A personal perspective from HockeyTech Testing Product Manager, Ian Mosher
Over the last few weeks we’ve had the privilege to work with over 300 players attending several of the USHL Combines, held at the Arctic Ice Arena in Orland Park, Illinois from April 21st to the 30th. We would complete our on-ice testing protocol that focuses on skating aptitude for several birth years, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998.
When arriving at the rink, I immediately recognized the facility, as we had worked with the Chicago Fury AAA Association therein 2008; when the original NEXT Testing was based in Madison, Wisconsin. It was one of our first full day testing event, many of those players moved on to USHL and NCAA playing careers. Definitely a special feeling, knowing that event would start a whirlwind of experiences that would take the testing to where it is now…testing players at the USHL Combines.
Our first sessions were with 2001 birth year attendees. The players were from all over North America; spanning from California to Alaska, and even Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It was great to be able to work with kids we would not normally get a chance to see, as well as cross paths with a skater who we’ve tested several times this year, through our NOHA AAA testing program.
With each session we are always hoping to test that next great skater, get that next top score for that age group, or find that skater that will make you look at the scoreboard twice, just to make sure you are reading the time right. And that we did, we had such a skater that evening, hauling from California, setting a new top score for the 14-year-old age group by a substantial margin. With an HTI of 729, his score will help identify him as an elite skater in the game that will hopefully continue to develop over the coming years.
The following two days we were working with the 2000 birth year attendees, this group consisted of players eligible for Phase I of USHL Draft, which took place on Monday May 2nd. With this in mind, all players were there to try and make an impression, the testing was a way to help multiple players separate themselves from the pack. The 2000 group consisted of 6 players who had tested with us in the past. With multiple testing sessions completed these players could not only show where they stand compared to their peers at this event, but also truly show the progression of their skating. An example of one of these players is Calvin Dybicz, improved his HTI by 77 points since his last testing session. Dybicz was later drafted in Phase I of the USHL Draft. The ability to show where you are today can be even more powerful if you have the capability to show where your skating has come from.
We tested the 1998/1999 USHL Combine group the following week. The majority of the players who participated in these sessions were high-end skaters. They all knew they were good and were looking to use their testing scores to prove it. This was a particularly fun session for our testing coordinators, as each player’s competitiveness grew greater as the testing session carried on. Once a drill was complete, players eyes went straight to the scoreboard to see the time and which teammate they beat out of the top score.
On-Ice Testing has the power to identify your skating flaws and strengths. All skaters possessed solid skating skill in various drills but it is important not to ignore the flaws if they want to take their game to the next level. We will be returning to Orland Park in late July for the 2002 USHL Combine.
Interested in more information, contact info@hockeytech.com