For young hockey players living in or near New England, there is a tournament to play in almost every weekend over the summer months. Some weeks, there are two to three events all going on at the same time across the region.
There’s been plenty of banter about all the hockey being played in the summer. I fall somewhere in between the crowd shouting that summer hockey is bad and the tournament and camp organizers pushing exposure.
I hear all the time about how bad it is for kids to be spending too much time at the rink. That’s absurd. If a kid likes hockey and wants to be on the ice, there’s nothing wrong with that. There should be balance. Kids should be kids, whether it be hanging out with friends away from the rink, hitting the beach or playing other sports. But, there are a lot of worse things kids could be doing than heading down to the rink.
MORE CAMPS: Find camps for your skater this summer in our camp guide
There are can’t-miss events for aspiring hockey players and there are others that can be a fun experience, but won’t do much in the way of exposure or development. Both can be beneficial for different reasons.
What’s the only can’t-miss event?
Each summer, players in the three birth years eligible to compete at a USA Hockey Player Development Camp should put significant time and effort into getting to Amherst, N.Y. Obviously, only a select few end up at national camps, but it’s the one event that is worth every penny.
Players who get to national camps get to compete against the best of the best in their age group, learn with them and from some great coaches, and receive exposure in front of every college hockey program in the country.
Junior camps
Depending on your level of play, attending a junior main camp can be beneficial. It helps to show you where you stand and how you stack up against other players who are looking to make or are already on a junior team.
If you go to a junior camp, watch how the veterans conduct themselves on and off the ice. Pick up habits from those players who’ve been through the ringer and know what it takes to play junior hockey.
Even if you don’t make the junior team, you might get noticed by a college coach in attendance or catch the attention of a lower-level junior organization. Junior teams will identify players at their camp for the following year, even if they don’t make the team or a list that year.
As should be the case with any tournament, showcase or camp you go to, make sure you’re rested, focused, and prepared to do the best. Fair or not, one poor showing could have coaches and scouts writing you off for good.
I wouldn’t recommend doing more than one, especially if they are back-to-back. However, I’d recommend all AAA and prep players to attend a USHL camp, if invited. You will have a chance to showcase your skill and see what you need to do to improve and get to where you want to be in the future.
Other camps, showcases and tournaments
It can be said for almost all events in the summer — outside of USA Hockey national camps — that they are a money-maker for the organizers. While it’s true that almost all camps, showcases and tournaments are revenue-generators for owners, there are also many reasons to play in them.
Whether it’s wanting to play with friends for a weekend, stay in game shape, or looking for exposure, there are benefits to be had from all such events. Some events will have more scouts than others. Some will have better competition than others.
My only recommendation would be to make sure you play the game the right way, work hard every shift, and don’t pick up bad habits. You never know who could be watching.
Event organizers need to pull their weight
All of these showcases, camps and tournaments are making money for organizers. That’s not a bad thing. Everyone deserves to earn a living. My only point of contention is when tournaments or showcases don’t provide schedules in a timely manner and have rosters for all teams when scouts show up to the rink.
I understand that sometimes it’s on the coach of certain teams and not the tournament organizer. Either way, both parties have an obligation to the kids in the event to have rosters available.
Don’t forget skills and skating work
Power skating, skills and even hockey sense sessions are available across New England. Paul Vincent has been a staple of power skating in this region for a long time. There are relative newcomers, such as Jon Hutcheon, Will O’Neill, Freddy Meyer and Dena Taylor, who do a good job and help players improve their game.
If you’re serious about hockey, make sure you emphasize skill development in the summer. While competing in showcases and tournaments are fun, it is imperative that you work on your skill and skating, and improve your fitness and strength in the gym.
