Before the player travels

  • Confirm the position, expected role and level of competition.
  • Agree on dates, training location, staff contacts and equipment.
  • Clarify accommodation, local transport and any costs the club or player will cover.
  • Ask for current statistics, video, contract status and known availability.
  • List passport, registration and work-authorization questions that require official verification.

Sporting fit and legal eligibility are separate decisions. A promising profile is not an approval to register or employ the player.

Give the player a useful brief

Tell the player what the staff wants to observe: line or pair role, special-teams expectations, skating demands, physical play or puck decisions. Explain the schedule and who will provide feedback. Clear expectations make the trial evidence easier to interpret.

Evaluate ordinary shifts, not only highlights

  • Does the player read the game at the requested level?
  • How does the player move before receiving the puck and after losing it?
  • Can the player execute the role repeatedly under pressure?
  • Does the player communicate, recover after mistakes and respond to coaching?
  • Is the player’s pace compatible with the team’s practices and games?

Use the same role-based questions for every candidate. That keeps the discussion focused on the roster need rather than the excitement of a single play.

Include the off-ice fit

Confirm communication, professionalism, willingness to follow the team routine and practical readiness for the market. These observations are part of the club’s own assessment; they should not be confused with a legal, medical or registration decision.

Close the loop clearly

Before the trial begins, decide who owns the final feedback and when the player or representative will receive it. A prompt decision can be a yes, a no or a request for more information. If the answer is no, concise sporting feedback helps avoid another unsuitable introduction.

For help defining the request before inviting a player, use the EHA club request page. See also questions to ask an agent before a trial.