How to stand out at a showcase
Grant Sikich · Hockey Development
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The Scout Report
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Scouts say
one skill is
leaving
the game. We surveyed coaches and scouts at the AAA and high school levels. Their answers pointed to one skill — and it's the one most teams aren't training.
one skill is
leaving
the game. We surveyed coaches and scouts at the AAA and high school levels. Their answers pointed to one skill — and it's the one most teams aren't training.
80%
of board battles
determine possession
determine possession
14U
age checking
enters the game
enters the game
#1
compete level —
top scout criterion
top scout criterion
The Skill
Physical
Play. The skill scouts say is disappearing — and the one that separates players at every level above 14U.
Play. The skill scouts say is disappearing — and the one that separates players at every level above 14U.
01
Why It's Disappearing
The shift toward skill-development programs has produced more technically sound players than ever — but fewer physically competitive ones. Body positioning, gap control, and puck protection under pressure are being coached out of youth hockey because they're harder to teach and riskier to practice without the right structure. By the time players hit 14U — the first level where checking is legal — most are completely unprepared for it.
02
What The Numbers Say
The data from scouts and coaches at the AAA and prep school levels is consistent:
80%
of puck possession battles are decided in the corners and along the boards — not in open ice.
14U
is the first age group where checking is introduced — most players have zero reps before this.
#1
compete level is consistently ranked the top criterion scouts look for, above skating and scoring.
3×
players with strong physical habits are three times more likely to earn time on specialty teams.
03
What You Can Do
Physical play is trainable. Here's what actually moves the needle:
01 — Board Work
Practice angled approaches to the boards. Most players skate straight in — that's how you lose the puck.
02 — Gap Control
Defenders need to control distance before contact. Closing too fast gives the puck carrier an easy out.
03 — Body Position
Low center of gravity and shoulder positioning wins battles before contact is even made.
04 — Compete Reps
Confidence under pressure comes from volume. Players need repeated, structured contact situations.
About the Author
Grant Sikich
Grant Sikich is the Director of Mavericks Hockey Club, a 12U Head Coach with NH Selects AAA, and an Assistant Coach at Tilton School. He has worked with players at every level from 8U through high school hockey, with a focus on compete-level habits and physical development. His checking curriculum is built around the skills scouts actually evaluate — not just skating and shooting.
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