what is the most realistic way you can play professional hockey with no junior hockey experience? (20 yrs old)

Question

I am 20 years old, and have played hockey since I was 4. However, I never played high school or junior hockey, as well as college.Currently, I play an a adult hockey league and am top 5 in points. I feel have a semi realistic chance of playing minor league hockey if I workhard enough. The question is, what is the best way of going about the right way of attaining my goal? Would lower level college hockey be the best answer? Or is there minor league teams who hold tryouts? Thank you very much for your help.

I have only played house leagues, and am now too old to play for junior hockey. Would it make sense to tryout for lower division college hockey and work my way from there or just play the highest level of competition house league and work my way up? This is for only hopes of lower ( if not lowest ) minor league hockey and not NHL. Do I have any Overseas options either? Thank you for your help.

I have only played house leagues, and am now too old to play for junior hockey. Would it make sense to tryout for lower division college hockey and work my way from there or just play the highest level of competition house league and work my way up? This is for only hopes of lower ( if not lowest ) minor league hockey and not NHL, obviously. Do I have any Overseas options either? Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Even if you got a try out for an AHL team your chances of making it to the NHL are probally around less than 1%. I know it sucks, but I'm not going to sugar coat it and give you false hope.

I do beleive that a number of AHL or ECHL teams hold open tryouts before the seasons starts. Just check out the website of the team thats closest to where you live. Good luck.

Answer 2

If you do not have an agent you will have to market yourself. You will have to call Colleges, Universities, Minor Pro League teams, Junior A,B C teams and speak to the proper people. If they say no right away ask them why and continue to be a little forceful, do not just take no for an answer.
Since the seasons have all started it may be harder but if you find the right team with a poor record and/or many injuries that is more desperate to try anything you may be lucky.
If you know the name of any scouts that will help, college recruiters will help. If you know any friends who can pull a few strings. You may have to say "I will play for next to nothing, I just want a shot."
Try some of the websites below to get teams listed and possible contact names etc. Good luck

Answer 3

I wouldnt imagine your chances are all that good, to be honest. But that doesnt mean it could never happen!

Your best bet would be to contact any low-level minor hockey teams in the area and see if they accept walk-ons or invitees for their beginning of season training camps. I know some teams in the ECHL, SPHL and other low leagues do this. Our local team (the Florida Seals.. which just folded, unfortunately) pretty much held an open try-out at the beginning of the season where they'd let anybody try out for the team for a small fee (like $200). There's also some chance that you can get a team representative out to watch one of your games, and based on his assessment you might be able to get an invite to try out.

Again, each team / league is different, so all you can do is call around and make as many contacts as you can to try and sell yourself.

Answer 4

Hate to tell you, but your chances are very slim to none, top 5 in a mens league would be what ? think about this, your competition now is probably 18+ guys who do this for fun, not to get anywhere, also the goalies you face probably dont care if they get scored on compared to a semi pro goalie. I would go watch some of the minor teams and take a long hard look, if you arent skating that fast and that hard now, if you cant shoot just as good, or hit and take hits the same, then be honest with yourself and just enjoy the game.

Answer 5

did you ever play triple A level as a youth? how are your skating skills? size? i'm assuming you are a skater, not a goalie. if you were AAA level bantam and you are a great skater and puckhandler, you have a chance. you need to try out for a collegiate team, most likely at Div II level. make the team, improve each year and the minor leagues are a possibility. if that doesn't pan out, you could try to play overseas in the swiss, german or italian leagues. doubtful you would make a roster in the finnish or swedish leagues. but since you are still college-age, there are some options if you have the talent and skill.

Answer 6

Dude sorry to say it but if you have not played hockey for just about your whole life as a kid very competitively you have a VERY VERY low chance of being able to even come close to competing with semi pros. Even if you are top 5 in your adult league, juniors and college teams head and shoulders out of your league. Your chances of going pro are doneno matter how hard you are going to work.

Answer 7

Make a DVD of yourself, highlighting all your hockey skills and send it out to every NHL and minor hockey team in North America. You might want to try that with leagues in Europe like Sweden or Finland. NHL teams scout Europe all the time.

Answer 8

AHL teams do sign and offer guys whats called a PTO. PTO = Player Tryout. Not sure how you would go about getting one of those. If you did get onto a minor league team.....I highly doubt you will get to the NHL unless your skills are that good. Contact AHL teams and ask them what to do. Good luck!!

Answer 9

Call up a lower minor league team and ask for an open tryout, they are always looking to fill out there rosters so they'll give you a shot

Answer 10

AHL teams do not hold open tryouts. I don't think ECHL teams do either, but don't quote me on that.

Best thing to do. Get an agent. An agent will be able to talk to an AHL or ECHL team ... or even CHL (central) or UHL -- I'm not too familiar with those leagues.