CSSHL U15/AEHL U15AAA tryout process

[mr dad bod]

Some context:

In our local there is both a U15AAA AEHL team and a U15 CSSHL team. From what I can tell U15 (not prep) in the CSSHL is now generally a 'first year' league (i.e. 2011 players in the current year, as opposed to 2010s).

Based on cost, our current plan is to enroll our son to tryout for the AEHL AAA team.

My question is this, if my 2012 son is cut from the AEHL AAA team, do Hockey Canada/Alberta rules allow for him to shift to a U15 CSSHL program if there happens to still be roster spots available at that time? Nothing wrong with the AEHL AA system but I was curious if there were multiple options or if the drop to AA was a foregone conclusion. Thanks in advance for anyone that has information on this.

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[Yukon Joe]

Some context:

In our local there is both a U15AAA AEHL team and a U15 CSSHL team. From what I can tell U15 (not prep) in the CSSHL is now generally a 'first year' league (i.e. 2011 players in the current year, as opposed to 2010s).

Based on cost, our current plan is to enroll our son to tryout for the AEHL AAA team.

My question is this, if my 2012 son is cut from the AEHL AAA team, do Hockey Canada/Alberta rules allow for him to shift to a U15 CSSHL program if there happens to still be roster spots available at that time? Nothing wrong with the AEHL AA system but I was curious if there were multiple options or if the drop to AA was a foregone conclusion. Thanks in advance for anyone that has information on this.

My understanding is yes. If you don't make your AAA team you can leave the Hockey Alberta system and go elsewhere. When my son was cut from the U15 AAA team we did look (for about 10 minutes) at going to JPHL and there didn't seem to be any impediment to doing so. (in the end he's playing U15 AA).

You did hit the big "if" though - if there are roster spots. No idea how common that is. It's a tough thing to rely on.

Other thing at least for us - CSSHL (and JPHL) require you to attend their school. So that means uprooting your kid from whatever school they're already in. The cuts at U15 AAA are going to be in September, so your kid will have already started. Putting aside the cost that was a deal-breaker for our family.

A couple other points:
-I don't know where your kid is playing this year. It is generally tough to make a AAA roster as a first year player. Looking at our local club they have exactly one first year on the regular roster (a few more have played as affiliates). Nothing wrong with playing U15 AA as a first year with the goal of making AAA the next year. (My kid is a second year, is now playing U 15 AA both years although did affiliate up to AAA recently) They do try to make a point of keeping some first year players at U15 AA precisely so they have kids in the pipeline for AAA the following year.

-not to be a "Debbie Downer" but even if your kid is playing U13 AA / AAA this year even making U15 AA is not guaranteed. I know some kids who this happened to - in particular is your kid is small now at U15 the size differences can be massive depending on who has hit puberty and when.

-if you're looking at CSSHL you're not limited by geography. You can go to any CSSHL school you want that will take you. You can even go out of province (again, I know some kids who have done this).

-I'm sure you know this, but if you don't make AAA with your club you have the right to seek release and try out at a different club (unless if they cut you so late in the day all the other teams are full. Grr)

 

[mr dad bod]

My understanding is yes. If you don't make your AAA team you can leave the Hockey Alberta system and go elsewhere. When my son was cut from the U15 AAA team we did look (for about 10 minutes) at going to JPHL and there didn't seem to be any impediment to doing so. (in the end he's playing U15 AA).

You did hit the big "if" though - if there are roster spots. No idea how common that is. It's a tough thing to rely on.

Other thing at least for us - CSSHL (and JPHL) require you to attend their school. So that means uprooting your kid from whatever school they're already in. The cuts at U15 AAA are going to be in September, so your kid will have already started. Putting aside the cost that was a deal-breaker for our family.

A couple other points:
-I don't know where your kid is playing this year. It is generally tough to make a AAA roster as a first year player. Looking at our local club they have exactly one first year on the regular roster (a few more have played as affiliates). Nothing wrong with playing U15 AA as a first year with the goal of making AAA the next year. (My kid is a second year, is now playing U 15 AA both years although did affiliate up to AAA recently) They do try to make a point of keeping some first year players at U15 AA precisely so they have kids in the pipeline for AAA the following year.

-not to be a "Debbie Downer" but even if your kid is playing U13 AA / AAA this year even making U15 AA is not guaranteed. I know some kids who this happened to - in particular is your kid is small now at U15 the size differences can be massive depending on who has hit puberty and when.

-if you're looking at CSSHL you're not limited by geography. You can go to any CSSHL school you want that will take you. You can even go out of province (again, I know some kids who have done this).

-I'm sure you know this, but if you don't make AAA with your club you have the right to seek release and try out at a different club (unless if they cut you so late in the day all the other teams are full. Grr)

Not seeing any Debbie Downering here, All good points. Though I think CSSHL does fall under Hockey Alberta, as it is listed in their "Elite Player Pathway" documentation on the website. Just can't find anywhere that states whether or not you can transfer from one to the other before the season starts. Given both are HA, I assumed that maybe it was restricted.

We're not too precious about where he plays but always want to figure out the ins and outs more than a few days before they happen. Our CSSHL is local (both school and rink within 10 min of our house), the kid would be at home regardless. He's waaaay too young at 13 for us to consider boarding yet. Could be an interesting opportunity to play in a league that is all same age (generally) in CSSHL U15 but also a good league with older heavier players in AA that would provide alternative experience. Good hockey either way! Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Not seeing any Debbie Downering here, All good points. Though I think CSSHL does fall under Hockey Alberta, as it is listed in their "Elite Player Pathway" documentation on the website. Just can't find anywhere that states whether or not you can transfer from one to the other before the season starts. Given both are HA, I assumed that maybe it was restricted.

That's an excellent point.

CSSHL hadn't always been HC/HA affiliated, but is now. I hadn't considered that.

https://www.hockeyalberta.ca/uploads/source/BylawsPolicies/202425/AccreditedSchools.pdf

My read is that if cut from your AAA team you'd need to seek release to try out for a CSSHL team - see 6.1.

See also 1.4 which states that try-outs must be concluded by Oct 1.

I come back to the fact though that I question whether a CSSHL team would have open spots or not. But there's also 2.4(d) which states a CSSHL team with unused spots may fill them up until Jan 10.

Really though - the sets of rules don't really refer to each other much, or at all. AAA rules don't reference "accredited schools", and the school rules don't really reference MHA AAA.


Honestly you're best off talking to the CSSHL academy - although at best they'll tell you "no promises - if you want to play here you should register and try out here".