Vince Mitalas (LJK White Coach) and I would like to welcome you to the u15AA tryouts.
All communication related to tryouts will be posted on this page. Please make sure you hold onto your jersey if you attended LJK AAA tryouts as you will need it for AA. Goalies, please try and keep wearing the same jersey.
We will be having exhibition games on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday evenings. Saturday is TBD.
We will be posting the names as soon as the AAA tryouts are completed. If you have registered for tryouts and do not see your name, please let me know:
[email protected]
Some
of you might be considering a season outside of London. We’d love to see
you stay in London but absolutely support your player in their desire to play
at a higher level. But first, let us advocate for the LJK AA program:
The
LJK AA program is arguably the strongest AA program in the province. The
2009 group has always had double representation in the Alliance finals
and has had representation in the U13 OHF finals (u11 was cancelled due to the
pandemic). A quick look at last season shows what this program and the athletes
are able to accomplish: A combined 3
tournament wins with an LJK/LJK Alliance finals helped round out two amazing
seasons for the 34 players and families involved.
If
your player can secure a spot elsewhere on a weaker team than LJK AAA, will
they be playing meaningful minutes during meaningful games?
We’re
not throwing stones. We’re asking those that are contemplating a season
with a AAA centre outside of London to consider what it is ‘you’ are seeking from minor hockey. We firmly believe that simply playing at the ‘AAA’
level does not always make you a better player.
You
make you a better player! What lies between your two ears and in
your heart will ultimately make you a better player.
At
the AA level, your player will see the following:
- Time on the PP
- Time on the PK
- Goalies will see an equal number of games
and an opportunity to EARN big games
- An opportunity to EARN extra ice time
late in important games
- If history repeats itself, your player
will be an Alliance Final contender AND maybe an OHF finalist
- If history repeats itself, your player
will win tournaments and LOTS of games
If
your player was unsuccessful at earning a spot on the LJK AAA team, please ask
yourself “why” and take the necessary and specific steps to get better at
what’s missing. Development and confidence go a long way and whatever you
plan to put into your gas tank (going to another organization) can be
redirected to address the “why” as mentioned earlier. By staying in London, the
AA coaches can work hand in hand with your player and the AAA coach on the
areas needing improvement. There are also AP opportunities with
AAA. We want to see your son succeed and will do what we can to help them
achieve their goals (let’s not forget LJK’s successful U16AAA program led by
Danny Syvret).
The
AA LJK program will continue to develop AAA caliber players, it will continue
to win championships/tournaments and it will continue to provide a
winning/confident/fun environment for these young athletes. They will
also be able to accomplish this amongst their friends whom they’ve grown up
playing hockey with.
Thanks
for your continued support of the LJK program and best of luck with your
2023/24 season.
Matthew
Smith & Vince Mitalas