Sitting Down With The Coaches

Happy Thursday Steel Fans! We took some time today to sit down and talk to coaches Scott McConnell and RJ Enga to get their thoughts on tryout camp next week. Check out what they have to say!

What are you looking forward to most during tryout camp?

“The ability to pick the nucleus of the team, furthermore to see how the guys developed over the summer. All teams start over at zero and this will be the group that we can develop for the core of hockey season.”

What are you looking for in players who are trying out?

“Effort. From there we look for passion and the drive to get better and earn a spot. Then we break down skill sets and how they fit in our puzzle to win hockey games.”

What are the challenges of watching so many players?

“They all bring a different thing to the table. It’s hard to predict the type of player they will be when they come to the next level. The nice part is that we have seen over 90% of the kids trying out so we know the type of player they can be. However, there are kids every year that come and make our team out of pure desperation and their will to compete is invaluable to any organization.”

How does your selection process work?

“As a staff we have lengthy conversations prior to the start of camp about each player, but once camp starts every kid has a clean slate and their job is to prove to us they can play their role at our level. Each night our staff meets to discuss each game, players, who impressed us, who did well, who is out of their league, etc. By the end of the week the staff feels confident and together on who to start the season with.”

What are your expectations for the players?

“Their effort level and ability to give everything they can. Once there’s a team giving everything you have a chance to make a run. The players need to give everything they can to develop into a team that can compete in the championship. ”

What is your goal for the season?

“To develop a play-off team with potential in winning the Clark Cup. Making the play-offs is an expectation, with our ultimate goal being the championship.”

What role will the vets play next season?

“The vets will play a big role in the team quickly coming together. Most of the kids are coming from midgets or prep school. The vets have been through the ups and down of a season (slumps, traveling while sick, winning streaks), and they are going to be looked to for guidance through the tough spots. The vets are going to have to understand though that they need the entire team to succeed.” 

For the complete schedule of tryout camp visit http://chicagosteelhockeyteam.com