Following the team’s most successful season in its seven-year history, the Carleton Ravens men’s hockey program will once again hold its annual open tryouts prior to the start of the new season.
But this time, it marks the first year where hopefuls will be attempting to make an impression on a national championship-attending team, after the Ravens made their first appearance at Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) nationals.
“The standard has been set,” Ravens forward Ryan MacLean said. “After getting to nationals last year our expectations should not change.”
On Sept. 3 from 4-6 p.m., full-time students at Carleton will have the opportunity to try out for the men’s hockey team at the Carleton Ice House for a fee of $20.
“We usually get two teams with 17 or 18 players per squad,” MacLean said. “It’s always a great game, and the players know what’s at stake even though there’s no win or loss column.”
MacLean spoke of the value that open tryouts have in preparing the team for the new season and sustaining growth from past seasons, which he said comes through from on-ice training and with intangible qualities that result from the game.
“It gives the coaches an opportunity to look at putting lines together and seeing where guys fit,” he said. “It also gives players a chance to get back into shape and back into game mentality.”
The Ravens women’s hockey team also employed a similar strategy this off-season, holding an open evaluation camp on May 24.
Pierre Alain, the new head coach of the women’s team and former head coach of the Team Canada under-18 and under-22 squads, said the purpose of the camp was to generate some excitement around the program.
“I’m the new coach, that’s why we wanted to try something different,” he said. “We wanted to create a buzz, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Alain noted that a strong demand for an open tryout from Carleton students was what prompted the evaluation camp, and said it was very well attended as a result.
“We had 47 players. Thirty-seven were walk-ons, plus 10 of our 16 returning players,” he said.
Similar to the men’s program, Alain credited the open camp with establishing a certain culture surrounding the women’s hockey program by emphasizing core values.
“We will work to solidify team spirit and team building,” he said. “We want to solidify defense first and also work on fitness.”
MacLean said while the tryouts are open to all full-time Carleton students, there will not be a lack of intensity or motivation.
“Even though you’re playing against your teammates, you still have to prove to them that you’re going to put in a good effort,” MacLean said.
