U16 AA | U17 AAA | U18 AA
South Side Athletic Club U16 AA | U17 AAA | U18 AA
For spring of 2026, SSAC will continue to fine tune its new evaluation process for U13 – U18 AAA & AA teams as part of an enhanced selection process. Aligned with Hockey Alberta’s Elite Model, and led by the SSAC Hockey Operations group and AAA & AA coaching staff, this new process ensures that all participants are provided a thorough and fair opportunity for evaluation at the AAA level while acknowledging the ever-changing landscape of elite hockey evaluations and opportunities within the region.
The U16, U17, U18 tryout process will be structured into two key phases:
- U16, U17, U18 Spring Camp
- AAA focused evaluation.
- Opportunity for 2010 and 2011 born players to be Committed to the U17 AAA team.
- Opportunity for 2009 born players to be Committed to the U18 AA team.
- U16, U17, U18 Fall Tryouts
- First three (3) days of Fall Tryouts will be focused on initial evaluations with all players.
- The remainder of Fall Tryouts will be used for U16 AA, U17 AAA & U18 AA roster selections.
KEY DETAILS:
Virtual Information Session: March 4, 2026 @ 8:00PM
Learn more about what the SSAC U16, U17, and U18 Programs will offer.
The virtual session is complete – Thank you for attending!
U16, U17, U18 Spring Camp
U16, U17, U18 Spring Camp is complete – Thank you for attending!
- Registration: March 6, 2026 – April 24, 2026
- Maximum 80 Skaters
- COST: $450.
- Includes Spring Camp & Fall Tryouts.
- Open to players rostered on a Tier 3 or higher team (or equivalent level) from sanctioned or unsanctioned leagues. Please note unsanctioned players must purchase Hockey Canada Insurance.
- Three 1-hour sessions: Combination of small area skills & scrimmages.
- Players born in 2010 or 2011 can be committed to the U17 AAA Team.
- Players born in 2009 can be committed to the U18 AA Team.
- Any player offered a commitment must pay a $2000 deposit within 48 hours of the commitment being made.
- All committed players’ positions will be posted on, or before, August 1, 2026, as per Hockey Alberta’s Elite Policies & Procedures.
U16 U17 U18 Fall Tryouts (August 31 – September 5, 2026)
- U16 U17 U18 Fall Tryout Week Schedule
- Groups will be sent by email to registered participants on August 24.
- Registration Closed
- Cost for Only Attending Fall Tryouts:
- Register from May 7 – June 30 – $325
- Register from July 1 – Aug 15 – $425
- All players will skate a minimum of three times before player cuts are made.
- First three (3) days of Fall Tryouts will be focused on initial evaluations with all players.
- Player groups and schedule will be emailed to participants August 16, 2026.
- The remainder of Fall Tryouts will be used for final U16 AA, U17 AAA, and U18 AA roster selections.
Eligibility to tryout for SSAC
- Players must reside within the SSAC Elite draw zone.
- Players from outside SSAC boundaries may apply to start tryouts with SSAC through the approved Elite Player Movement process.
- Players within Edmonton see Hockey Edmonton (March 1 to 15, 2026).
- Players outside of Edmonton see Hockey Alberta (as of March 1).
Learn more about the SSAC U16 AA, SSAC U17 AAA, and SSAC U18 AA Programs.
Need assistance? contact our Registrar
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EVALUATION PROCESS FLOW CHART
➡️ Spring Camp
↳ Eligibility: Tier 3+ Players
↳ 3 Evaluation Skates
➞ Selected: U17 AAA or U18 AA Commitment Offer and Attend Fall Tryouts
➞ Not Selected: Attend Fall Tryouts
➡️ Fall Tryouts
↳ Eligibility: Open to all players who did or did not attend Spring Camp, and did or did not receive a U17 AAA or U18 AA Commitment.
↳ 3 Evaluation Skates
➞ Released from SSAC
➞ Continue through the AA Tryouts
➞ Moved into the AAA Tryouts
➡️ AA Tryouts
↳ Eligibility: Moved through from the Fall Tryouts
↳ Additional Evaluation Skate(s)
➞ Released from SSAC
➞ Continued AA Tryout
➡️ AAA Tryouts
↳ Eligibility: Moved through from the Fall Tryouts
↳ Additional Evaluation Skate(s)
➞ Released to AA
➞ Initial selection to AAA Team
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FAQ’s
- Why change the process? To align with Hockey Alberta’s Elite Model and offer earlier certainty.
- Can players outside SSAC’s draw zone tryout for SSAC? Only if they are approved through the Elite Player Movement process. Players outside of Edmonton see Hockey Alberta (as of March 1) and for players within Edmonton see Hockey Edmonton (March 1 to 15).
- Do I need to attend Spring Camp to make AAA? The AAA Spring Camp offers the primary pathway to make a AAA team. Attendance at the Spring Camp is required to receive a AAA Commitment Offer.
- What if there’s no head coach? SSAC Hockey Operations will manage evaluations and offers.
- What if my player is injured and cannot participate in Spring Camp? An injured player may still be committed to the AAA team, provided they submit requested medical documentation for consideration.
- Can players try out elsewhere if they are released during tryouts? Yes, following Hockey Alberta policies.
- Can players attend Hockey Alberta programs? Yes, SSAC scheduling accommodates those dates.
For further enquiries, contact our Registrar: SSAC Registrar
U16 AA | U17 AAA | U18 AA Teams
This season, SSAC will field 1 U18 AA, 1 U17 AAA, and 1 U16 AA teams:
- 1 U18 AA team
- 1 U17 AAA team
- 1 U16 AA team
At U18 AA, AEHL, the team will be comprised of a mix of 16 and 17 year-olds.
At U17 AAA, AEHL, the team will be comprised of the elite 15 and 16 year old.
At U16 AA, AEHL, the team will be comprised of 15 year-olds only.
U16 AA | U17 AAA | U18 AA Tryouts – Week 1
U16 AA | U17 AAA | U18 AA tryouts begin the September Labour Day. Players will receive an email the week before with their first ice time.
Coaches will evaluate and Category Directors of the Hockey Operations Committee will observe. Groupings will occur randomly using the player’s preferred tryout position as declared on the application form.
There will be a separate goalie evaluation at beginning of September. Goaltenders will be emailed their group and time.
An injury or illness incurred at tryout time might cause the player to lose out on an opportunity to try out with SSAC. It is at the coaches discretion whether an ill or injured player continues on for further evaluation. The Club is not required to hold positions open for ANY player while they heal from an illness or injury, or while trying out with another Club in the AA Model Tryouts or AAA Player Movement process.
U18 AA & U17 AAA & U16 AA Groups
At beginning of September, the U18 AA coach will each select up to 25 players from the remaining 16 and 17 year-old candidates. A selection of up to 25 players of the 15 and 16 year-olds will be selected by the U17 AAA coach for further evaluation. From the remaining list, the U16 AA coach will select up to 25 players from the 15 year-olds for continued evaluation.
Evaluations of drafted players will continue with constant player movement from Junior to U18 AAA to U18 AA or U17 AAA or U18 AA/U16 AA. Roster numbers will pared down according to Hockey Edmonton and SSAC pre-determined timelines. It is the Club’s desire to complete this process as quickly as possible while allowing players a fair opportunity to display their abilities.
U16 AA | U17 AAA | U18 AA Releases
At the U16 | U17 | U18 levels, rosters will be pared down to within one or two players of being “set” by the start of the SSAC Fall Tournament and be finalized shortly thereafter. If the tryouts in your District begin during this time frame, it is advisable that you communicate with your District Registrar or U16/U18 Category Director to ensure knowledge of their tryout time lines.
Any player not drafted by the U18 AA or U16 AA coaches will return to their EFHL program or may enter the AA Model Player Movement process – see Elite Council. The AA Model allows for a 2nd tryout for another city club. For more step-by-step details to tryout for another club team, visit the Elite Council website.
U17 AAA are eligible for a 2nd tryout in the Alberta Development Model Player Movement process.
U18 AAA Releases
Players who choose to try out for the Hockey Edmonton Junior Oilers U18 AAA team must also register for SSAC’s tryouts. If the player does not return from Junior Oilers (i.e. he makes a U18 AAA), the tryout fee will be refunded. Once a player returns from U18 AAA camp, he will be integrated into the SSAC tryout process with potential evaluation by the U17 AAA coach as well as the U18 AA (16 and 17 year olds) or U16 AA (15 year olds) coaching staff.
Junior Releases
Players who choose to try out for Junior teams must also register for SSAC’s tryouts. If the player does not return from Junior camp (i.e. he makes a Junior team), the tryout fee will be refunded. Once a player returns from Junior camp, he will be integrated into the SSAC tryout process with evaluation by the U18 AAA coach as well as the U18 AA coaching staff.
NO player returning from a Junior camp AFTER October 15 will be accepted into U16 | U17 | U18 tryouts or on to a U18 AAA/AA, U17 AAA or U16 AA team with ANY Hockey Edmonton Club.
NO releases to Clubs outside Hockey Edmonton boundaries will be permitted either.
The player’s options after October 15 will be extremely limited.
Responsibility lies with the player and the Junior team to ensure the October 15 deadline is observed.
All players who choose to try out for Junior teams should receive a Hockey Alberta Letter of Permission from the management of the Junior team. This form must be signed by the Hockey Edmonton Registrar Glenn Sommerville.
Hockey Edmonton has a strict timeline of October 15 with regard to players returning from Junior.
Players who are in the Club’s tryout process at the October 15 deadline, cannot be released from the Club after October 15 but player movement between U18 AA, U17 AAA, and U16 AA may continue until January 10 with the approval of the SSAC Hockey Operations Committee.