NAHL Tryout Camps posted online
March 21, 2016
When it comes to playing in the NAHL, there are many different paths. As history as shown, some of the best players in the league, who went onto fruitful careers in the NCAA and beyond, were either NAHL draft picks or free agents that were discovered or had their breakout moment during NAHL Tryout Camps.
With that said, NAHL tryout camps for the upcoming 2016-17 season are now posted online here
NAHL teams build their rosters a number of ways, but there are some core ways that the process is done. An NAHL roster is made up of a combination of veteran players, tenders, draft picks and free agents.
With 225+ NCAA commitments each season, the NAHL offers junior hockey players the opportunity to develop, learn, grow and succeed, while playing for free. It is one of only two USA Hockey-sanctioned junior hockey leagues in the United States that is a non-pay-to-play league.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the process:
What is a tender?
A tender is a contract, of sorts, a player signs announcing his intentions to play for that particular NAHL team and that NAHL team only. Once a player signs a tender with an NAHL team, his playing rights belong to that team within the NAHL and he may not be recruited by any other NAHL team. Each team is granted ten (10) tenders - plus or minus any trades - which become active on Nov. 1. Tendered players are not eligible for the NAHL draft.
How many players can a team select?
The number of selections each Club is allowed to make is based on the number of players on that Club's pre-draft Protected List minus 30. (Example: If Club's veteran's + tenders = 22, 30-22 = 8, then Club has 8 picks to get its roster up to 30).
When is the NAHL draft?
The 2016 NAHL Entry Draft is tentatively scheduled for early June.
Do I have to register for the NAHL draft?
No, there is no registration process to be eligible for the draft.
Are tendered or drafted players eligible to try out for other NAHL teams?
Unless agreed upon in writing by the two NAHL teams, tendered or drafted players are not eligible to try out for other NAHL teams.
Are tendered or drafted players eligible to try out for teams in other junior leagues?
Yes, all tendered and drafted players are eligible to try out for any team in any league other than the NAHL in the U.S. and Canada.
What if I am not drafted or tendered, but still want to play in the NAHL?
Players that go undrafted must contact the individual NAHL teams regarding tryout procedures. Un-drafted and non-tendered players are eligible to try out for any NAHL team. Many free-agent players earn roster spots in tryout camps, and therefore are a very important part of an NAHL's recruiting process.
How do I learn about individual teams' tryout dates, costs and procedures?
2016-17 tryout dates and contact information for all NAHL teams are posted here
