Tryout pre-registration for Boys U18 Team Midwest is now open.

Tryout Dates: Saturday July 20th and Sunday July 21st
Time: 4:15-5:45 pm Saturday and 8:15-9:45 am Sunday.  Please arrive 1 hour earlier on Saturday to receive your jersey and complete any paperwork needed.  Attendance for both days is crucial.  Saturday is a skills assessment and Sunday is a scrimmage.
Check-in: Starts at 3 pm
Location: MidAmerican Rec Plex 6500 Grand Ave West Des Moines IA 50266
Tryout Fee: $75 per player (New this year-You must preregister on the MWAHA website and pay the try out fee. We no longer accept VENMO or checks).

Eligibility: All incoming high school sophomore, junior and seniors residing inside the Midwest Affiliate.

These tryouts are for the Midwest Amateur Hockey Association Affiliate Pre-Season U18 Team. This team will play a minimum of two tournaments and several other games across the Midwest beginning in August and through October.  This team is coached by Rick Baker, Zach Grunn, and Eric Wisnousky.  The team is managed by Mike and Jessica Hurd.

We are asking that you pre-register for tryouts so we know how many to expect, but will also accept walk-ins.  You will need your 2024-2025 USAH membership number when you register.

Bring the completed forms below along with a printed copy of your players 2024-2025 USAH membership number to tryouts.  It is the one with the barcode.  It can be found at www.usahockey.com.  Under players and parents select membership, then scroll to request duplicate registration confirmation.  If you are unable to come to try outs because of vacation or other camp attendance, you still need to register for tryouts and pay the fee, but contact the team manger or the coaches and submit film to be considered for the team. 

Tryout fee and forms due before you can enter the locker room!

Team selection will take place July 21st after tryouts. If selected, you are expected to pay the $700 deposit the day of tryouts. The cost for the season is $2,000 per player.  This covers ice time, team uniform, team equipment, tournament fees, transportation/hotel/food for Silver Sticks, and reimbursement for coach travel/hotels.  We will be having a fundraiser and soliciting sponsorships to help offset our costs. 

Fee schedule:

July 21st $700 deposit

August 21st $700 payment

September 21st $600 payment

Commitment — If you are selected to be on the team, practice will be held at the Ames Ice Arena (1507 Gateway Hills Park, Ames, IA  50014).  Here is the preliminary schedule:

July 27                         Practice 4:15-5:45 pm

July 28                         Practice 8-9:30 am

August 3                      Practice 4:15-5:45pm

August 4                      Practice 8-9:30 am

August 10-11               Games TBA

August 17                    Practice 4:15-5:45 pm

August 18                    Practice 8-9:30 am

August 23-25               Blue Ox Tournament in Coon Rapids Minnesota

August 31-Sept. 1        Labor Day Weekend—off

September 7                Practice 4:15-5:45pm**(ice time is tentative)

September 8                Practice 8:00-9:30 am**

September 13-15         Chicago Tournament

September 21-22         Weekend off

September 28-29         Shattuck St. Mary U18 Games in Fairbalt Minnesota

October 3                     Depart for Silver Sticks—Morning practice at Moylan Ice Arena in Omaha

October 4-7                 Silversticks Tournament* in Westminister Colorado

*Winner goes to play in Sarnia Ontario in January 2025 so make sure your player has a passport.

The Blue Ox and Chicago tournaments and all weekend games are parent drives.  We will find a hotel with a group rate to stay in.  The Silver Sticks tournament is a bus trip.  The team will cover the transportation, hotel, and food for the players with team fees collected. The bus will depart Des Moines October 3rd and make a stop in Omaha to pick up players/coaches and have a practice, before continuing to Westminster Colorado. If we fall in the semifinals we will return home Sunday October 6th. The championship game is later on Sunday, so if we play in that game we will return Monday October 7th.

For further questions please contact: 
Mike and Jessica Hurd
Team Midwest General Managers
563-676-4620   iahurds@msn.com