The Coeur d'Alene Hockey Academy just wrapped up their 2022 Phase 1 Tryout/ID/Open House Camp this Sunday with a total of 79 players attending.

The camp started Friday and concluded Sunday with the traditional Blue/White Classic games that featured many CDA Academy hopefuls as they competed for roster spots for the 2022-2023 season.

The tryouts featured players from various parts of the country including California, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Vermont, Indiana, Colorado, Ohio and North Carolina. 

The players were put through their paces with a series of practices, scrimmages and fitness testing sessions. The weekend also included a tour of the facilities, including the CDA Fieldhouse, classrooms, locker rooms and other campus areas. All CDA staff and ownership was on hand to meet the recruits and share the CDA experience with all who attended.

New CDA Head Hockey Coach, Mike Butters,  was on hand for event and shared his excitement for the upcoming season with all who were there. "It was an amazing weekend. We had a good turnout and the quality of play was outstanding. We had players trying out from almost every part of the country." One of the things Butters was especially pleased with was the quality of players who were there. "We had a lot of top talent here this weekend. Players who played AAA, Academy and Prep School last year were all represented. That, coupled with a solid core of players from last year, give the entire coaching staff a lot of optimism heading into the 2022/23 season." Butters added, "It is an exciting time at the academy. With all the new construction going on coupled with the level of play this weekend, parents and players seemed really fired up. The core of players we selected gives us a great core to work with as we prepare for our second phase camp in June."

With 79 players attending this weeks tryouts and a couple of dozen who have already registered for CDA's Phase 2 tryouts in June, the coaching staff will have some decisions to make as they fill their 3 Prep rosters. CDA will feature teams at U-18 Prep, U-17 Prep that will play in the CSSHL this season as well as a 16U Prep team that will play an independent schedule throughout the US and Canada. In addition, CDA will have two "weekend model" teams that will compete at the 16U & 14U levels.

With the growth of the player pool at the academy, the construction of 3 new classrooms, offices, student study areas and other amenities were underway and many early recruits commented on how fast the new areas of the campus were coming together.

Next up for CDA is the preparation for their Phase 2 Tryouts that will be held from June 10-13 at the Frontier Ice Arena in Coeur d'Alene, ID.

Given the early timing of the Phase 1 tryouts, there were many players who just returned from USA Hockey National Tournaments  and other events, who couldn't make it. In order to give those players and others the opportunity to visit the campus and compete for roster spots, the academy staff felt it important to hold a second camp.

Players and families who wish to attend the June camp can do so by registering on the CDA website.