How to get into SEL/Liiga/EIHL/ECHL

[Nose Face Killah]

How hard is it to get into those leagues? I wonder do you just go there? Been wondering how players get into those leagues for a while because I have had ambitions to play in Europe/Britain/ECHL

 

[ceg195]

They have agents.

 

[mattkaminski15]

Starts when they're younger. Around 14-19 is when scouts start looking for players and you'll get the occasional "overage" player who gets drafted when he's 22-3. If youre older than 19 its highly unlikely but still possible. If youre under, now's as good a time as any to train your ass off and get noticed. Playing in a league like the NA3HL will gove players too old for midgets hockey a chance to develop further. Other than that midget AAA is the route to go.

 

[JoeCool16]

ECHL usually has tryouts in the offseason, you could contact the team nearest to you and see if they're running any.

 

[Jisatsu]

An agent is your best bet. If you haven't played at a competitive level enough to have been scouted, then you will have to start hitting up free agent camps for various leagues. If you know someone in the business side, and are a decent enough player with a good work ethic and high light footage, sometimes you can be referred to teams.

As far as playing in Europe, unless you are already playing professionally, you might have to start off at the premier level before you can make the elite leagues. Usually some premier leagues don't allow for as many import players because they prefer to develops their own nations players at that level. The English elite league is like that with their premier league.

You also see limits on import players in the Asian leagues too.

Summer is coming, start working on your endurance and strength now so you can be ready for those free agent camps. Lots of competition, and a lot of guys are already working their ass off to make a spot. Good luck.

 

[howeaboutthat]

Can't speak for any other leagues but it is possible to turn up in a city that has an EIHL team and end up playing for them.

Joonas Saari moved from Finland to Nottingham in order to attend university. He came down to a few pick up sessions, where many of us quickly recognised he was a bit better than beer league, so he was pointed in the direction of the Nottingham Lions (a pay to play team in England's lowest tier league). They couldn't play him though because of import limitations so he was once more bumped towards another team, the Nottingham Panthers, for whom he played 47 games this season.

Admittedly he had a fair bit of experience in Finnish leagues behind him though........

 

[tarheelhockey]

Your chances of simply walking onto an ECHL team are extremely slim. Look at the backgrounds of the players in that league. Many are NHL-drafted and end up there through the affiliation pipeline. Those who aren't drafted, are invited to try out after a successful career in major juniors or college, or come over from European pro leagues.

If you're serious about pursuing pro hockey without being drafted or invited, shoot for a lower league like the SPHL or FHL. If you succeed at that level, you have a decent chance of securing a spot in an ECHL camp the following season.

Here's a typical example of an A-level tryout opportunity:
http://danburywhalers.pointstreaksites.com/view/danburywhalers/team/free-agent-camp-4

 

[Beezeral]

tarheel pretty much nailed it. If you haven't played in the upper level junior leagues, your chances of making a legitimate pro team are about as good as the Panthers winning the stanley cup this season.

the kids who even get tryout invites are the local legends who were always the best player on their travel team, played up in age group, basically did everything at the competitive levels of youth hockey except play juniors in canada.

As for playing in europe, you gotta know someone who knows someone involved with the organization who is willing to evaluate you. They aren't just going to say yes to some random guy from the US trying out for the team. I know a lot of the guys who are playing in the lower leagues in europe who are from the US are guys who washed out leagues like the ECHL and are desperate to play some sort of hockey and are willing to play in a sub-par league in England or something.

Sorry if we rained on your dream, but there is a reason only the elite ever make a dime playing a game for a living

 

[Nose Face Killah]

Thanks for the help. I realize now it's next to impossible to actually make it I just wanted examples of how people actually got into the leagues.

 

[Beezeral]

Thanks for the help. I realize now it's next to impossible to actually make it I just wanted examples of how people actually got into the leagues.

if you told us more about yourself and your experience, there might be someone who can point you in the right direction

 

[Nose Face Killah]

if you told us more about yourself and your experience, there might be someone who can point you in the right direction

Well, I just started skating almost 6 months ago, and I've been playing pickup hockey as soon as I got good on my skates. I've also played with two junior Finnish skaters who came over here to play in the US, oddly enough I met them when I rented out the ice one night. I've also played with a teammate of those two Finnish kids, funnily enough last Wednesday (he was born here) He said I have a pretty good shot (shot as in wrist shot) I've also played with a senior on the varsity hockey team who is friends with the teammate of the Finnish kids. I'm trying to make the JV team for my high school and I guess I got too caught up in what could happen after

 

[ceg195]

Well, I just started skating almost 6 months ago, and I've been playing pickup hockey as soon as I got good on my skates. I've also played with two junior Finnish skaters who came over here to play in the US, oddly enough I met them when I rented out the ice one night. I've also played with a teammate of those two Finnish kids, funnily enough last Wednesday (he was born here) He said I have a pretty good shot (shot as in wrist shot) I've also played with a senior on the varsity hockey team who is friends with the teammate of the Finnish kids. I'm trying to make the JV team for my high school and I guess I got too caught up in what could happen after

You're right, just focus on making your jv team. Good luck

 

[Beezeral]

Focus on making your jv team. If you are destined to play professionally, someone will let you know. Don't be that guy boasting about dreams of the NHL or wherever while playing HS hockey. It's a bad look even if you were your schools version of Gretzky.

 

[howeaboutthat]

I know a lot of the guys who are playing in the lower leagues in europe who are from the US are guys who washed out leagues like the ECHL and are desperate to play some sort of hockey and are willing to play in a sub-par league in England or something.

Whilst the top tier league in England (the EPL) could rightly be described as "sub-par" the league that covers the entire United Kingdom (the EIHL) is very comparable to the ECHL, due to both the type of hockey played within the EIHL (more physical/NA style than that played in mainland Europe) but also due to the flow of players to/from the league predominantly coming/going from the ECHL/AHL.

It has its faults (awful standards of officiating) but, as someone from SE Michigan, I'd say overall it compares very favorably with the hockey I have seen played by the Toledo Walleye.

Yes you do get a few players over here for whom it is the last chance saloon, perhaps college kids who never got picked up, but the majority of import players that come here are far from desperate. One of the biggest draws is the opportunity to play a similar style of hockey whilst doing a degree or masters, most teams in the EIHL having reciprocal deals with local universities.

 

[Beezeral]

Whilst the top tier league in England (the EPL) could rightly be described as "sub-par" the league that covers the entire United Kingdom (the EIHL) is very comparable to the ECHL, due to both the type of hockey played within the EIHL (more physical/NA style than that played in mainland Europe) but also due to the flow of players to/from the league predominantly coming/going from the ECHL/AHL.

It has its faults (awful standards of officiating) but, as someone from SE Michigan, I'd say overall it compares very favorably with the hockey I have seen played by the Toledo Walleye.

Yes you do get a few players over here for whom it is the last chance saloon, perhaps college kids who never got picked up, but the majority of import players that come here are far from desperate. One of the biggest draws is the opportunity to play a similar style of hockey whilst doing a degree or masters, most teams in the EIHL having reciprocal deals with local universities.

Thanks for the info. Learned something new

 

[shoeshine boy]

You're right, just focus on making your jv team. Good luck

good advice and remember to enjoy it and have fun! since it sounds like you're just a teenager it's not impossible to achieve what you're dreaming of but it won't just fall in your lap. a lot of guys watch SPHL and ECHL hockey from the stands and think, "these guys don't look that good. I'm almost as good as they are. I could totally play in this league!" but chances are you couldn't.
we recently had a (recent) former Belleville Bull move to town. naturally he could skate circles around all of us (but didn't because he's a nice guy) in beer league but when he went to try out for the local ECHL team he didn't make it, and our ECHL team was dead last in their division this season.

 

[mzm119]

The Solar Bears of the ECHL let you pay to tryout. For $275 you get a few practices, a scrimmage, lunch and you keep your jersey. I'm assuming it's more of a money generator than a talent evaluation but I would think if they saw someone that could contribute, they'd offer a spot.

http://www.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/news/073013-freeagentcamp.php