U18 Evaluations - Overview

GENERAL INFORMATION

The 2026 SEERA U18 evaluations will be taking place between September 11th and September 27th. There will be four rounds of evaluations for each group adherent to a gameplay format. Please refer to the SEERA website (seerahockey.ca) as it will be the primary and official source for information regarding evaluation groups, schedules, and any updates or changes. The detailed schedule has been posted and preliminary groups will be uploaded in short order. We will be forming 10 total teams for the upcoming season (most likely 4 in the body contact divisions and 6 in the NBC divisions). Please be aware that having selected the option to play body contact or having played previously on a body contact team does not guarantee that a player will automatically be placed on one of this year’s U18 body contact teams. The top 60-70 skaters and top 4-5 goaltenders will be selected to play in these
divisions.

EVALUATION GROUPS

Preliminary evaluation groups have been formed based on the tier one played in during the previous season (2025-26). Group formation followed the guidelines posted below. Please note that there is no Group A in the first round of evaluations, this group will be populated by players earning a spot by moving up based on Hockey Canada’s ladder system for the evaluation process (more information in following section).

Pinnies will be assigned at the sign-in table prior to each skate and must be returned following each ice-time (no exceptions). Evaluation groups will change following each round based on upward player movement. Group adjustments will be posted immediately following evaluation data processing once evaluator score sheets have been collected and entered. Again, please refer to the SEERA website often to confirm when your next evaluation skate time will be. Players/parents may not be notified directly if they have moved into another grouping.

EVALUATION METHOD

As previously mentioned, we will be adopting the Hockey Canada ladder system for evaluations. Player movement will occur after each round of evaluations where the top players in each group will be situated into the group above. Players can only be moved upwards or remain in their current evaluation group. The top groups will be playing full body contact games during evaluations and the remaining groups will be non-body contact. Each player will compete in a minimum of four games with an opportunity to earn a spot in the next group after each round. Adopting this method means that there would be less chance of a standout player being mis-tiered based on their initial group placement. Additional skates may be added to accommodate late registered players coming from club tryouts.

GOALIE EVALUATIONS

Separate goalie specific evaluations will be held on September 11th and 24th. Goalie evaluations are being performed by a third-party contractor and will not be the responsibility of the SEERA evaluation team. Goaltenders will also be utilized during the game play sessions though they will not be evaluated during gameplay unless given prior notice. Each goalie will play games in multiple groups throughout the evaluation process – group placement has no bearing on where each individual goaltender has been evaluated and we ask that players/families please not read too much into it. The only overlying factor will be if the goaltender has requested to play non-contact, they will not be expected to play against the top groups. Goaltender jersey assignments will be handed out at the check-in table prior to the first evaluation session on September 11th. These assigned jerseys will remain in the goalies’ possession and worn for the duration of all evaluation rounds and will be collected after the final game played by each.

EVALUATION VOLUNTEERS

There are two main groups of evaluation volunteers – off ice evaluators and on-ice game facilitators (bench volunteers, referees, etc). I have already selected the off-ice evaluation team, having prioritized head coaching applicants and experienced evaluators who are able to commit to every game session for all groups. I am also bringing in a few outside volunteers (with no current ties to SEERA) that I know and trust to bring in a completely unbiased view as evaluators to round out the group. There will be 14-18 evaluators in the stands for every game throughout the process. Evaluators are instructed to remain unbiased and somewhat solitary during each evaluation session. Please do not approach or distract evaluators at the arena, they will not share any information and must remain focused on watching each player assigned to their game lists.

Thank you to everyone that expressed interest in being an evaluator and please understand that I am unable to have all of you assigned to that role. A shared sign-up sheet for all of the on-ice game facilitator positions will be sent out to anyone that has expressed interest in volunteering in any of the remaining roles. The sign-up sheet will been in spreadsheet (google_doc) form and volunteers can sign up for as many or as few sessions that they are willing. If you wish to volunteer and have not received access to the sign-up sheet by email by Sept. 8th, please send me a message (U18@seerahockey.ca) and I’ll be sure to share the document with you.

CLOSING REMARKS

The evaluation process can be stressful for players, parents, organizers, and volunteers alike. I ask that everyone please approach this part of the hockey season with tempered emotions in order to reduce the amount of stress projected on the aforementioned groups. Please employ the 24-hour rule when contacting coaches and organizers. You can direct any pressing questions/inquiries to either myself or the assistant U18 directors, Jaret Farris and Justin Ashurst. One of us should be available at the sign-in table before/after each skate. Good luck everyone and I look forward to seeing you at the rink.

Sincerely,
Philip Giammarioli
U18@seerahockey.ca