How to Stand Out at Tryouts (Without Trying to Be a Hero)

Tryout season is stressful. Players press. Parents analyze every shift. Coaches evaluate everything.

The biggest mistake players make?They try to stand out instead of trying to separate themselves.

Standing out isn’t about toe drags and end-to-end rushes. It’s about showing coaches that you can be trusted when the game matters.

Here’s how players truly separate themselves at tryouts:

1. Compete on Every Rep

Coaches don’t remember one flashy goal.

They remember:

• Who won puck battles.

• Who tracked back hard.

• Who stopped on pucks.

• Who finished drills at full speed.

Most players float between reps. The ones who stand out treat every line rush, every battle drill, every small-area game like it’s the last shift of a playoff game.

Effort is visible.Consistency is rare.Relentless compete separates.

2. Play Fast — With and Without the Puck

Speed isn’t just straight-line skating. It’s:

• Quick decisions

• Quick puck movement

• Quick reloads

• Quick transitions

Coaches are watching how fast you think. The player who moves the puck decisively and supports play immediately looks more advanced than the player dangling into traffic.

Play fast. Move pucks. Reload hard.

3. Win the Middle of the Ice

The safest place to hide at tryouts? The outside.

The fastest way to stand out? Own the middle.

• Drive the net.

• Get inside body position.

• Defend through the dots.

• Protect the slot.

Coaches notice players who are willing to operate in hard areas. The middle of the ice is where trust is earned.

4. Show Hockey IQ

Anyone can look good in an isolated drill.

Coaches are evaluating:

• Spacing

• Timing

• Awareness

• Defensive responsibility

• Support routes

Do you arrive early or late?Do you anticipate pressure?Do you recognize when to change?

Smart players separate quickly because hockey IQ is harder to teach than effort.

5. Be Coachable in Real Time

Body language matters.

After a correction:

• Do you nod and apply it immediately?

• Or do you roll your eyes and repeat the same mistake?

Coaches are building a roster, not just selecting talent. They want players who listen, adjust, and improve shift to shift.

The fastest way to move up a coach’s list?Make an adjustment immediately after feedback.

6. Make Your Teammates Better

The best players at tryouts don’t play “tryout hockey.”They play winning hockey.

That means:

• Talking on the ice

• Supporting low

• Making the extra pass

• Backchecking hard

• Creating space for others

Coaches look for players who elevate the group. Not the ones who try to outshine it.

7. Control What You Can Control

You cannot control:

• Who the coach already knows

• Politics

• Birth month

• Size differences

You can control:

• Effort

• Pace

• Focus

• Preparation

• Body language

• Compete level

Players who obsess over the uncontrollable waste energy.

Players who lock in on their details separate.

8. Play Your Identity

Trying to become something you’re not for three days doesn’t work.

If you’re:

• A puck-moving defenseman → move pucks efficiently.

• A power forward → get inside and create chaos.

• A smart center → manage the middle.

• A shutdown defender → close gaps and kill plays early.

Coaches can spot fake confidence. They respect players who understand who they are.

Final Thought

Standing out at tryouts isn’t about being the most skilled player on the ice.

It’s about being:

• The most consistent

• The most reliable

• The most competitive

• The most coachable

Flash gets noticed.

Trust gets selected.

If you focus on earning trust shift after shift, you won’t need to chase attention.

You’ll separate naturally.