Guelph Minor Hockey Association
2025-26 Player Evaluations FAQs
Common Player Evaluations Questions for the 2025-2026 Season
Q – Which age groups/teams have Player Evaluations in the Spring (April/May) and which are in the Fall (September)?
For the 2025-2026 season, Guelph Minor Hockey Association (GMHA) Representative Team Player Evaluations are split between Spring and Fall as follows:
U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16 (AAA, AA, A, B/BB), & U18 (AAA, AA) – Spring 2025 (April)
U8 ADP, U9 ADP – Spring 2025 (April)
Advanced League (AL) U12, U13, U14, U15, & U16 – Spring 2025 (April)
U18 A & Below – Fall 2025 (September)
U7 ADP – Fall 2025 (September)
Advanced League U10/11 – Fall 2025 (September)
More details will be provided for Fall Player Evaluations in the summer.
Q – How do Player Evaluations work and what are the costs?
Representative Team Player Evaluations follow a sequential release process by which teams are selected by level, starting at AAA and continuing through AA, A, B/BB and AL/Select.
Players may enter the Evaluations process at any level they choose. Each level has its own Player Evaluations window that players must register for individually. For example, if you would like to attend Player Evaluations for AAA & AA, you will need to purchase a AAA pass and a AA pass.
Each level’s Player Evaluations pass costs $60.
Q – If my child gets released from one level, do I need to register for the next level to be able to attend?
Yes. You will need to register for each level separately to be eligible to attend those Player Evaluation Sessions. For example, if you have purchase a pass for the AAA level and your child is released, you will then need to go and purchase a pass for the AA level, and so on and so forth.
Q – What are "Prep Skates" and how do they work for the U8 & U9 age groups?
U8 & U9 are the only age groups where Preparation Skates are required to be provided to players to allow them to get back on the ice and be ready for the official start of Player Evaluations. Each age group is provided 4 prep skates for the players to get back on the ice and be prepared for the start of the evaluation skates.
These skates are mandatory for the association to offer. They are not mandatory to attend, but the cost for Player Evaluations Passes includes these skates.
Q - Who may attend Player Evaluations?
New for the 2025-26 Season, players can attend Player Evaluations in any Centre at any level. There are no limitations on what Player Evaluations a player can attend.
Guelph does have a capacity limit for some teams in how many non-Guelph players that can be selected. You can review the Player Evaluation Policy for the specific details: Player Evaluation Policy
Q - Is there a release process required for players leaving Guelph or coming to Guelph from another Centre?
No. There is no release process required to attend Player Evaluations in another Centre. Associations may “block” a player from attending Player Evaluations if they have an outstanding balance for any fees for teams, registrations, or equipment.
Q – How many evaluation sessions for Player Evaluations will there be and when do the players show up?
Every parent and player should be aware prior to evaluations of the number of opportunities that the player will have to be assessed. The full player evaluations schedule will be posted on the GMHA website when finalized but is always subject to modifications. Within that schedule, the Head Coach has the flexibility to determine when different players will attend their player evaluations, and specific details will be confirmed by the Head Coach ahead of time to all players who have purchased a Player Evaluations Pass.
NOTE - Parents should assume that they are to attend the first Player Evaluations session unless they are instructed otherwise by the Head Coach.
Q – What is being evaluated?
Player selection criteria are specific to age and level and shall be evaluated using drills that aim to allow players to demonstrate specific skills, tactics, behaviours and overall hockey knowledge and intellect.
Q - Who will perform the player evaluations and how are they used in the selection process?
Off-ice evaluators will be responsible for evaluating every player on the ice during the time allotted. Evaluators include:
· Team Head Coach
· 1 or more Evaluators of the Head Coach’s choosing who have attested to not having a conflict of interest in the age group and have been approved by GMHA’s Player Development Committee.
· Independent Evaluators assigned by GMHA.
Q – What should my child wear to the evaluation?
Full equipment is always mandatory. Players will be assigned and provided a numbered jersey. To help fairness and transparency, evaluators will only be provided with the players’ jersey numbers and will not be provided with players’ names or other identifiers.
Q – Will players be evaluated in both skill evaluation and game environment?
For those players advancing through all stages of the Player Evaluations process there will be an opportunity to exhibit the range of skills that they possess in both skill evaluation and game settings. The breakdown of skill and game situation evaluations will be determined by the Head Coach.
Q – How will players be notified of their standing within the Player Evaluations process?
Players will be informed of their status by accessing the teams’ website via a coach provided password. The results will be posted within several hours of the conclusion of the Player Evaluations session, with specific timing and instructions provided by the Coach.
Questions regarding the selection results may be submitted via email to the Head Coach. The Head Coach will answer this email within one week’s time frame.
Q – What happens after the final evaluation session?
Upon the completion of the final evaluation session, each remaining candidate will either be offered a roster spot on the team or asked to begin the Player Evaluations at the next level. Due to unneeded stress for the player, parents and coaches, the coach may decide to simply finalize the roster online and set up a team meeting or do a face-to-face meeting with the remaining candidates and their parent or guardian.
Q – What happens with a player that is not selected for a team?
Players who are not selected for a specific team will be instructed to check the Player Evaluations schedule for the next level. To continue in the Player Evaluations process, players must then attend the first session for the next level to be considered for that team. You will need to purchase a Player Evaluation Pass for this level ahead of attending.
Questions regarding an individual’s evaluation may be submitted to the Head Coach via email following a Player Evaluations. The Head Coach should respond within one week after the conclusion of Player Evaluations for that team.
Q - Is a player required to attend Player Evaluations to be placed on a House League Team?
No, players who do not wish to participate in the Rep/AL program may register directly for House League and are guaranteed placement on a team in the fall. GMHA does reserve the right to choose to offer a Select/AL team at the various levels or not.
Q – What happens if a player is sick or injured during Player Evaluations?
Players unable to try out must present to the Head Coach and the Director of Rep Hockey a doctor’s note specifying that the player is physically unable to participate during the Player Evaluations. The note must include a suggested date for the player to be able to return to competitive play.
In this scenario, a player may be evaluated for selection to a team based on what may already be known about that player’s abilities. These situations are always unique and will be addressed individually by the Head Coach and the GMHA Director of Rep Hockey to ensure that each player is provided an opportunity for selection whenever possible.
Q – What happens if a player is away during Player Evaluations?
Players must attend Player Evaluations to be eligible to be carded to a GMHA team. Exemptions from participating in a Player Evaluations must be requested and granted in advance by the Head Coach and the Director of Rep Hockey. The Head Coach and Director of Rep Hockey are not obligated to grant any exemption request. Should a player miss a Player Evaluations without an approved exemption, GMHA reserves the right to allow or disallow that player to be rostered for Rep hockey for the next season.
Q – Are players permitted to play a year above their eligibility?
Any player wishing to try out for a team above his/her proper age group is eligible to try out for the highest level of team being offered at that age group only. If he/she fails to make that team, they must return to their proper age group.
Where a player is trying out at a division higher than their age group, the player must be evaluated to be in the top 3 players for the highest-level team in that higher age group based on skill and ability (not on player game statistics).
Players wishing to play in a division above their age category must email the Director of Rep Hockey indicating their intentions no later than April 15th. If the movement is at a coach’s request, the coach must first notify the Director of Rep Hockey prior to the 1st Player Evaluations.
Q - How many players will each team carry?
All Rep/AL teams carry a minimum of seventeen (17) players (15 skaters and 2 goalies) unless otherwise approved by the GMHA Board.
All ADP teams carry a minimum of eighteen (18) players.