Welcome to the Kitchener Jr. Rangers U10
BB/B Blue team webpage. This is coach Jim Karahalios!
Click here to read more about me. I am thrilled with the opportunity and
privilege to coach the 2016s. Those 2016s chosen to play for the U10 BB/B Blue
team will have the honour of wearing and representing the iconic hockey colours
of the Kitchener Jr. Rangers. The Kitchener Minor Hockey Association has had alumni
make it to the NHL every decade since the 1960s (
click here to read the list).
The Hockey Season
The Blue team’s hockey season will be focused on skill development, hockey fundamentals, teamwork, and character development in a competitive setting. We will work together to achieve this by seeking out best practices that can be applied at practices and during off-ice training opportunities. We will also work with various professionals, to the extent we are able to in accordance with meeting our budgetary objectives. There will be many opportunities throughout the season for players to maximize their skills and put in all the work they desire. Some of these include the following:
Pre-season:
· - Power skating and other off-ice skate training methods as provided by professional skating instructors
· - Goalie training provided by professional goalie instructors
In-Season training:
· - A minimum of two practices per week
· - Weekly on-ice goalie instruction during practice
· - Additional training opportunities including separate goalie specific training modules, access to shooting and skate training at off-ice facilities, and possible additional optional ice for skating specific training, all subject to achieving our budgetary objectives.
The Tryout Process
Below is a description of the tryout process including registration. Keep in mind this is subject to change, so be sure to check back on this webpage during the tryout week.
The U10 BB/B Blue team tryouts are shared with the U10 BB/B Red team. Tryouts start on Saturday May 3 at 2:15pm or 3:15pm at Sportsworld arena on the “Practice” rink.
You do not need to register for each of the Blue and Red teams separately. One registration makes you eligible to participate in tryouts for consideration by both teams. Every player must register to attend the BB/B tryouts. If you were released from AA tryouts, you must re-register for BB/B tryouts.
Registration is done by clicking on this link: https://page.spordle.com/kitchener/register/1f00b12c-fa23-603a-b6f5-06ee120d0117
Each player registered for tryouts will receive an email with their unique player ID number that will be used to identify the player for the duration of the BB/B tryouts. If you don’t see the email in the inbox of the email account used to register your child by Saturday morning, please check your junk folder. If you still don't see an email feel free to email me at [email protected]. Players who register later throughout the week, will have their ID’s emailed to them as they register or provided to them at registration.
Player ID numbers are used to inform players which ice time they are to attend, which players have been released from the tryouts, and which players are moving on to the next tryout sessions, all while protecting player confidentiality. The player ID numbers of the players moving on in the tryouts or assigned to a particular tryout session are listed on the BB/B Blue team’s webpage. Throughout the process the website will be used as your primary source of communication to follow along with tryouts. Releases and directions for that day’s tryout will be posted daily.
After each tryout session identified below, players may be released or offered a spot on a team, subject to the following rules set by Kitchener Minor Hockey: KMHA rules state that the Red team will be making their player selections first, followed by the Blue team. Therefore, the Blue team cannot make offers until the Red team has completed selecting their team – which must happen no later than the fourth tryout.
The good news is, there are a total of six tryout sessions for the Blue team (as described below) and the Red team and Blue team coaches are working efficiently and cooperatively to ensure that the Blue team will be available to start making their offers earlier in the tryout week (hopefully after Sunday).
The Tryout Schedule
Saturday, May 3 in the afternoon
Group 1 Tryout – 2:15pm to 3:15pm at Sportsworld - Practice
Group 2 Tryout – 3:15pm to 4:15pm at Sportsworld - Practice
On the first day, players will be divided into two groups based on alphabetic order (or some other similar order unrelated to the player’s ability). Each group will have one hour of ice-time featuring drill focused practice to showcase their skills. Goalies will also be included in these sessions. You will be informed in advance on Friday which ice-time to attend.
Sunday, May 4 in the morning
Group 1 Tryout – 8:00am to 9:00am at Sportsworld - Spectator
Group 2 Tryout – 9:00am to 10:00am at Sportsworld - Spectator
On the second day, the players asked to return will again be divided into two groups. Each group will have one hour of ice-time again featuring drills but this time the focus will be on showing an advanced level of each player’s skill. Goalies will also be included in these sessions. You will be informed in advance on Saturday which ice-time to attend.
Sunday, May 4 in the afternoon
Intrasquad Game 1 – 2:15pm to 3:15pm at Sportsworld – Practice
Intrasquad Game 2 – 3:15pm to 4:15pm at Sportsworld – Practice
On Sunday afternoon, coaches will identify which players have advanced from the morning tryouts and select a certain number of players to participate in two games. You will be informed after the Sunday morning tryouts which ice-time to attend.
Tuesday, May 6 in the evening
Exhibition Game: U10 BB/B Red vs U10 BB/B Blue – 6:00pm to 7:00pm at Sportsworld – Spectator
On Tuesday, the coach of the Red team will select players to play against those remaining players in the tryout process that are up for selection by the Blue team.
Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 in the evenings
A home and home series will be played against the U10 BB/B Cambridge Hawks. The remaining players in contention for selection by the Blue team will play the Cambridge Hawks. By this date, the Red team will have been done selecting its players.
Wednesday, May 7 from 5:15pm to 6:15pm at Cambridge Sportspark
Thursday, May 8 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at Activa Sportsplex – PJD
Offers and Signing Process
Offers to sign with the Blue team will be emailed to the players primary email on record. Please make sure you confirm your email with us at registration at the first day of tryouts when you check-in. In the email you will be provided with a link to Spordle to confirm acceptance of this offer. The offer will have a deadline by which you must register by, or the spot will be offered to another player.
I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend at the sign-in table at the lobby on Saturday afternoon at Sportsworld Arena, 35 Sportsworld Crossing Road, Kitchener.
If you have any questions, send me an email at [email protected].
Best of luck!
Coach Jim