I was down in Charleston over the weekend and saw the entire program and after seeing the selected players listed on the sedistrict.org website I was floored by the selection of the 1991 goalie. The other two 1991 goalies (one from NAHA) were more skilled and displayed more speed in all the drills. I do not know what process the evaluators use to determine which player is selected but in this case it was not even close. I thought the National Camps were for the best players from each district. I know that there are always politics involved but this was a joke. Anyone else happen to see the action. At the 89/90 age group I would have selected a different player than got selected but in this case the two goalies were very close in their abilities and I have no problem with the selection.

Just like the boys divisions, the players are usually picked long before the tryouts. Skill is not the issue, politics is. In the older age groups it is harder get rid of obvious talent and the big hockey schools sometimes send their coaches there to bargain. I saw coaches from both NAHA and NSA at the Atlantic tryouts making sure that their players weren't edged out.

Interesting note about coaches at tryouts. An evaluator at the SE District tryout actually yelled down to the selected 1991 goalie (while she was waiting to get on the ice) something about staying in shape for next season. The girl then turned around and flexed her arms up to the evaluator which looked a bit chummy to me. After being in the Montgomery Blue Devil program for a few years this goalie is heading to a prep school next year and it just made me think that perhaps this evaluator is her coach next year. I could be wrong on this but the interaction they had seemed a bit odd. The 1991 goalie from NAHA was new to the SE District this year and maybe that played a part in her not being selected. Its a shame that some districts do not send the best players with the best potential instead of less skilled players who just happen to know the right people. Like you said it even happens in he boys divisions.

Happens at most all ages, all districts...

Yup!

And after a while some of the players who are bypassed don't even bother coming...