Overall Structure (40-50 minutes) Depending on ice time

• Stretching and Shots
  • Allow goaltenders to get a warmup skate
  • Stretching to loosen up
  • Coaches to shoot pucks to allow goaltenders to feel the puck prior to evaluation beginning
• Crease Movement (Edges, Efficiency, Recovery) (No pucks)
  Looking for athletic ability

• • • T Push
    • Shuffle
    • C-Cut
    • Butterfly Slide
    • Recover to Feet
• Positioning
  Assessing the understanding of the play situation
  • Depth of play
  • Angles during drills
  • Patience on plays
  • Is the Head leading the body
  • Square to puck
• Shot management
  How does the goaltender react under pressure
  • Low shots
  • High shots
  • Traffic, screens
  • Passing to shot
  • Rebound control

All shooters will be managed by the CHMA development team, and all shooters will be adult players

Intrasquad and Exhibition Games

Game Situations / Hockey Sense

This section evaluates the goaltender's hockey IQ, decision-making, and ability to read and react to game situations. Regardless of the age group.

• Body Language & Composure - Displays confidence, resilience, and positive body language regardless of outcomes.
• 2-on-1 Situations - Ability to read the puck carrier, anticipate the pass, and remain square.
• 3-on-2 Situations - Tracking multiple threats while maintaining proper positioning.
• Breakaways - Patience, angle management, depth, and save selection.
• Angle Management - Consistently establishes and maintains proper angles as the play develops.
• Lateral Passes / Cross-Slot Tracking - Tracks the puck effectively through east-west movement while staying controlled and balanced.
• Response After Goals Against - Resets quickly and remains mentally engaged after allowing a goal.
• Compete Level - Battles for second and third saves, never quits on a play, and competes until the whistle.

Consistent Evaluation Process Across All Age Groups

To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation process, every player will be assessed using the same core categories, regardless of age group. These categories include Movement, positioning, shot management, game awareness, compete level, and coachability.

While the evaluation categories remain consistent from U9 through U18, the expectations within each category are age appropriate. Evaluators understand that a U9 player is at a very different stage of development than a U15 or U18 player. Players are not compared across age groups. Instead, they are evaluated against the developmental expectations for their own age and level of play.

Using the same evaluation framework across all divisions provides consistency for goaltenders, parents, coaches, and evaluators. It ensures that every goaltender is assessed using the same principles while recognizing the appropriate developmental expectations for their age.

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• Skating (Primary Evaluation Category)
  Skating is the foundation of hockey and the most important skill being evaluated at the U9A level.Can the player skate at a competitive pace for their age? Can they keep up with the flow of play?

• • Edge Control & Balance
    Can they stop effectively on both sides? Can they turn comfortably in both directions?Do they maintain balance while changing directions?
  • Backward Skating & Transitions
    Can they skate backward with confidence and control?Can they transition smoothly from forward to backward skating and vice versa?
• Compete Level / Work Ethic
  At the U9A level, effort and attitude are important indicators of future development.
  • Does the player consistently compete throughout drills and games? Do they continue working hard when challenged?
  • Are they willing to pursue loose pucks?
    Do they compete in puck battles and remain engaged in the play?
  • Do they backcheck. Are they involved when play moves away from them?
  • Coachability: Do they listen to instruction? Do they demonstrate a willingness to learn and improve?
• Puck Skills
  Players should demonstrate basic puck control and the ability to execute fundamental skills.
  • Can they control the puck while skating?
  • Do they try and make accurate and purposeful passes?
  • Can they pass and receive using both the forehand and backhand? Can they control passes and continue the play?
  • Can they shoot with reasonable accuracy? Do they demonstrate proper shooting technique and confidence to shoot?
• Evaluation Philosophy
  Skating will be the most heavily weighted component of the evaluation process. Players who can move efficiently and confidently on the ice will have the greatest opportunity for long-term success.At this age, evaluators recognize that players develop at different rates. Selection decisions will focus not only on current ability but also on a player's effort, attitude, and potential for continued growth.

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• Skating (CORE and the most important skill at this age)
  • Speed: Can they skate at a competitive pace for their age?
  • Edge control & balance: Can they turn stop and pivot in both directions
  • Acceleration: How quickly can they reach top speed? How long to get going? 1st 3 steps
  • Backward skating: are they comfortable skating backward, can they pivot forward to backwards, backwards to forwards

• Compete Level / Work Ethic
  • Effort: Do they consistently compete, even when tired or outmatched?
  • Battle level: Do they go into corners or puck battles with grit?
  • Backchecking / defensive effort: Are they committed?
• Puck Skills
  • Stickhandling: Can they control the puck at varying speeds and in traffic situations?
  • Passing: Do they make accurate, purposeful passes (forehand and backhand)?
  • Receiving: Are they able to control hard or off-target passes?
  • Shooting: Can they shoot with accuracy and some power?
• Hockey IQ (Game Sense)
  • Positioning: Do they look like they understand where they need to be offensively and defensively?
  • Awareness: Are they able to make smart decisions with and without the puck?
  • Anticipation: Do they read plays and react quickly to transitions?
  • Off-puck movement: Are they actively supporting the play when they don’t have the puck?

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• Skating
  Skating becomes a clear separator at U11. Key areas to evaluate:
  • Speed: Straight-line speed and quick bursts.
  • Acceleration: First three steps — are they explosive?
  • Agility: Edge work, tight turns, stops and starts
  • Balance and posture: Especially under pressure or contact.
  • Transition skating: Forward to backward and vice versa.
• Compete Level
  • Work ethic: Are they consistent shift-to-shift, game-to-game?
  • Battle level: Willingness to go into corners, block shots, take contact
  • Consistency: Do they bring the same energy every time they’re on the ice?
• Puck Skills
  • Stickhandling: Can they handle the puck in traffic?
  • Passing/Receiving: Do they move the puck effectively?
  • Shooting:
    • Shot selection: Are they choosing the right shot?
    • Accuracy and power: Do they challenge goalies
  • Puck protection: Can they shield the puck using body positioning?
• Hockey Sense / IQ
  • Read & react: Do they make smart plays under pressure
  • Offensive awareness: Do they find open ice and create chances?
  • Defensive positioning: Are they responsible and in the right spots?
  • Anticipation: Do they see plays developing before they happen?
  • Situational decisions: Smart line changes, coverage, gap control, etc.
• Team Play & Character
  • Coachability: Do they listen, apply feedback, and ask questions?
  • Attitude: Are they focused, respectful, and positive
  • Supportiveness: Are they a good teammate — passing when needed, helping others?
  • Resilience: How do they respond to mistakes or bad shifts?
• Development Potential
  • Body language and learning mindset: Are they engaged and trying to improve?
  • Commitment: Are they putting in the effort?

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• Skating
  • Speed: Can they maintain pace with and without the puck?
    Breakaway Speed is a separator here for this age group
  • Acceleration: How quickly can they generate speed from a stop or tight space?
  • Agility and edgework: Can they change direction smoothly and under control?
  • Balance and posture: Strong stance, low centre of gravity, especially in battles.
  • Transition skating: Effective forward–backward and pivot transitions, critical for defensemen.
• Compete Level & Effort
  • Effort needs to be consistent across shifts and situations.
  • Battle willingness: Physical and mental toughness in corners and front of net.
  • Urgency: Hustles to lose pucks, committed backcheck.
• Puck Skills
  At this age, players should be showing control and creativity.
  • Stickhandling: Confident in tight spaces and at full speed.
  • Passing: Crisp, accurate passes under pressure and on the move.
  • Receiving: Soft hands, ability to corral tough passes.
  • Shooting:
    • Variety: Can they shoot forehand/backhand?
    • Power and accuracy: Do they hit the net and challenge goalies? second efforts: Doesn’t quit on plays after initial contact or failure.
• Hockey IQ / Decision-Making
  • Offensive positioning: Finding soft areas, staying open, timing entries.
  • Defensive awareness: Sticking with assignments, smart coverage, backchecking.

    Two traits they should be growing towards at this age. These are separators

  • Puck management: Avoids low-percentage plays, makes smart passes.
  • Vision and anticipation: Sees the ice well, anticipates puck movement.
• Development Potential
  • Body language and learning mindset: Are they engaged and trying to improve?
  • Commitment: Are they putting in the effort?

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• 1. Skating
  • Speed and stride efficiency: Are they quick?
  • Acceleration and quickness: Can they break away or close gaps fast?
  • Agility & edgework: Effective in traffic and when evading checks.
  • Balance and stability: Can they absorb contact and stay upright?
  • Transitions: Smooth backward–forward pivots, especially for D.
• 2. Compete Level & Physical Engagement
  • Battle readiness: Willingness to engage physically and win pucks.
  • Effort: Competes every shift, whether up or down on the scoreboard.
  • Resilience: Plays through adversity, tough shifts, bad calls.
  • Work rate: First back on backchecks, high pace without the puck.
• 3A. Puck Skills
  
  • Stickhandling: Can they make plays with the puck under duress?
  • Passing: Accuracy: On the tape, with pace. Decision-making: Head-up, finding options.
  • Puck protection: Ability to shield and maintain possession.
  • Shooting:
    • Variety: Wrist, snap, backhand, one-timers.
    • Release: Quick, deceptive, effective in motion.
• 3B. Hockey IQ / Game Awareness
  • Players show understanding and anticipation.
  • Reading plays: Can they predict puck movement or defensive gaps?
  • Off-puck awareness: Do they move to support or find quiet space?
  • Defensive play: Positioning, gap control, stick placement. Are they starting to “think the game” beyond just effort?

At this level coaches are building teams. All these skills and traits are important. Some coaches may see one skill or trait ahead of the other and that needs to remain a coach’s opinion. 3A 3B are weighted equal skill and traits to have at this age.

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• 1. Skating (High-Impact, Game-Effective)
  • Explosiveness: First three strides and separation speed.
  • Agility: Escaping pressure and adjusting in tight spaces.
  • Edge control: Effective turning, stops and starts.
  • Transition Pivots: Seamless changes between backward and forward skating.
• 2. Hockey IQ / Systems Awareness
  • U14 players should understand game structure and situational play.
  • Reads and reactions: Anticipates play development, not just reacting.
  • Off-puck positioning: Stays engaged and supports.
  • Defensive responsibility: Understands gap control, angling, and zone/coverage.
  • Situational awareness: F and D when to pinch, when to back off
• 3A. Puck Skills
  • Execution must be quick, accurate, and situationally smart.
  • Puck control: Comfort in traffic, during rushes, and under pressure.
  • Passing: Pace and timing: Anticipates, doesn't hold puck too long.
  • Creativity: Can create lanes, use indirect passes.
  • Shooting: Accuracy and release: Can they shoot
  • Shot: Wrist, snap, backhand, one-timer, good bad indifferent
  • Puck protection: Uses body positioning to shield puck from defenders.
• 3B. Physical Engagement & Compete Level
  • Checking is fully integrated, so physical play must be purposeful and controlled.
  • Battle effort: Competes hard along boards and in front of the net.
  • Consistency: Effort and energy level don’t vary widely shift to shift.

At this level coaches are building teams. All these skills and traits are important. Some coaches may see one skill or trait ahead of the other and that needs to remain a coach’s opinion. 3A 3B are weighted equal skill and traits to have at this age.

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• 1. Skating (High-Impact, Game-Effective)
  • Explosiveness: First three strides and separation speed.
  • Agility: Escaping pressure and adjusting in tight spaces.
  • Edge control: Effective turning, stops and starts.
  • Transition Pivots: Seamless changes between backward and forward skating.
• 2. Hockey IQ / Systems Awareness
  • U15 U16 U18 players should understand game structure and situational play.
  • Reads and reactions: Anticipates play development, not just reacting.
  • Off-puck positioning: Stays engaged and supports.
  • Defensive responsibility: Understands gap control, angling, and zone/coverage.
  • Situational awareness: F and D when to pinch, when to back off.
• 3A. Puck Skills
  • Execution must be quick, accurate, and situationally smart.
  • Puck control: Comfort in traffic, during rushes, and under pressure.
  • Passing: Pace and timing: Anticipates, doesn't hold puck too long.
  • Creativity: Can create lanes, use indirect passes.
  • Shooting: Accuracy and release: Can they shoot
  • Shot: Wrist, snap, backhand, one-timer, good bad indifferent
  • Puck protection: Uses body positioning to shield puck from defenders.
• 3B. Physical Engagement & Compete Level
  • Checking is fully integrated, so physical play must be purposeful and controlled.
  • Battle effort: Competes hard along boards and in front of the net.
  • Endurance and pace: Sustains effort throughout games.
  • Consistency: Effort and energy level don’t vary widely shift to shift.

At this level coaches are building teams. All these skills and traits are important. Some coaches may see one skills or trait ahead of the other and that needs to remain a coach’s opinion.

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• 1. Skating (Elite-Level Game Impact)
  • Skating remains the foundation of success at the AA level.
  • Explosiveness: First three strides generate immediate separation.
  • Ability to accelerate quickly and create offensive opportunities.
  • Maintains speed through puck touches and directional changes.
  • Can play at a high pace without losing effectiveness.
  • Agility & Edge Control: Escapes pressure using deception and strong edge work.
  • Creates time and space through efficient movement.
  • Transitions: Smooth and efficient pivots between forward and backward skating.
  • Defenders maintain tight gaps through strong transition skating.
  • Forwards quickly transition from offense to defense and vice versa.
• 2. Hockey IQ / Game Understanding
  • At the AA level, players should consistently think the game at a high level.
  • Anticipation: Reads developing plays before they occur.
  • Processes information quickly and makes proactive decisions.
  • Off-Puck Play: Supports teammates in all three zones. Creates passing options and maintains proper spacing.
  • Defensive Awareness: Understands positioning, angling, gap control, and defensive responsibilities.
  • Recognizes threats and reacts appropriately.
  • Situational Decision Making: Understands game score, time, and momentum. Knows when to attack, when to manage risk, and when to simplify.
• 3A. Puck Skills
  • Execution must be consistent at game speed and under pressure.
  • Puck Control: Maintains possession in traffic and under physical pressure. Can make plays while moving at full speed
  • Passing: Delivers accurate passes with proper pace and timing.
  • Anticipates rather than reacts.
  • Creates opportunities through vision and deception.
  • Shooting: Quick release and ability to shoot in stride. Accurate and dangerous from multiple areas of the ice.
  • Demonstrates proficiency with wrist shots, snap shots, backhands, and one-timers.
  • Puck Protection: Uses body positioning, strength, and awareness to maintain possession. Extends offensive zone time through puck management.
• 3B. Physical Engagement & Compete Level
  • At the AA level, physical play should be purposeful and effective.
  • Battle Competitiveness: Consistently wins puck battles along boards and in contested areas.
  • Willingly competes in high-traffic zones.: Physical Presence. Finishes checks when appropriate.
  • Uses body position to separate opponents from the puck.
  • Consistency: Competes at a high level every shift.: Maintains intensity regardless of game situation.
  • Work Rate: Demonstrates strong habits away from the puck. Tracks back, backchecks, and supports teammates consistently.
• 4. Character & Coachability
  • As players move closer to junior hockey, character becomes increasingly important.
  • Coachability: Accepts feedback and applies corrections.
  • Demonstrates a willingness to learn and improve.
  • Leadership: Positive influence on teammates. Demonstrates maturity, accountability, and professionalism.
  • Resilience / Responds positively to adversity and mistakes.
  • Maintains focus and competitiveness throughout games.

At the AA level, coaches are building a team capable of competing for championships. While all skills and attributes are important, coaches may place different levels of emphasis on specific traits based on team needs, playing style, and roster composition.

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