Hello Players & families of Whitemud West. I hope this email finds you well and growing with excitement for the upcoming hockey season. As the VP of Evaluations for Whitemud West Hockey Association, I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to all players and families as we gear up for another great year of minor hockey!

Thank you to everyone that attended our spring U11 AA (formerly HADP) evaluation sessions in April. Following these sessions, Whitemud West has made the decision to form one team within the AA tier for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The top 10 players (by evaluation scores) from the spring evaluation sessions have secured a roster spot for the upcoming season.

The remaining roster spots (five players + up to two goalies) will be selected during our fall tryouts in August, with registration for these tryouts opening on June 1, 2024. We understand the significance of these evaluations to players and their families, and we are committed to ensuring a fair and transparent evaluation process. With this in mind, I would like to provide you with a clear understanding of the fall U11 AA tryout process and outline what you can expect:

1. Weekly Summer Development Skates (June & July): Whitemud West will be hosting weekly development skates, led by our VP of Player Development, and informed by the U11 AA head coach. These sessions are prioritized to players and goaltenders who have either secured a roster spot or attended the spring evaluation prospect game. Remaining spots for these skates will be released to all players on a first-come-first-served basis. To be added to the waitlist, please contact registrar@whitemudwest.com More information on these skates can be found here.
2. Independent Third-Party Evaluators: As we have done in previous years and in our spring evaluation sessions, Whitemud West has engaged third-party evaluators for our players & goalies.
3. Two-Game Evaluation Series: The fall U11 AA tryouts will consist of two games for all players. Given the limited number of roster spots available, a limit of 30 players and 6 goalies will be available for registration (this includes the 10 players who have already secured a roster spot during our spring evaluations). Groups will be capped with a maximum of 15 players + three goalies.
4. Roster Selection: Following the fall U11 AA tryouts, the head coach will draft the remaining 5 players + goalie(s) from the top 10 players (by evaluation results) outside of the initial 10 players already selected.

The fall U11 AA tryouts will occur on August 24th and 25th at Callingwood Arena, 3:15-4:15PM. Skate groups will be posted to the website one week prior to tryouts. The cost of the fall U11 AA tryouts will be $50.

Due to the limited number of spots available, registration for the fall U11 AA tryouts will be by invitation only. All players intending to try out for U11 AA are kindly asked to complete an interest form. Selected players will receive direct invitations to attend the fall tryouts along with a registration link. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this process. Please complete the interest form here.

The U11 AA tryout interest form will be open from today May 29th - July 14th at which time the Evaluation Committee will consider all applications and select players to participate in the fall tryout. Players will be contacted on/ by July 29, 2024. Selected players will be sent a registration link for the U11 AA tryout, registration and payment for the tryout must be completed by August 9th.

Please note, you must complete your standard Whitemud West U11 2024 -2025 season registration through our registration link prior to being able to register for the U11 AA fall tryout.

We recognize the anticipation and excitement that this process brings, as well as the potential challenges that it may pose. Whitemud West is committed to supporting both players and their families throughout this journey. Regardless of the outcome, we believe that the experience gained during the evaluation process is invaluable and contributes to each player’s growth on and off the ice.

For the 2024- 2025 season Hockey Edmonton has confirmed that Whitemud West will operate the U11 AA team.

Thank you for being part of our hockey community, and for your commitment to fostering a positive environment for our players. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. We wish each player the best of luck during the evaluations and hope you all have a fantastic hockey season!

Regards,
Claudio Virga
VP of Evaluations
Whitemud West Hockey Association

vpevaluations@whitemudwest.com