2025–26 HEO Minor AAA Spring Hockey Tryout Directives
Updated: January, 2025
HEO AAA Tryouts will be divided into two phases:
- Phase 1, ‘Association Tryouts’ and
- Phase 2, ‘HEO AAA/D14 Combine.’
Phase 1 - Association Tryouts
The practices/games/tryouts held by each Association leading up to the Combine form an integral part of the tryout process and are mandatory activities. For medical related situations, guidelines are referenced at the end of this document.
AAA rostered players from the most recent prior season will start their tryout process with their home associations.
Incumbent players can be released from their home Association before the Combine - no automatic Combine participation just because a player played AAA last season.
Players who transferred to another AAA association during the 2024-25 season and were on a AAAroster (affiliates excluded) will have the choice to start their tryout process with their home AAA association or with the team they played for in the current season. Transferred players can be released before the Combine.
⇒ New for 2025/26 Any player released by their ‘home’ AAA association in Phase 1 will not be permitted to continue with another HEO AAA association through a tryout transfer before Phase 2.
Phase 2 - HEO AAA/D14 Combine
April 27, 2025 - May 1, 2025
Each team will carry a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 25 players going into the
Combine, of which 3 must be goaltenders. Under special circumstances, a team may carry more than 25.
Once the Associations declare their Combine rosters, players will be guaranteed a minimum of 1 game during the Combine.
At the start of the Combine, families will receive a link to a form indicating interest in playing for adifferent AAA team than their home one, should they be released, or if they would rather proceed to their home AA team tryouts. The form link will be from Google Forms.
Using the feedback from the player form (above), releases and transfers might occur at any point after Game 1 of the Combine. No transfers will be allowed without the knowledge/approval of the District Executives, HEO Technical Director, and Association Presidents.
If there is interest in a transfer of a player during the Combine by more than one team, the player’s priority selection from the form will be used. If there is interest, a player released couldskate with one or more teams besides their original “home” team. (see Extenuating Circumstances)
The Head Coach or Association Liaison will be responsible for informing the player of their releasethrough the most professional means possible (in person, by email, website or by phone and taking an appropriate amount of time).
The original Head Coach of the released player will be responsible for following up with that player after the Combine at a convenient date and time for all parties to discuss the release and possibly offer them an affiliation (if not transferred/picked up by another association).
No parent or player is to contact another team if they are released. All the AAA teams are aware of who is being released. If another team is interested, a player or parent will be contacted.
Any player released following the Combine will be returned to their districts. Teams will be selected on May 1, 2025, at the end of the Combine. If a player chooses to take 4 months off and come to training camp in September out of shape, the AAA association reserves the right to replace a player.In order to release a player, an application must be made through the Technical Director to theDistrict Executive. This provision is allowed until October 15th of the current hockey season.
Registration Requirements
All players will register for tryouts with their respective AAA associations.
All players registering with their respective AAA association must be in ‘good standing’ with both the home (Cumberland/Nepean/Stittsville etc) and AAA association.
In order to be eligible for AAA Spring Tryouts you must have played as a registered HEO player in the previous season, have completed a Residential Move Transfer into, or within HEO, and that transfer has been approved prior to the start of AAA Spring Tryouts, or have played on an Ontario Woman’s Hockey Association (OWHA) team that falls within HEO’s Jurisdiction.
All players who residentially move into HEO territory and have an approved residential Move Transfer after AAA Spring tryouts may attend a fall evaluation.
Players who played in a Non-sanctioned League (ref: HEO Policy 6.54) in the previous season are not eligible to attend AAA Spring Tryouts; however, they may attend a fall evaluation, providedthey registered with an HEO Sanctioned Minor Hockey Association. (this is currently under review and may be subject to change).
Medical Incidents
The rules and policies regarding missing hockey tryouts due to medical circumstances are two-fold. At the Association level tryouts, and Combine (District Level) tryouts must be taken into account:
Absenteeism: The Associations must maintain the integrity of tryouts and ensure that absenteeismis not used to circumvent the process. Zero tolerance for Spring Hockey or any other conflicts. If evidence of tampering is found, the Association and/or its head coach will be sanctioned by the District by not approving the final roster of the team in question.
Communication: It's crucial for players/families to communicate the medical circumstancesimmediately. Notify the team and District about the situation, providing details about the nature of the medical condition and any necessary medical documentation. This must be done immediately toavoid “last minute” instances.
Medical Documentation: In most cases, teams or organizations may require medical documentation to verify the validity of the medical circumstances. This could include a note from a doctor, medical records, images, or other relevant documents.
Authorized Protections: Each association will be permitted to grant 2 medical protections per agelevel once all documentation has been satisfied. The District grants these protections, therefore, the District must be satisfied that everything above has been met.