Every player deserves the opportunity to develop, compete, have fun, and build a lasting love for hockey.

Our development assessment process helps us to understand where players are in their hockey journey and to form teams that provide an appropriate level of challenge and support. It is not about labeling players or determining who is “better.” It is a snapshot of a player's current development that helps us create positive, productive hockey environments for the season ahead.

And importantly, team placement is not a prediction of a player's future. Kids develop at different rates, and a player's growth over the course of a season—and over several years—is far more important than where they begin.

It's just a brief and necessary glimpse to organize our hockey season, but every player gets an opportunity to show where they are today. We move forward together from there.

At 8U and older, MYH needs to form teams at appropriate competitive levels. But our goals go beyond simply creating teams. We use assessments to:

1. Support long-term player development, not short-term results.
2. Identify strengths and areas for growth—and what each player may need next.
3. Create balanced, developmentally appropriate teams.
4. Provide the right level of challenge and competition.
5. Build positive practice environments where players can learn, compete, and enjoy hockey.
6. Start the season with a positive development mindset.

Our goal is not to rank every player from best to worst. It is to build the environments in which players are most likely to grow and enjoy the game.

We focus on observable skills, habits, and behaviors—not on a vague idea of “talent.” Depending on the age level, assessors may look at:

Players participate in a series of on-ice assessment sessions, giving assessors multiple opportunities to observe players in different situations. Depending on the age level, this may include individual skill activities, small-area games, larger-area games, and scrimmage situations.

Players are encouraged to attend all designated assessment sessions whenever possible. Multiple observations help us build a more complete picture of each player's current development.

MYH uses multiple assessors to provide a broader perspective on each player. When possible, we also include experienced hockey coaches from outside the player's age level or team environment. We use consistent development assessment criteria.

When players are close between two potential team levels, additional observation and discussion may be used to determine the environment that best supports their development. While we generally try to avoid a drawn-out assessment process, when additional observation would be helpful, MYH may extend the assessment period before final team formation.

Assessment sessions are closed to spectators. We have found that a quieter environment helps players stay focused, compete naturally, and feel less pressure. Parents and family members are welcome to help with equipment as needed, but we ask that they leave the rink and observation areas once the session begins.

No assessment process can perfectly measure a young hockey player. Kids have good days and bad days. They grow at very different rates. Some skills develop quickly while others take time. We work to make the process as fair and thoughtful as possible by using:

1. Multiple assessment opportunities
2. Multiple assessors
3. Consistent development assessment criteria
4. A focus on current performance
5. Age-appropriate expectations

A player's past team or previous placement should not determine where they begin a new season. Every player gets a fresh opportunity to show where they are today.

Assessment days can feel important—and sometimes stressful—for players and families. We understand that. The best thing families can do is keep the focus where it belongs: on effort, learning, and enjoying the game. Players will have good days and bad days. An assessment captures only a brief moment in a much longer development journey.

We encourage families to:

1. Celebrate effort and courage rather than results.
2. Avoid comparing players to teammates or friends.
3. Remind your player that development is not linear.
4. Encourage them to compete, learn, and have fun.
5. Let assessors and coaches handle the process.
6. Remember that team placement is not a permanent label.

A player who doesn't get the placement they hoped for has not failed—and a player who makes a higher-level team has not “arrived.” Both players still have a great deal of hockey ahead of them.

Teams are formed with player development and enjoyment at the center of the process.

Following the assessment sessions, assessors and hockey leadership review the information gathered and work together to form teams.

To form teams, we consider a combination of factors, including:

1. Player development level
2. Appropriate competitive challenge
3. Team balance
4. Practice environment
5. Roster size
6. Goaltending needs
7. Overall team composition

We are not simply ranking players from strongest to weakest. We are building teams where players can play meaningful hockey, be appropriately challenged, contribute to their teammates, and continue developing.

Team sizes may vary based on the number of players at each age level, player development, and the overall balance of teams.

8U: Teams may range from approximately 8–12 players.

10U: Teams will generally include 10–12 players.

12U & 14U: Teams will generally include 13–15 players, reflecting the greater physical demands and longer games at these levels. Teams might also carry two goalies.

Team size is ultimately determined by the needs of the players and the overall balance of teams at each age level. When appropriate, a smaller roster may provide a better developmental environment for players without creating an unreasonable imbalance or hardship for other teams.

Our goal is simple: create teams with enough players to practice and compete effectively while giving every player meaningful opportunities to develop, contribute, and enjoy the game.

Goaltending is a unique position, and our development and assessment process reflects that. We also believe strongly in creating more opportunities for young players to discover and enjoy the position.

At 8U and 10U, players will have opportunities to explore goaltending without needing to commit to the position full-time. This helps players build confidence and skills while giving the club more opportunities to develop young goalies. These players will be assessed as skaters, not as goalies.

At 12U and 14U, goalies participate in both a dedicated goalie assessment session and the regular player assessment sessions. Players who are interested in both goaltending and "skating out" may participate in the player assessment as well.

At all levels, our goal is to create the best developmental environment for every goaltender, every team, and the club as a whole. The Hockey Development Committee, ACE Director, Age Level Directors, and coaches will work together to determine goalie placement based on player development, team needs, and available opportunities.

Developing goalies is a shared responsibility. When coaches, families, and players work together, we can create a stronger goaltending culture throughout MYH.

The most important thing to remember is that assessments are the beginning of the season—not the definition of it.

Players will continue to develop every week. Coaches will continue to observe their players, provide feedback, and adjust challenges as players grow.

A player who starts the season on one team may develop significantly during the winter. Another player may need additional time and support before taking the next step.

That's hockey. That's development.

Our responsibility as a club is to create an environment where every player has a path forward.

Team placement matters for the season. A player's long-term development matters far more.

Hockey is important. We love this game, and we want our players to work hard, compete, and become the hockey players they want to be. But hockey is not everything.

We want Middleton Cardinals to be great hockey players—and healthy, confident, well-rounded kids. School, family, friends, other sports, hobbies, and simply having time to be a kid all matter.

A growth mindset developed through hockey can serve a child for a lifetime, regardless of what team they play on this winter.

When will teams be announced?

Preliminary rosters will generally be communicated within 72 hours of the final assessment session. If MYH extends the assessment period, team formation may take a little longer. Rosters will be posted on the MYH website, and families will receive notification when they are available.

What Happens If a Player Is Injured or Misses an Assessment?

We understand that injuries, illness, and family circumstances happen. Our goal is to make sure every player has a meaningful opportunity to be assessed without asking an ill or injured player to participate before they are ready.

If your skater is not able to attend a session or any of the sessions, please notify your Age Level Director (ALD) at least 24 hours ahead of the scheduled sessions. Additional assessment will be conducted when the skater is ready to return to play.

What about younger players?

8U players have a brief, informal assessment long after practices have begun. We prefer they don't know they're being assessed. All of their young hockey experiences should be fun, light, and low-stress.

How are 10U Squirts different?

Squirts are all assessed as skaters; we don't assess squirt goalies. Our goal at 10U is to keep the goalie pipeline as wide as possible, with interested players having opportunities to rotate through the position. We want to give more young players the chance to discover and develop a love for goaltending.

What If My Player Moves Into MYH After Assessments?

Players who join MYH after the initial assessment process will be given an opportunity to participate at an appropriate level whenever possible.

Team placement will depend on the player's development level and available roster space. Our goal is to find a good developmental fit without creating an unreasonable hardship for an existing team.

Can My Player Play Up an Age Level?

Players are required to play with their appropriate age group. Playing up is considered only in exceptional circumstances when it is clearly in the player's developmental interest. To begin the Player Movement Request process, please see our request form.

What if I have other assessment or placement questions?

We know families may have questions about the assessment or team-formation process.

Our Age Level Directors, ACE Director, and Hockey Development Committee leadership are here to help families understand the process and support their players.

We ask families to remember that coaches and volunteers are making difficult decisions with limited information and with the goal of doing what is best for the players and the club as a whole.

If you have a question or concern, please reach out to your Age Level Director first, respectfully, and give our volunteers an opportunity to help.