A practice and two scrimmages filled with pressure, hard hits, and fast-paced hockey took place at the Olympic Center from Friday, Sept. 4, through Sunday, Sept. 6. The weekend allowed players to make their cases during Northwood’s hockey tryouts. Players competed for spots on the Prep and Varsity teams while coaches evaluated their performances. The tryouts began with a practice Friday, followed by scrimmages on Saturday and Sunday.
At the 18U level, players were divided between the Prep and Varsity teams. The Prep team plays at a faster pace and generally faces more challenging opponents than the Varsity team. Friday’s practice focused on getting players moving, shaking off offseason rust and becoming comfortable on the ice. Before Saturday’s scrimmage, players also completed weight-room testing to measure their strength and athletic ability. The demanding schedule and intense competition helped coaches make their final roster decisions.
“Overall, I thought the tryouts went really well,” Prep head coach Mr. Stephen Mallaro said. “It was good to see all of the returners and new players get onto the ice and compete.” Mallaro said Friday’s practice was intended to help the players become comfortable with one another. He was also impressed by the level of play some of the younger players brought to the scrimmages.
When asked how the Prep team could build on last season’s league championship, Mallaro said, “The biggest thing every new team needs to learn is how to be competitive and hard to play against.” Mallaro said that approach has been the foundation of the team’s success in recent years. He added that players arriving from younger age groups need time to adjust to the pace of 18U hockey.
“It was fun to get back to the Olympic Center and skate with everyone,” returning Prep player Casey Morrissey ’27 said. After being away during the offseason, Morrissey enjoyed returning to the ice and competing with his teammates. He particularly enjoyed the scrimmages, which gave players an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
Ray Peters ’27, a returning Varsity player, also enjoyed the tryouts and seeing his teammates back at school. Peters said he is excited about the upcoming season and looks forward to seeing what the team can accomplish together.
Northwood also has a 16U team. Although that team did not participate in the selection process, some 16U players took part in the scrimmages.