skip navigation

Boys Program

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

(Please Note - The tryout location & citizenship eligibility rules. Location on where a player will attend a player development tryout is based on where their family permanently resides. If permanent residents of NY State, the player can only tryout out in the NY district regardless of the state or region where they’re playing (i.e., playing out of district in CT, NJ or going to prep school, etc. If the parents’ permanent residence is in NYS, the player must tryout in NY). Also, and most importantly, to participate in the US player development program a player must be a US citizen (i.e., hold a US passport)).

The New York District Boys' Player Development Program offers a process unlike most players are used to competing in.  This highly selective, pyramid style process attempts to identify those players who possess the individual skill to compete at an international level of play.  The NY District staff looks for those players showing the ability to perform at a consistently high level during short-term events such as international festivals, national festivals, and development camps. 

From the regional try-outs through the district selection camp, players are continually evaluated in this program. We do not look at the success or failure of the team(s) they play on during the season.  This is totally inconsequential.  If a player does not advance beyond a regional or district tryout, it was because his performance at that try-out was not at a level of other players attending the same tryout.  This is not a team selection process, but an advancement of players based on individual performance.  The staff strives to establish a level ground on which to evaluate players, and common regional tryouts or sectional evaluations are two of the processes that are used to select players to participate in or advance from any tryout.   There are four age level classifications that are subsequently grouped into two age categories administratively.  Those age groups are 14's, 15's, 16's and 17's.  

NYS 14/15 Tryouts

These Platforms are designed for players of above average skill and ability to experience this selective pyramid style process, entering a larger more competitive pool at every stage. Select 14 & 15 birth year players MUST nominated/recommended by their associations/team coaches and pre-apply by the listed deadline date for these regional try-outs to assure a tryout spot. Please note, if a player applies or registers after the showed deadline date it is then up to the discretion of the regional coordinator whether to allow their participation in this tryout-based on numbers. It’s very important to make note of this factThe tryouts are held in the four geographic sections of the NYSAHA, there are limited allocations that are awarded by the District Coordinator at each position to our state camps in an order of merit list (with alternates) established at the end of the try-out

Selected players from the “14” regional tryouts participate in an In-District Player Development Camp in the early summer.  This is a weeklong development camp where 80 players from our district come together to practice, compete, and experience a camp implementing American Development Model principles.  The in-district camp is modeled after the National Festivals held by USA Hockey at the older ages.  Currently the camp is centrally located on the beautiful campus of SUNY Oswego. Note: - Cost for this camp to selected players will be determined once projected facility costs are finalized.

From the “15” regional tryout, selected players are then invited to the May district state festival camp in Syracuse, NY. The District Player Development Coordinator maintains a certain number of at-large selections for distribution based on player performances. Note - cost for the players selected to the May state festival camp in Syracuse will be determined once the projected facility expenses are finalized.

NYS 16 & 17 Tryouts

These platforms are by invitation only (there are no regional March tryouts at 16 & 17). To be evaluated and considered for an invitation for the district state festival, players need to apply in advance via the on-line registration link provided to each NYSAHA association. Note, if a player is playing out of district, (i.e. in CT, Mass, NJ or attending prep school, etc.), the responsibility to secure the link to register for consideration rests solely with the individual family/player. Invitations to attend our May state festival will be sent to applied players based on player evaluations provided by the Player Development Council (the council consists of a wide range of coaches and evaluators that watch players throughout the year).  Based on the Player Development Council member's ratings, the 16/17 coordinator establishes an invite list reviewed by the Player Development Committee.  

Typically, the NY District 16 & 17 state festival camps have 76 players (44 forwards, 24 defenseman and 8 goalies) participate. 

Note that the number of national allocations is generally less at these levels than at the 15 levels thus making the selection process more competitive.  Players should also realize that the range of players applying and selected for these camps include players playing at levels 15, 16 & 18 midget, high school, prep school and junior programs both in the US and Canada.

Once an invited player arrives at the district tryout, the evaluation process is continued and once again these players must show they can continue to perform during a short-term event at a consistently high level.  The National Office dictates to the District Coordinator what the allocations are at each age level for advancement to the National Player Development Camp(s).

2024 NYS REGIONAL TRYOUT INFORMATION

See tabs below for our NYS Regional 14(2010'S) and 15(2009'S)  tryout information...

2024 NYS DISTRICT TRYOUT INFORMATION

See tabs below for our NYS District Oswego 14 and NYS District 15,16 & 17 camp tryout information

Player development staff

Listed below are the contacts in New York State for the Boy's Player Development Program.

Steve Cibelli

NYS 14/15 Coordinator

Phone: (315) 383-1057

Mark Hogan

NYS 16/17 Coordinator

Phone: (585) 576-7035

Ryan Gage

West Section 14/15 Player Development Coordinator

Joseph Marszalek

West Section 14/15 Player Development Coordinator

Steve Mallaro

North Section 14/15 Coordinator

Scott Montagna

Central Section 14/15 Coordinator

Don White

East Section 14/15 Player Development Coordinator

Will Bodine

East Section 14/15 Player Development Coordinator