How do you get to the NHL what league do you go first. hi I'm a kid and I want to know how can you play in the NHL how do you do it what leagues do go? also can you get scouted in house leagues or bantam hockey without AA or AAA? in junior hockey could u just register for a try out camp or do u have to get invited from lower levels? usually how long will it take for a person to get to the NHL from the bantam hockey to higher levels?
Responses (3)
It all depends. You could get picked up from any league. The youngest age you can play in the NHL as is 18 so you at least should be through with high school. I reccomend just going to camps supported by the NHL and training your hardest so you get good. If you are from the US or Canada try finding an Olympic Development Program to join they usually get quite a bit of recognition.
To make the NHL you have to live and breathe hockey. I've seen guys with all the talent in the world who didn't make it and I've seen guys who did not have a lot of talent but they had determination and they made it. You have to love it.
That means tomorrow you are running, lifting weights, working on stamina and explosiveness. Tomorrow, and the next day and all the days after. Watch the NHL on TV but pick a player and watch his entire shift. See what he does without the puck because playing without the puck represents the most important part of being a hockey player.
If I were in your shoes I would set my sights on the Western Hockey League. You can phone teams and ask if they have walk ons, tell them you are determined, and you might get a chance. When you get that chance, you go all out. You never take a drill off or slack anything.
If they like what they see but don't think you are ready, they will find you a Jr A team to develop your game.
You have to be ready for naysayers. There's going to be a lot of them. Just remember that for every person who thinks chasing a big dream is a waste of time, that's one less person you have to worry about competing with. Stay focussed. For you, it starts tomorrow ... get to work!
The road to playing in the NHL is can be very confusing and complex. There are many paths and ways players can make it. Many people think its as simple as being drafted, but in a lot of cases players can be drafted and still play Collegiate, Juniors, or for a Minor League Affiliate. Players cannot enter the NHL until they are 18, however they can be considered an NHL prospect which simply means they are on the NHL's radar. Players can start to play Juniors at the age of 16. As for any sport there are different levels. You typically hear about "Junior A" or "Junior B" levels of hockey. The most common Junior leagues are the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) which players refer to as, "The O", and the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Which brings us back to being drafted many players are drafted and sent to either a junior team or a farm team where the player can blossom into the best they can be. The player is always sent to a team they have a written contract with. The NHL is the top league there are two lower leagues, which are the American Hockey League (AHL) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Examples are the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, AHL affiliate is the Allentown Phantoms and their ECHL affiliate is the Reading Royals. To throw a curve ball into the equation the ECHL although is entry level in professional hockey they still hold open tryouts. So say somebody makes the team as a walk on for the Royals and does well he can then be "called up" meaning he will play a few games on a trial bases with the Phantoms if he fits the part they come up with a contract. the process can be repeated to the NHL although rare it is still possible. The most reputable and common player to do this is Jonathan Quick (goalie for the LA Kings). Quick played for the Royals and at the time the LA Kings farm teams were the Manchster Monarchs of the AHL and the Reading Royals. It is very common for lower affiliates like the ECHL to change their AHL and NHL affiliate. Think of it as the ECHL as a person and the AHL and NHL as an apartment. the ECHL signs the lease or contract with the AHL and NHL and if after the season or whatever the contract time lenght stated they aren't happy with each other they can choose another set of teams to connect to. Many players are brought up in this sort of manor. Between a mixture of college students, Junior players, and Lower affiliated teams it leaves little space for an NHL walk on tryout camp. They have something similar but its by invite only. The ins and outs of this topic are very complex and if you believe you have the ability and skill level they have actual advisors who are similar to agents and lawyers.
AHL, Then NHL
Also Scouts will not waist their time for a in house league. Usually at the Bantam level they hold tournaments specifically for scouts to come to and this is when players show up on the NHLs radar. You cant compare in house the travel hockey which is level range starting with what you stated as Bantam and goes up to MidgetU16, then MidgetU18 levels range from lowest to highest A, AA, AAA. Most kids that play AAA try out for Junior B teams at 16 instead of playing midget hockey. If you only play in an in house league I hate to say your chances to say the least are minute to make any sort of professional hockey as for I have seen a lot of mind blowing talent fall through the cracks. The NHL isn't a league you can wake up one day and want to play in. Many players have been ice skating since they could walk and played hockey since 4 or 5 years of age.