Hockey CV for Europe: What Every Player Must Include
Hockey CV for Europe: What Every Player Must Include
If you want to play hockey in Europe, your CV is the first thing a club, scout, or agent will see. Before they watch your video, before they check your stats, before they reply to your email — they read your hockey CV.
A weak CV gets deleted. A strong one opens doors.
This guide covers exactly what your hockey CV for European clubs must include, what format works best, and the most common mistakes players make that cost them opportunities.
What Is a Hockey CV?
A hockey CV — also called a hockey player resume or hockey profile — is a one-to-two-page document that summarises who you are as a player. It gives clubs, scouts, and agents the key information they need to decide whether to move forward.
In Europe, the hockey CV is the standard tool for player placement. Whether you are reaching out to a club in Sweden, Finland, Germany, or the Czech Republic, they expect to receive a proper CV before any conversation begins.
Think of it as your passport into the European hockey market. Without it, you are invisible.
What to Include in Your Hockey CV for Europe
1. Personal Information
Start with the basics. Every club needs to know who you are immediately.
Your hockey CV must include:
Full name
Date of birth and age
Nationality and passport(s) held — this is critical in Europe, where EU passport holders have a significant advantage over non-EU players when it comes to import spots
Current location / country of residence
Contact email and phone number
Position (forward, defence, or goalie — be specific about your role)
Handedness (shoots left / shoots right)
Height and weight in both metric (cm/kg) and imperial (ft/lbs) — European clubs use metric, but players from North America typically list imperial first
Keep this section at the very top of your CV. Clubs scan quickly, and if they cannot find your passport nationality within the first five seconds, your profile moves to the bottom of the pile.
2. EliteProspects Profile Link
If you are a serious player pursuing a career in Europe, you need an EliteProspects profile. It is the standard hockey database used by clubs, scouts, and agents across the entire continent.
Include your full EliteProspects URL in your CV — ideally as a clickable link. This gives the reader instant access to your verified career history, statistics, and team affiliations without having to search for you manually.
If you do not have an EliteProspects profile yet, create one before you send a single CV. A missing EliteProspects link raises immediate questions about your level and experience.
3. Last Three Seasons — Statistics
European clubs want to see numbers. Not career totals, not vague summaries — actual season-by-season statistics from your last three years.
For each season, include:
Team name and league
Season (e.g., 2022–23)
Games played (GP)
Goals (G), Assists (A), Points (P) — for forwards and defencemen
Penalty minutes (PIM) — optional but often requested
Plus/minus — if available and positive, include it
For goalies: Games played, goals against average (GAA), save percentage (SV%), shutouts
Format this as a clean table. Three rows, clearly labelled, easy to read. Do not hide weak seasons — clubs will find them on EliteProspects anyway. Transparency builds trust.
4. Video Link
This is arguably the most important part of your hockey CV, yet it is the one most players get wrong.
Include one primary video link — a highlight reel of two to four minutes. This should be hosted on YouTube or Vimeo with public access. Do not send files. Do not link to private content. If a club has to click twice to find your video, they will not watch it.
What makes a strong hockey highlight video:
Starts with your best two or three plays in the first thirty seconds
Shows a range of skills: skating, decision-making, compete level, finishing or defending
Includes game situations — not just practice drills
Has clean production — not shaky phone footage
Labels each clip with the season and opponent if possible
If you have full-game footage available as a secondary link, include it as well. Some European coaches prefer to watch full games rather than edited highlights because highlights can hide weaknesses.
5. References from Coaches
Two or three coach references dramatically increase the credibility of your hockey CV. European clubs take references seriously — a short endorsement from a current or former coach can be the difference between a trial invitation and silence.
For each reference, include:
Coach's full name
Title and current team or organisation
Email address or LinkedIn profile
One or two sentences summarising their relationship to you (e.g., "Head Coach at X team during the 2022–23 season")
Do not include references without asking permission first. And never fabricate or exaggerate titles — European hockey is a small world, and clubs will verify.
6. Physical Testing and Skills Data (Optional but Recommended)
If you have completed formal testing — skating speed, VO2 max, strength benchmarks — include a brief summary. Not all players have this, but if you do, it adds a professional touch.
Some elite academies and higher-division clubs in countries like Sweden and Finland actively look for this data, especially for younger players (U18–U22).
Hockey CV Format: What Works in Europe
Keep it to one or two pages maximum. European clubs receive dozens of CVs per week. Anything longer gets skimmed, not read.
Use a clean, professional layout:
White background, black text, one clear font
Section headers in bold
Statistics in a table, not running prose
Photo in the top right corner — professional headshot or action shot
PDF format only — never send a Word document or Google Doc link
Name the file clearly: FirstName_LastName_HockeyCV_2024.pdf
Common Mistakes Players Make on Their Hockey CV
Sending the same CV to every club. European clubs notice when a CV is generic. Personalise each submission with a brief cover note tailored to that club and league.
No EliteProspects link. This is a red flag. Create your profile and keep it updated.
Statistics without context. "20 goals" means nothing without knowing the league level. Always include the league name and tier.
Broken video links. Test every link before you send anything. A dead YouTube link wastes the club's time and makes you look unprepared.
Inconsistent information. If your CV says 185 cm but your EliteProspects says 180 cm, a club will notice. Keep everything consistent.
Missing passport information. In Europe, the difference between an EU passport and a non-EU passport affects roster import limits. If you hold dual citizenship or an EU passport, say so clearly.
Unprofessional email address. Use [email protected] — not nicknames or numbers.
No CTA or contact action. Your CV should make it effortless for a club to reply. Include your email, phone number, and a clear note that you are available for a call or trial.
FAQ: Hockey CV for European Clubs
Do I need a separate hockey CV for every country in Europe? Not a separate CV — but a personalised cover email. Your core CV stays the same, but the accompanying message should reference the specific league and club you are targeting.
What language should my hockey CV be in? English. It is the universal language in European hockey recruitment. Do not send a CV in the local language unless you are fluent and certain the club prefers it.
Is a one-page CV enough, or should I go longer? One page is ideal for younger players (U18–U22). For players with five or more seasons of professional experience, two pages is acceptable. Never exceed two pages.
Should I include a photo on my hockey CV? Yes. A professional headshot or clean action photo in the top corner is standard in European hockey CVs. It is expected.
What if my statistics are not impressive? Be honest and include them anyway. Clubs can see through omissions. Focus instead on highlighting the context — league level, role on the team, development trajectory — and let your video do the heavy lifting.
Get Your Hockey CV Reviewed by Professionals
Building a hockey CV that actually gets responses takes more than filling out a template. It requires knowing what European clubs are looking for right now — which leagues are active, which positions are in demand, and how to position your profile for maximum impact.
European Hockey Agency reviews hockey CVs and helps players find the right opportunities in Europe.
Send us your hockey CV and we will give you direct, honest feedback on what is working and what needs to change — and if your profile is a fit, we will start working on placements for you.
👉 Send us your hockey CV for review →
European Hockey Agency helps hockey players find clubs, trials, and career opportunities across Europe. View our client placements →