born players, etc.. It is also important to know that our understanding is that NOT all BCHL teams were in agreement to leave Hockey Canada and some abstained from voting. Regretfully to date in our opinion some of these goals the BCHL had hoped to achieve have NOT been achieved
…though admittedly it is only the 1 st year playing in an UNSANCTIONED environment.

Currently, 6 of the top 10 in BCHL scoring are American born players. Also, 13 of the top 20 scorers are American born. Further, only ONE of the Canadian born players in the top 20 of scoring is from BC. The other Canadian players currently in the top 20 of scoring are from Quebec and Ontario. So, the BCHL goal of wanting to develop more BC born players is not overly evident when you look at the rosters and the current leading players.

As for Europeans in the BCHL, there currently is only 1- European skater ( Johannes Løkkeberg – Norway) in the top 50 of BCHL scoring. There is a total of 4- Europeans in the top one hundred of BCHL scoring. So, the idea of bringing HIGH IMPACT Europeans to raise the level of play in the BCHL would not appear to have occurred in this first season of UNSANCTIONED play outside Hockey Canada regulation. For goalies, Europe is well known for producing ELITE goalies yet currently there is only 1 – European goalie (Gleb Artsatbanov – Ukraine) in the BCHL Top 10 for Save %. Further, there are only 3 – BC born goalies in the Top 10 Save % and the remainder are from other provinces outside BC and /or from the USA.

So even though it is admittedly early in the process for the BCHL making and playing under their own rules, it does appear that many of their desired outcomes will materialize in the 2023-24 season.

Now back to the current situation and lively topic of the 5 – AJHL teams that collaborated and struck a deal with the BCHL to join their loop in 2024-25 without sharing those talks or that intent with the AJHL, CJHL & Hockey Canada.

Our view at TrailBlazer Hockey is that allowing ALL teams to have freedom of choice is absolutely their right and privilege. We also strongly support open competition as we feel that ultimately drives innovation and efficiencies.

With that all said, we also feel it is also important to be open and honest in one’s communication with their current league and associations they belong to – and operate under. Without that you have zero trust and everyone will be continually be looking over their shoulders. Not and ideal operating
environment as I am sure you might agree.

That brings us to the AJHL’s decision to then suspend games involving these 5 – teams and any other AJHL team not leaving. Lots of people are debating whether that is the right thing to do – or not. There are lots of good arguments supporting both sides of that decision, but ultimately governance and
leadership is put in place to make those decisions for the better of all players and organizations. And we are entrusting they are doing that given the tough situation they have been presented with. It can’t be an easy job and one we don’t envy.

Related, we also feel it important to note that in parallel to above there are some fairly strong rumours that some of the existing BCHL franchises are not happy with the new UNSANCTIONED environment and may be looking to return to the newly created Junior A leagues still operating under BC Hockey, the CJHL and Hockey Canada. This could create even more turmoil and churn over the coming off-season or two.

In summary, our observations and recommendations to our clients are the following:

• Stand pat, do NOT panic nor let these events bother you overly much at this time
• Though it is very tumultuous at this time, and there will be some short-term pain for the players involved, we are confident things will get worked out by all parties involved so that the 2024-25 season should proceed reasonably normally
• We do NOT see the AJHL ever going away, it will always exist in some format for the foreseeable future
• We also do NOT see the BCHL going away, it will always exist in some form
• Spring Tryout Camps will proceed as normal, so we will be planning same as we always do for our players – and you can do the same
• Any players who were planning to specifically attend Spring Camps for any of the 5 – AJHL teams will want to just review and consider if playing non-sanction hockey in the BCHL is what you want or if you would rather remain in the existing AJHL under CJHL and Hockey Canada. The decision is 100% up to each individual but we are happy to help you assess and decide
• Any players currently rostered or LOI’d for 2024-25 to any of the 5 – AJHL teams leaving for the BCHL, we will be working one on one with them to develop a plan unique to those individuals

We hope you find this update insightful and helpful for the interim. You can entrust that as your Advisors we will be closely monitoring the discussions and decisions that will be happening over the coming days, weeks and months and keeping you informed as best we can. But should you have any
worries or questions for us at any time please do reach out to your TrailBlazer Hockey Family Advisor at any time. We are here to support you!

The post Update on the 5 AJHL Teams Leaving the AJHL first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

It’s that time of the year when Main Camp tryouts are beginning and players will be competing for positions for
the 2023-24 season.

This is a nerve-racking and stressful time for both players and their families, but if you prepare the
correct way and understand what coaches will be looking for it can greatly improve your performance
and thus your chances of making the team, while helping to eliminate much of your stress and anxiety.
What coaches typically look for can be divided into two categories:

1) Tangibles
2) Intangibles

Let’s first look at “tangibles”. Tangible characteristics are a player’s actual physical skills and abilities. For
forwards and defencemen, this includes such things as a player’s size, skating, puck handling, passing
shooting, shot-blocking abilities, use of deception, IQ, whether the player wins puck battles – to name a
few key areas. For goalies, tangible characteristics can include size, skating, ability to play the puck
outside the crease, ability to eliminate rebounds, quickness, tracking the puck, and overall technical
form.

Tangible characteristics are the base skills a player needs to demonstrate he or she should be considered
a serious prospect for the team. Obviously the better the player is at each of these individual tangible
skills, the better their chance is to make the team they are trying out for.

Now let’s look at the “intangibles” coaches look for. There are two categories of intangibles – enhancing
and diminishing intangibles.

1) Enhancing intangible characteristics include, passion, effort, leadership, and compete level.

2) Diminishing intangible characteristics include things such as a lack of enhancing characteristics,
as well as displaying bad body language (this is a “killer”), selfishness, not being a team player or
even parents who interfere with the tryout process in negative ways.

It is important to note that intangible characteristics are essentially 100% within the control of the
player and family. If a player and family exhibit enhancing intangible characteristics, it greatly enhances
the perception and value of the player in the eyes of coaches and his team. Further, if a player and
family ensure they do NOT exhibit any of the diminishing intangible characteristics – that too is also a
positive.

In summary, when players participate in main camp tryouts, it is important to pay attention to both the
tangible and intangible characteristics cited above. The tangibles are often what players tend to focus on
and that’s great, but do NOT forget about the intangibles! Coaches LOVE players that work hard, skate
hard on and off the bench, show leadership, congratulate their teammates after goals, or pump them up
on the bench between shifts. They also like players who help others out on and off the ice, stand up for
their teammates, the players that help clean up the dressing room without being asked to, and those
that are polite & kind to all others.

By displaying both tangible and intangible skills at main camp tryouts, you will greatly
enhance your value in the eyes of coaches and thus improve your odds of making the team!

The post Player Tips for Main Camp Tryouts first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

We are now moving into the time of the year when hockey teams at all levels begin seriously recruiting players for the upcoming season.

There are a few extremely important things that players and their parents need to be aware of as they navigate the recruiting and signing process, particularly if they do not use the services of a professional, knowledgeable & trustworthy Family Advisor.

If as a player you are made an offer by a team, make sure you fully understand what the offer is and don’t ever just “assume”! Get it “In Writing”! You have very little or sometimes absolutely no financial or legal recourse if your agreement was only verbal.

This may sound overly simplistic, but it is extremely important to clearly understand the offer as this is probably where most mistakes and troubles can begin for a misunderstanding between a player and their team.

Quite often GMs, Coaches & Teams spread their recruiting net very wide early in the recruitment process in order to identify as many prospects as possible. It is important to know that just because a team contacts you and expresses interest in you for the upcoming season, that is a long, long ways from a formal commitment! Most teams likely contact hundreds of players in the early stages. Final rosters are only 23 players, which means a lot of players get calls and never play a game for that team.

The other important thing to know is there are many different signing rules, roster rules and restrictions across the plethora of leagues and levels of play in every province, state and country. Some leagues have “protected lists” that are have limits of 43 to 50 players. Other leagues allow teams only 45 player cards – meaning they can only sign a maximum of 45 players over the duration of that season. These are just a few examples. The bottom line is, ensure you know what the signing and roster rules are in the league you are considering.

In the example of the 45 player cards league, this means that even though a team in that league signs you to a “player card” in the off season, that does NOT guarantee you a roster spot on that team when the season begins. Teams occasionally sign players on speculation that they will surprise on the upside and/or they make misjudgments when assessing talent. Ultimately, they only need 23 players at roster deadline, meaning they have 22 additional players they can sign and at some later point “cut” from the team. Obviously, you don’t want to be one of those 22 players who gets cut over the duration of the season beginning with fall training camp.

So what are the right questions to ask of a Scout, Coach or GM who contacts you about their interest in you as a player for the upcoming season? Here are just a few suggestions we recommend you ask, keeping in mind that depending on your unique situation some of these may or may not be applicable:

What is it about me that you really like and that makes me a good prospect for your team?

What do you see as my role and where do you see me on the depth chart for the upcoming season?

• Top 6 Forward, Top 4 Defence, Role Player, Depth Player, etc.
• How many players will you carry early in season and until cut down date?
• Do you see me being in the line up every game or will I be scratched?

What players do you have returning for the upcoming season?

• Understand where you view yourself fitting in based on this
• Be aware the team could trade or sign more players that leap-frog you

What other players have you already signed or are targeting to sign?
Some leagues offer “tenders”, be sure you fully understand the terms & conditions of any tender offered — and not just verbally, get it in writing!

For goaltenders, you MUST ask if they have a full-time goaltending coach. If not, how are goalies going to be given the specialized training they require?

• Goalies MUST receive specialized attention and focus to develop and advance
• Goalies must NOT just be “puck stoppers” in practice
• Goalie specific drills MUST be a part of every practice
• Look at how many goalies they used the previous season. This is often a good indicator if they cycle through goalies or stick with the two or three they sign at camp

Ask if the team has formally documented expectations of the coaching staff and include that in the document both you and coach sign.

• Coaches are prone to solely “blame” players for their lack of development or why they are potentially cut or released
• Best of breed organizations hold their coaches accountable to deliver to the players and put it in writing
• Related, does the team have formal maltreatment policies and procedures that are in writing should any unexpected hazing, abuse or maltreatment occur from a coach, teammate or others in their organization. Be sure the Coach and staff are included in these rules, sometimes organizations focus solely on the players only

What are the TOTAL costs to play for the team for upcoming season?

• It is very, very important you get a detailed break down of ALL costs in writing
• Sometimes recruiters can purposely or accidently omit certain costs when signing you. Get it in writing!
• Costs you should look to see covered include these core areas:

• Team fees (and what does this include / exclude)
  • Any equipment or sticks provided?
  • Are fees paid in advance or monthly?
  • What is the refund policy if cut or traded?

• League fees?

• Insurance fees?

• Billet fees
  • Private home billets or dorms?
  • Private bedroom or shared room?
  • Private or shared bathroom?
  • Distance to school / arena / shopping?

• Hotels and meals on the road
  • Team covers or player responsible?

• Transportation to road games
  • Team bus paid by team or player provides and pays?

One last question that is always good to ask or research on your own before signing is when does the team’s GM / Coaching contract(s) expire?

• Look for their contracts to have at least two years remaining
• GMs and Coaches can often make different decisions if in the last year of their contracts as they may be desperate to get renewed
  • Examples can be if you are a younger prospect and as season progresses the team is in danger of missing playoffs the coach may sit, cut or trade younger players like yourself to get older players in the lineup to make the playoffs and get a new contract
  • GMs and coaches with multiple years remaining in their contracts are more apt to be patient, develop young players and plan longer term vs. desperation moves like above

In summary, do your homework and make sure to ask the right questions when being recruited by a team. Do not let your emotions and excitement allow you to potentially make rushed or bad decisions that can have significant consequences on both your career and finances. If you are not comfortable doing this on your own, we strongly advise seeking out the services of a professional, knowledgeable and reputable Family Advisor!

The post Hockey Recruitment Season – Things to Know & Ask first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

Today there are more prospective Family Advisors and Agents in the market place than ever before. This is good because it provides players and their families choices and options to choose from! But is also means that you need to be diligent in your assessment of those Advisors and Agents to ensure you find the one that is the best fit for your own unique needs.

First and foremost, do your advance research on the many Advisors and Agents that exist in the market place. Use Google search and visit the websites of some of the many options that will come up. Be careful to not just choose the first one that comes up as Advisors / Agents can PAY to appear #1 or to be top ranked. Look for how professional the web site is, is it just a “page” or is it a full blown “website”, is it informative, does it provide in-depth details on the Owners / Agents / Advisors, does it describe the services, do they have client testimonials, is there easy ways to contact them, etc..

Next step would be to reach out to 2 or 3 of your top choices based on what you viewed and read on the various websites you researched. Most professional firms have “contact us” forms on their sites to make it easy for prospective clients to contact them. This is the first “test” for these Advisors/ Agents you have chosen to contact. Reputable Advisors / Agents will typically respond to your inquiry within 24 hours or less. If they do not respond with in that window, you should question how long it might take for them to respond to you if you were to become a client. There is quite often a co-relation there.

Best of Breed firms will typically look to set up an initial telephone conversation or video call to get to know more about the player, their hockey & academic goals, and unique personal needs. This allows the firm to then share details with you about their services and how they potentially map to your unique personal goals and needs.

Questions you should ask a prospective Family Advisor or Agent include but are not limited to the following:

Who will be my Advisor or Agent that is my prime point of contact and who will serve my needs?
• Often the person who returns your call MAY not be the ACTUAL individual who is your day-to-day contact or who actually advises you. It is IMPORTANT you clarify that!

Is being a Family Advisor or Agent your SOLE occupation or is it just “part-time”?
• Many Family Advisors and even Agents have a primary occupation and just do advising or agent work as a sideline. This is a BIG RED FLAG!
• If they say it’s “part-time”, it is important you ask what % of their time is dedicated to being an Advisor / Agent vs. their primary occupation
• To help verify above, ask them if the % they spend on each job aligns with the proportionate income of their total employment income (this can be very revealing)
• If the individual is NOT the one who will be handling your day-to-day needs, and taking your calls, ask to set up a conversation with the individual who will do that

Ask about their own family situation, are the married, do they have kids, their ages and activities they are in?
• This too can be very revealing for prospective clients as the reality is if your Advisor is married (or divorced) with young kids up to teenagers and potentially involved in after school activities that will ultimately impact the availability and accessibility of that Advisor / Agent.

Ask what technology and analytics tools they utilize?
• Do they have hockey analytics and database programs like Instat and Rinknet? This demonstrates they are truly invested in the Advisory business vs. “dabbling”. These tools can be great benefits to clients
• Do they have IT tools like DocuSign for electronic contract signing, Zoom Meeting and Webinar tools for efficient and in person like interactions, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools that allow them to better serve their clients?
• Are they active on Social Media sites like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook promoting their players and sharing education insights? This may seem small but it is quite big.

Ask for a copy of their Advisory Contract
• The contract should be detailed and include important things like fees, payment terms, what are the services included (or excluded), do they have service level guarantees on how quickly they will respond to emails, texts and calls; termination terms if you wish to cancel, etc.. It should be more than a single page.

Other Resources you can use:
• Most professional Advisory firms will have client testimonials on their web site for you to review and contact personally. If you wish more client references don’t be shy to ask for a list of 10 clients and indicate you would like to text or email a couple of your choice.
• Search the Web for new articles or stories on the Advisory firm. This would allow you to see if stories are mostly positive and flattering or if any negative stories have been posted.
• Check out Elite Prospects and search for their Advisory firm and players there, see how many clients it shows them with, what types of clients do they have, where are their clients from, are their player client profiles updated with accurate data and contain a recent photo of the player, etc.

In summary, there are many very good Family Advisors and Agents in the business. But like every industry, there are also many others that you most likely want to avoid dealing with. Doing your research and due diligence will greatly increase your probability of hiring a good Family Advisor and having a positive experience with positive results for your player and family!

The post What to Ask a Prospective Family Advisor / Agent Before Signing first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

The difference between Hockey AGENTS vs. Hockey ADVISORS is a common question we get here at TrailBlazer Hockey.

Firstly, know it is very understandable why players and parents may not understand the difference as both AGENTS & ADVISORS perform similar duties and with the goal to get players to higher levels but in reality, there are some VERY BIG differences between AGENTS and an ADVISORS that it is critical players and families know and understand!

Let us help explain the roles and differences of AGENTS vs. ADVISORS.

Hockey Agents

Hockey Agents at its simplest form are individuals that provide assistance & advice to elite hockey players in return for a percentage of that players future professional earnings. Agents typically target highly skilled young players that are expected to be high draft picks in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) which includes the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and potentially the National Hockey League (NHL).

Some important points to know about Agents are the following:

• They don’t charge a fee, rather they work for a % of a player’s future earnings
• As a result of NOT paying an Agent, they can often NOT provide much for services to the player
• An individual can be BOTH an Agent and an Advisor, but the contract they have with a player will be very different and one requires they are paid a fee by the player, the other no fee is required – rather the player pays with a % of his future professional earnings
• A player can typically terminate his agreement with an Agent very easily at no cost, and why you often see a player changing their Agent over time
• Maybe MOST IMPORTANT, players planning to pursue NCAA hockey are NOT allowed to use an Agent so it is important players and families carefully choose when making this decision
• By default, it can often be wise to utilize the services of an Advisor in order to protect your NCAA eligibility until such time you make a firm decision on if you will pursue NCAA or not

Hockey Advisors

Family Hockey Advisors in its simplest form are individuals that provide assistance & advice to hockey players in return for a mutually agreed to fee, based on the services they will provide to the player and their family. Family Advisors provide their services to a wide range of players that can range from average players to the most elite players. The reason behind this is because Advisors are paid for the services they provide the player and family so their compensation is NOT dependent on if player plays professionally in the future or not – thought many players do! Any player considering pursuing NCAA hockey needs to use an Advisor vs. an Agent due to strict NCAA rules.

Some important points to know about Advisors are the following:

• Advisor’s charge a fee, rather they work for a % of a player’s future earnings
• As a result, Advisors can often provide much more for services and overall value to the majority of player and families
• An individual can be BOTH an Agent and an Advisor, but the contract they have with a player will be very different and one requires they are paid a fee by the player, the other no fee is required – rather the player pays with a % of his future professional earnings
• A player contract with an Advisor is typically for a term of one (1) year for a mutually agreed to fee in return for mutually agreed to services the Advisor will provide over that term.
• Players are free to change Advisors at the end of their term.
• Some players and families use an Advisor for multiple years, while a smaller number utilize an Advisor for maybe one (1) or two (2) years just to get them through a difficult time
• And again, MOST IMPORTANT is that players planning to pursue NCAA hockey can NOT accept free advice from a professional so it is important players and families carefully choose when making this decision
• By default, it can often be wise to utilize the services of an Advisor in order to protect your NCAA eligibility until such time you make a firm decision on if you will pursue NCAA – or not.

Though Agents and Advisors perform many similar roles, there is a big difference between the two. With the combination of the complexity and high cost of hockey today, the use of Advisors by players and their families has become increasingly popular. Many players are paying between $15,000 to $50,000 per year to play hockey. By using the services of a qualified and trusted Advisor, families can feel comfortable they are investing their hockey fees wisely and are getting the best value possible. Frankly, quite often the fees a family pays an Advisor can potentially prevent costly family decisions that would ultimately cost the family more than the fee they pay their Advisor. Advisors can help a player achieve his or her hockey & academic dreams, but as important a good Advisors can also provide the player and family piece of mind that they are doing the rights things and making the right investments on the pathway to those hockey & academic goals.

The post Hockey Agents vs Hockey Advisors first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

A common request we get at TrailBlazer Hockey is to assist a player and their family respective to a trade. Trades are common in Junior Hockey and typically come in one of two forms:

• The Team arbitrarily decides they wish to trade the player in return for another player, cash (often called a Player Development Fee (PDF)) or a combination of the two
• The player and family request their team trade them. Often this request is made based on the player not liking his current situation or team or coach

Let’s take a look at each option a little closer:

Team Arbitrarily Decides to Trade a Player

As stated, it is common to see trades in Junior Hockey. Teams and Coaches make the decision to trade players based on a plethora of reasons. Some of those reasons may include (but are not limited too):

• Player not living up to Coach or Team’s expectations
• A team entering a rebuild phase and as a result looks to sell off older players in return for younger players for the future
• An attempt to change team chemistry if a team as a whole is not living up to expectations
• Team has too many players at one position and desire to trade one of those players for a player of a different position that they have a deficiency in
• A conflict that may have arisen between teammates, coaches, management, etc.

Player Requests a Trade

• Player is not happy with his role on his current team
• Player just desires a change of scenery because they have either gone stale with current team or maybe have been in a long-term slump and hope a trade will reinvigorate them
• Player not getting what he was promised by the Team as far role, personal development, sometimes facilities, occasionally billet family issues, etc.
• Personal issues such as family moves, divorces, family illnesses, player illnesses or health issues
• Location, wants to play closer to home & family
• Breakdown in the relationship between player and coaches or management or team mates

It is IMPORTANT to know that Trades and Trade Requests come with many pros and cons, as well as possible risk and rewards. It is recommend that families and players consult with and work closely with their Family Advisor in these type situations to help ensure a positive outcome. Just some of the thing’s players / families need to think of and that a Family Advisor can assist with are:

• KEY that any trade request is handled properly, especially if PLAYER REQUESTED
• The PERSONALITY & CHARACTER of the General Manager (GM) & Coaches plays a considerable role and need to be considered if making an unsolicited trade request
• The CURRENT STATUS of a Players’ relationship w/ the teams GM & Coaches needs to be considered when deciding how to best handle a trade request
• For trades to work best, both teams involved to BENEFIT in order to have the best short- and long-term results
• BEST when a player knows if another team LIKES or might WANT you. Other teams are not allowed to communicate directly with player on other teams, but can communicate openly with a player’s Advisor
• Advisors will know rules & regulations & players rights around trades specific to the league(s) involved. Just some examples are; many leagues don’t allow high school aged players to be traded UNLESS the player / family approves it, players typically have the right in most leagues to REFUSE a trade, a player’s family can assist in payment of cash trades which are most commonly referred to as “Player Development Fees” (PDF), etc.

In summary, trades in Junior Hockey are a reality and players and their families will be best served if they educate themselves on this topic or utilize the services of a trusted Hockey Advisor professional to assist with the process, elevate the stress and many unknowns that is part of trades while helping ensure more positive outcomes. Should you require assistance or wish to speak to a TrailBlazer Hockey Advisor please visit our “CONTACT US” section or email us directly at [email protected].

The post Trades In Junior Hockey first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

Media interviews are an important aspect of sports and hockey is no different. While players prepare for games through practice, repetition, research, and establishing good habits, the same cannot be said for interviews. Following a game, players are exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally and often an interview is the last thing they want to be doing. Similarly, as they’re focused on an upcoming game or the next period, fielding questions is not their ideal scenario to maintain that focus. Even though it’s not always something a player is looking forward to, a media interview should be considered an opportunity. This is your chance to showcase the human side of the sport, connect with fans, showcase your personality, and communicate your message. Here are five simple tips to help you with your next media interview.

Practice, Practice, Practice

No player at any competitive level of hockey simply shows up a few minutes before puck drop ready to play the game. There are hours of preparation and routines that go into playing a game, and an interview shouldn’t be treated any differently. Take time to practice speaking in a mirror or try recording yourself on your phone answering some simple questions that an interviewer might ask. Review the recording and think critically about how you can do better. Watch interviews with players you admire. What do they do in interviews? How do they answer questions? You can also ask your parents, coach, or team’s media staff to help you practice. A mock interview is a great low-pressure scenario to practice and become more comfortable in interviews.

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions before an interview starts. The interviewer isn’t there to surprise you with questions or make you look bad, they’re there to create a story around your answers. Ask them questions beforehand about what they plan to ask, or even prompt them a possible question. Perhaps you had something interesting occur in your life recently and you want to take a few moments to talk about it. Let the interviewer know and they’ll be happy to include it in their interview.

Take Your Time

It’s an interview, not a race. It may feel like every pause you take lasts an eternity, but the reality is that pauses and breaks are natural parts of speech. After you’re asked a question, take a second to think about your answer and speak when you’re ready. A well-thought-out response will always come across better than a hastily made one.

Be Confident, Not Cocky

There is a thin line between coming off as confident versus coming off as cocky. Confident means you are sure of yourself and your answers. You’re clear and concise in your responses and believe in your abilities. Cocky means you’re bragging, you’re exaggerating your accomplishments and skills, and generally not taking the interview very seriously. If you’re asked about an upcoming playoff game, would you rather respond with, “Our opponent is a strong team with a powerful offense, but I think our defense has been playing well lately, our goaltender always gives us a chance to win and we feel prepared to play our game” or “I’m not worried about them, they’re not very good, and we’re going to beat them”?

Give Praise

Hockey is a team sport, and while you’re the one being interviewed, you’re often speaking for your entire team including the players and coaching staff. Always try and give praise where it’s due. While you may have had a hat trick and the winning goal, other players passed you those pucks, a goalie made saves at the other end to give you those scoring chances, and your coaches prepared you for success.

The post 5 TIPS TO NAIL YOUR NEXT MEDIA INTERVIEW first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.

We are now entering the season of spring tryout camps and player drafts at all levels of hockey.

This is a nerve-racking and stressful time for both players and their families, but if you prepare the correct way and understand what coaches and scouts will be looking for it can greatly improve your performance, while eliminating much of your stress and anxiety.

What coaches and scouts typically look for can be divided into two categories:

1. Tangibles
2. Intangibles

Let’s first look at tangibles. Tangible characteristics are a player’s actual physical skills and abilities. For forwards and defencemen, this includes such things as a player’s size, skating, puck handling, passing the puck, receiving a pass, shooting, shot-blocking abilities, use of deception, IQ, whether the player wins puck battles – to name a few. For goalies, tangible characteristics can include size, skating, ability to play the puck outside the crease, ability to eliminate rebounds, quickness, tracking the puck, and overall technical form.

Tangible characteristics are the base skills a player needs to demonstrate to be considered a serious prospect. Obviously the better they are at each of these individual tangible skills, the better their chance is to be drafted or make a team they are trying out for.

Now let’s look at the Intangibles scouts and coaches look for. There are two categories of intangibles – enhancing and diminishing.

Enhancing intangible characteristics include, passion, effort, leadership, and compete level.

Diminishing intangible characteristics include things such as a lack of enhancing characteristics, as well as bad body language, selfishness, not being a team player or even parents who interfere with the process in negative ways. 

It is important to note that intangible characteristics are nearly 100% within the control of the player and family. If a player and family exhibit enhancing intangible characteristics, it greatly enhances the perception and value of the player in the eyes of coaches and scouts. Further, if a player and family ensure they do NOT exhibit any of the diminishing intangible characteristics – that is also a positive in their eyes!

In summary, when players attend tryout camps or showcases for upcoming drafts, it is important to pay attention to both the tangible and intangible characteristics cited above. The tangibles are often what players tend to focus on and that’s great, but do not forget about the intangibles! Coaches and scouts LOVE players that work hard, show leadership, congratulate their teammates after goals, or pump them up on the bench. They also like players who help others out on and off the ice, the players that help clean up the dressing room without being asked to, and those that are polite to all others. By showing both tangible and intangible skills, you will greatly enhance your value in the eyes of coaches and scouts alike!

The post What Coaches & Scouts Look for at Tryouts first appeared on TrailBlazer Hockey Advisors.