CRITERIA FOR PLAYER
EVALUATION/PLACEMENT IN THE
LAKES REGION YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
PREAMBLE
The following criteria may be used by evaluators observing players for
placement on various teams in the Lakes Region Youth Hockey
Association. The evaluation factors listed below have been
divided into categories by checking and non-checking level. A
player may place onto the highest level team that a particular age
group without being rated #1 player in all of the
categories. That particular player, however, may be more
exceptional at another skill criteria than other players. The
below listed placement factors are meant to give parents and players an
idea of what evaluators may be looking for.
MITES/SQUIRTS
Overall skating ability both forwards and backwards;
Overall stick handling ability;
Puck protection;
Pass making and pass receiving skill;
Dekeing ability;
Shooting skill, velocity and accuracy;
Defensive awareness and ability to defend one on one;
Forechecking skill and ability to angle;
Backchecking skill and ability to angle;
Appropriate aggressiveness towards loose pucks;
Stick lift, stick press down and poke checking;
Read and react skills;
Awareness of offsides;
Ability to play within the rules given the strategic situation on the
ice (does the player take “dumb penalties” or necessary penalties?);
Goaltenders will be evaluated on basic fundamentals including skating
ability, goal tending posture, angles, quickness, down and up off the
ice, ability to stop pucks with body, gloves, pads and stick, ability
to cover loose pucks.
PEEWEE/BANTAM
Overall skating ability both forwards and backwards;
Overall stick handling ability;
Puck protection;
Pass making and pass receiving skill;
Dekeing ability;
Shooting skill, velocity and accuracy;
Defensive awareness and ability to defend one on one; situational
awareness, picking up your check;
Forechecking skill and ability to angle; reading and reacting to
playing partners in forechecking situations;
Backchecking skill and ability to angle; picking up your check coming
back into the defensive zone;
Appropriate aggressiveness towards loose pucks;
Stick lift, stick press down and poke checking;
Read and react skills; defensive zone, offensive zone, neutral zone;
Ability to play within the rules given the strategic situation on the
ice (does the player take “dumb penalties” or necessary penalties?);
Body checking skills including ability to give and receive a check;
Goaltenders will be evaluated on basic fundamentals including skating
ability, goal tending posture, angles, quickness, down and up off the
ice, ability to stop pucks with body, gloves, pads and stick, ability
to cover loose pucks. Rebound control, puck set-up skills on dump
ins, communication regarding opponent fore checkers.