ROCKPORT — The Maine Coast Storm ice hockey program will be holding tryouts for the 2021-2022 season later this month from Monday, March 22 to Wednesday, March 24. 

“The Storm coaches and Board of Directors goal is to place our teams at the highest possible tier level available through Maine Amateur Hockey Association (MEAHA) where we feel the players will be most competitive,” the organization said. 

To tryout, complete the application and bring it with you, along with the non-refundable payment of $35. Checks should be made payable to the Maine Coast Storm.

Tryouts for the 2021-2022 season are scheduled as follows:

10U (birth years 2011 and 2012): Tuesday, March 23, 6:40 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.
12U (birth years 2009 and 2010): Monday, March 22, 6:40 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.
14U (birth years 2007 and 2008): Monday, March 22, 7:50 p.m. 8:50 p.m.
18U (birth years 2003-2006): Wednesday, March 24, 6:40 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. 

Any player who owes tuition payments or fees (partial or full) to the Storm will be ineligible to participate in the spring tryout until past due tuition/fees are paid in full.

Any player who does not register for the spring tryout will not be considered for a spot on the Tier III team. 

Final roster sizes will be determined after tryouts.

If your player is unable to attend tryouts due to a conflict, please reach out to Darryl Townsend at stormcoachdt@gmail.com.

For questions about tryouts, please contact Darryl Townsend at stormcoachdt@gmail.com or Bo Hoppin at stormpres2@gmail.com.

General Tryout Information

The Storm offers the opportunity to play on Tier III and Tier IV travel teams at various age levels.

The specific age level offerings depend on a variety of factors including the number of participants at each age group and the overall skill levels from year to year.

Those who tryout and make a Tier III team must make a commitment to the team, their teammates, and their coaches to attend all practices and games whenever possible. “We understand family and school commitments arise from time to time, but players and parents are expected to communicate these to the head coach in a timely manner,” the organization said. 

The travel season is a demanding one that includes two or three practices per week and 16 to 24 games (depending on league requirements).

Games are played on the weekends at arenas from Biddeford to Lewiston to Bangor to the home Rockport rink and many in between. The season is six months long (early October to late March) and teams will typically play multiple games per weekend.

If selected to a Tier III team, the organization asks each player and their family for their commitment and intention to play, including a mandatory (and non-refundable) down payment (to be applied to next season’s tuition), shortly after spring tryouts have concluded.

Tryout Information

Tryouts will be held to determine team rosters. Team sizes will be decided by the Storm Board and will dictate how many teams are offered at a particular age group. Rosters and team sizes will be decided on at or before the conclusion of the Maine Amateur Hockey Association (MEAHA) dictated tryout season (mid-April).

Any outstanding tuition and fees must be paid in full to participate in the tryout. Those families who receive aid in the form of partial tuition and/or payment plans are not excluded from the tryout payment policy; all players must be paid in full to participate in tryouts.

Evaluators rate players focusing on their skating ability (forwards & backwards, starts & stops), puck handling skills, positioning away from the puck, and hockey awareness.

Players are given an overall score and then stack-ranked (the best score is first, second best score is next, and so on) to determine each team.

Evaluation scores are based upon what the evaluator feels the player has demonstrated during the tryout session.

“We know that some players may feel nervous during their tryout and for many reasons may not show their best effort,” the team reports. “Evaluators are human and the process is judgmental; we understand that parents and players might not always agree with the evaluators’ final scores and the final player selections. While the process may not be perfect, it is fair. Please understand that not everyone will make a Tier III team.” 

Team selections will range from the minimum (10 skaters, one goalie) to the maximum (18 skaters, two goalies) based on skill-set, size, awareness, experience, and overall ability to thrive and operate without risk to their personal safety within the environment of the league in which the team will participate.

No team will roster more than two goalies. Goalies not selected for a Tier III team will be offered goaltending spots on a Tier IV team or teams in the House Hockey program.

The Storm reserves the right to add players to a Tier III team in the fall if the total number of players in a particular age group warrants such action and said players have the ability to thrive and operate without risk to their personal safety. Movement to a Tier III team in the fall however, is not a guarantee.

Storm Travel Tryouts Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are tryouts to pick next season’s team at the end of this year?
A: MeAHA , the state governing body for youth hockey in the state, mandates that a tryout window fall between the Monday after the first weekend in March and the second Sunday in April. This is designed to make the tryout and decision making process quick and efficient for players and associations.

Q: Why do players have to pay to tryout?
A: This is a common practice among associations that hold team tryouts. While the funds raised from a tryout will help the Storm financially, the cost is right in line, if not cheaper, than what other associations charge for tryouts. Charging for tryouts ensures that participants are committed and serious about the process.

Q: How will players be evaluated?
A: Evaluators rate players on their forward and backward skating ability, stops and starts, puck handling, play and positioning away from the puck, and hockey awareness.

Q: How does the evaluation work?
A: Evaluators provide an overall score for each player based upon the various components of the evaluation. The players are then stack ranked, based on their scores, with the best score first, second best score next, and so on.

Q: Who are the evaluators?
A: The board selects evaluators who understand the game of hockey and know what it takes to be a successful player. Evaluators may be a mix of coaches, adult players, and other non-Storm individuals.

Q: Will I receive my child’s evaluation?
A: No, the Storm does not share the specific results of the tryout.

Q: When will I find out if my child made the Tier III team?
A: Rosters will be posted to the Storm website approximately a week after the tryout session. Coaches or other Storm representatives will follow-up with each player within seven days to confirm their commitment to play on the team for the following season and ensure their $150 deposit is received.