So I decided to check out New England Prospects hockey tryouts for my nephew this year, and man, what a rabbit hole that turned into. Started with a basic Google search that gave me like twenty different websites claiming to have the dates. Half were outdated, others wanted money just to see the schedule. Total mess.
The Registration Maze
Finally found their legit page after digging through hockey forums. Clicked registration and bam – hit with a seven-page form asking for everything except blood type. Had to scramble for:
- Proof of residency (water bill worked)
- USA Hockey membership number (expired, naturally)
- Emergency contact details (my sister forgot her own phone number)
Pro tip: do NOT wait until 11pm when registration closes at midnight. Their payment portal crashed twice while I typed in credit card digits. Almost threw my laptop when the “session expired” popup appeared after thirty minutes of data entry.
Equipment Chaos
Thought we were set until we read the gear requirements. Needed specific colored practice jerseys nobody sells locally. Drove to three sporting goods stores – all sold out. Ended up paying double price on some sketchy online shop that smelled like a scam. Tape on their helmets? Yeah, they want specific brand athletic tape only like it’s performing surgery.
Tryout Day Reality Check
Got there an hour early – lot was already packed. Coaches immediately separated kids by birth year while parents got lectured about no coaching from sidelines. Watched my nephew struggle during puck-handling drills since we’d only prepped for speed tests. Felt brutal seeing him gassed after the first hour while these mini-McDavids flew past him.
Lessons for Next Time
Whole thing cost $300 plus gear surprises. What I’d tell anyone:
- Bookmark the registration page a month early
- Film yourself skating beforehand – coaches care more about form than speed
- Pack extra sweatbands (kid had to borrow one from a stranger)
Still worth it? Maybe. Kid cried when he didn’t make the cut, but now he’s practicing backwards crossovers every afternoon. Guess that $300 bought some motivation at least.
