Fall 2026 - 2027 Tryouts

Children's Health StarCenter McKinney

6993 Stars Ave, McKinney, TX 75070

MIHC coaches and evaluators will assess each player across multiple dimensions, including:

• Skating: Speed, edge control, balance, acceleration, and overall mobility.

• Puck skills: Passing, receiving, shooting, puck protection, and handling under pressure.

• Game sense: Positioning, read-and-react ability, awareness away from the puck, and decision-making.

• Compete level: Effort, battle level, willingness to engage, consistency from start to finish.

• Physical play and safety: Body positioning, checking/contact (where applicable), and respect for safety.

• Team play: Communication, support of teammates, willingness to play system hockey, and coachability.

• Goalies: Angles, rebound control, movement and recovery, tracking, and game management.

Team selection at McKinney Ice Hockey Club is merit‑based and grounded in our evaluation of each player’s overall game, not just a single drill or prior season placement. MIHC coaches and hockey leadership consider player skill, hockey sense, compete level, coachability, team and positional needs, roster limits, and overall team cohesion when determining rosters for each division and team.

Placement on a particular MIHC team or at a particular level in any prior season, including summer programming, does not guarantee a roster spot or the same placement in a future season. All players, including returning players, are subject to cuts at all age levels and divisions. Rosters may change year‑to‑year based on evaluation results, team needs, and program direction.

Final team and level decisions are made at the discretion of MIHC’s hockey leadership and designated coaches, in what they believe to be the best overall interests of the program and its teams, and must remain consistent with applicable league, TAHA, and USA Hockey rules. Not all players will be placed on their preferred team, level, position, or role, and ice time and responsibilities may vary based on coach decisions, attendance, effort, adherence to team standards, and safety considerations

McKinney Ice Hockey Club participates in the Texas Scholastic Hockey League and must comply with league roster size limits, game‑day dressing rules, and other TSHL, TAHA, and USA Hockey requirements. Because roster spots are limited at each level and age group, not all players who attend tryouts can be placed on a team in every season.

Cuts may occur at all age levels and divisions when the number of players exceeds available roster spots or when MIHC determines that team balance, safety, or overall program needs require a smaller roster. Roster decisions, including cuts, are based on the same merit‑based evaluation criteria used for team selection: player skill, hockey sense, compete level, coachability, attendance, prior performance and progress, positional and roster needs, and overall team cohesion, as well as compliance with league, TAHA, and USA Hockey eligibility rules.

Placement on a particular MIHC team or level in a prior season, including summer programming, does not guarantee a roster spot or similar placement in a future season; all players are subject to cuts each year. MIHC is not permitted to “release” players outside the normal tryout and placement process except as required by league rules (for example, a confirmed SafeSport or eligibility violation), and will therefore use the tryout process and roster size limits to determine cuts in compliance with TSHL policies.

Families acknowledge and accept that cuts are an inherent part of competitive, roster‑limited scholastic hockey, that these decisions are final and made at the discretion of MIHC hockey leadership and coaches, and that MIHC cannot guarantee a roster spot for every interested player in every season.

In limited circumstances, McKinney Ice Hockey Club may, in its sole discretion, offer certain players a developmental roster position, practice-player role, training opportunity, or other developmental pathway in lieu of a full roster position or immediate cut. Any such opportunity is discretionary, may be limited by roster availability, team needs, league rules, budget, staffing, or developmental fit, and is not guaranteed to any player.

A developmental opportunity does not constitute placement on a full MIHC roster, does not guarantee game participation, and does not create any right to future rostering, promotion, or continued participation. Players offered such roles remain subject to all MIHC, league, TAHA, and USA Hockey rules and may be reassessed at any time based on performance, development, attendance, conduct, team needs, and roster constraints.

Because roster spots are limited, including at specialized positions such as goaltender, a player may still be cut even where MIHC elects to offer a developmental option to others. For example, a goalie may be evaluated out of a rostered position due to limited available goalie spots and may instead be afforded the opportunity, if available, to compete for a position through an unaffiliated tryout or other non-rostered developmental path. Any such opportunity is separate from MIHC roster selection and remains subject to space, eligibility, and the rules of the applicable program.

MIHC reserves the right to determine whether any developmental role will be offered, to whom it will be offered, and under what conditions, in what it believes to be the best interests of the player, the team, and the overall program. Not every player who is not rostered will be offered a developmental position, and some players may be cut without any alternative placement opportunity

MIHC will make reasonable efforts to communicate team placement and roster decisions within forty-eight (48) hours after the conclusion of tryouts. This timeline is a target, not a guarantee, and may be extended when necessary due to registration volume, evaluator availability, unresolved eligibility or documentation issues, roster balancing, goalie placement considerations, or other administrative needs of the club.

Team announcements may be communicated by email, registration platform, direct message, posted roster process, or other method designated by MIHC. Families are responsible for ensuring that their contact information is current and for monitoring communications during the tryout period.

MIHC reserves the right to delay final announcement of any team, level, or individual placement when additional review is required to ensure fair evaluation, proper roster construction, or compliance with club, league, TAHA, or USA Hockey requirements. A delayed announcement does not guarantee roster placement, nor does it imply that a player has been selected or not selected

Tryouts are open to players zoned to McKinney ISD (MISD) who meet MIHC’s school eligibility, academic, and age requirements for the Texas Scholastic Hockey League (TSHL) and MIHC policies. Summer team placement does not guarantee a fall roster spot; all players are evaluated anew each season and are subject to cuts.

McKinney Ice Hockey Club fields teams that participate in the Texas Scholastic Hockey League (TSHL), and may also participate in league‑sanctioned pre‑season or showcase events where permitted. All MIHC teams must comply with TSHL rules, TAHA requirements, and USA Hockey rules and policies, including roster limits, eligibility rules, and playing rules.

Yes. Every player must have a current USA Hockey membership number (renewed each year after April 1) to participate in MIHC tryouts, practices, and games. This is required for insurance, eligibility, and compliance purposes and is separate from MIHC fees.

Full, properly fitted hockey equipment is required, including a HECC‑approved helmet with full facemask/cage and a valid, unexpired HECC sticker, shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin pads, hockey pants, gloves, protective cup/pelvic protector, colored mouthguard, and a HECC‑approved neck laceration protector worn at all times on the ice. Players without required equipment or certification may be held out until the issue is corrected.

USA Hockey’s Safe Sport Program is a comprehensive off‑ice safety framework designed to prevent abuse and misconduct and to create a safe, positive environment for youth hockey participants. MIHC complies with USA Hockey SafeSport and U.S. Center for SafeSport requirements, including mandatory training and background checks for coaches and volunteers, locker‑room supervision policies, codes of conduct, and reporting procedures for suspected misconduct or abuse. Both MIHC and USA Hockey has zero tolerance for abuse and misconduct.

MIHC follows USA Hockey rules and guidance on protective equipment, concussion management, illness protocols, and safe play. Players are expected to wear all required protective equipment as designed, report symptoms or injuries promptly, avoid participation when sick, and follow medical return‑to‑play directions. MIHC and its coaches may remove a player from participation when they believe safety or health is at risk.

As a 501(c)(3) youth sports organization, MIHC relies on a combination of dues, fundraising, sponsorships, and donations to support ice costs, equipment, scholarships, and program enhancements. Families may be asked to participate in club‑approved fundraising activities or outreach. All fundraising must comply with MIHC policies, league and USA Hockey rules, and applicable law; unauthorized individual or team fundraising under the MIHC name is not permitted.

Detailed policies, including eligibility, academic and school requirements, player evaluation and team placement, equipment and safety, SafeSport, and codes of conduct are available on the MIHC website under the Resources and Parent Resources / Player Resources sections. Families are responsible for reviewing these policies and asking questions before tryouts or registration.

Yes. As a community‑based 501(c)(3) program, MIHC relies on parent volunteers to help with game‑day operations, team support, fundraising events, and club projects. Families may be asked to complete a minimum number of volunteer hours per season, which can include roles such as penalty‑box or locker-room duty, organizing team functions, assisting with tournaments / games or camps, photography or helping with approved fundraising and outreach. Volunteer expectations and sign‑up processes will be communicated by team managers or the club. We love our volunteers and we need your help to make this a successful season!

MIHC strongly encourages players to participate in club‑sponsored and individual community service activities as part of their development as student‑athletes and leaders. The club may organize or partner in community service projects such as food drives, youth mentoring, rink clean‑up days, or local charitable events and players may be invited or expected to take part. Community service hours may be tracked for school or scholarship purposes where appropriate, but are also intended to reinforce MIHC’s values around character, service, and representing McKinney in a positive way off the ice.