To All Coaches – 

I wanted to give all of you information about this spring’s Team Michigan. As you may know, Team Michigan represents Michigan high school hockey against the top high school hockey states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Massachusetts) at the CCM NIT Tournament in Minnesota. This event is the most scouted tournament there is for our players; last year every NHL, USHL and NAHL team was represented, as well as most Division 1 University’s.

We now have two “Team Michigan” squads attending the CCM NIT Tournament: a Senior team and a U-18 (Junior) team. For us as high school coaches, it is crucial that we send our top players to make up these two squads. When scouts see Michigan players on the ice at this tournament, it sends a message as to the talent level here in Michigan. Therefore, sending our best players helps every single one of us, and every single one of our programs and players.

I understand that there are a lot of options and opportunities for our players. However, here are some other reasons why players should try out for Team Michigan:

-Each year, Michigan players who perform well end up getting more college offers and being drafted higher (NHL, USHL, NAHL) than before playing in the tournament. Scouts want to see our best against the rest of the country’s best. That causes their stock to rise, so even if a player has interest from a team or is already tendered, this improves their options.

-Team Michigan is run by Michigan High School coaches who do not get paid. So there is no financial gain from anyone involved. Simply put, we only want to send our best talent. 

-Our philosophy in going, is to win the tournament. If we do well (we have won the tournament once and been in the finals three times over the last five years), it showcases everyone.

-Players on Team Michigan the last 5 years have represented all parts of the state. Last year we had players from 23 different High Schools. We had U.P., Northern Michigan, Western Michigan, Central Michigan players as well as players from the Metro Detroit area

-We keep the cost as low as possible. This is put on by MAHA, which receives grant money from USA Hockey to subsidize part of the overall cost of the tournament.

-If a player makes the team, the entire trip, is about $600. Which includes hotels, transportation and most meals

Here are important information and dates to distribute to your top junior and senior players:

Tryouts will be held at the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea March 24-26, 2017 (two weeks after the state finals.) We also have some conditioning skates the week before the tournament to help players who may have been off the ice for a couple of weeks. We will email players who sign-up for tryouts these conditioning skate dates.

If a player makes the team, the training camps will be held April 13-16 in Metro Detroit area. 

The team leaves for Minnesota on April 19, with the tournament running April 20-23. We come home late on April 23, or early on the 24th.

I hope you will make your top junior and senior players aware of Team Michigan tryouts. The dates of all this should avoid most school spring breaks, but knowing this information now will hopefully allow each player to plan accordingly. 

Players are able to sign up for the tryouts now on the www.maha.org website. You will click on the player development tab at the top and follow the instructions. We will leave it open from Dec 15th until the week after the state finals. Below is the link to the sign up page. 

Click on this to sign up and then click either the senior tryout link or the junior sign up link

http://mahaplayerdevelopment.usahockey.com/page/show/1137522-high-school-team-michigan

I have also attached how Team Michigan players have advanced at the NHL, College, & Junior levels

If you have any questions, please contact myself or Ryan Ossenmacher don@arcticcoliseum.net or ryanossenmacher@wlcsd.org  / 248-207-3917

Thanks,

Don Wright