Wildcat hockey will hold its annual open tryouts this week.

Arizona’s annual camp will run Sept. 4 – 6 at the Tucson Convention Center and is open to all UA students interested in competing for a spot on this season’s roster.
“I’m a big believer in giving the kids the opportunity because depending on where you’re from, there may not be a lot of college hockey scouts,” head coach Sean Hogan said, “so there are kids here that are pretty good hockey players that find their way on.”

Tuesday, all prospective hockey players must attend a 7:30 p.m. meeting in the Tubac Room at the Student Union Memorial Center. Attendees will finalize their registration and sign liability waivers at the mandatory meeting.

The potential Wildcats, along with some of Hogan’s returners, will be split randomly between four teams, which will then compete in a three-day round-robin tournament. There will be two games each day of tryouts, the first at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.

“It’s an ample opportunity,” Hogan said. “It’s not like one day, one hour or anything like that. We give them three days with games and referees and the whole thing.”

Now, two years into the Hogan era, six UA hockey student athletes have been admitted a spot on the team via open camp. Last season, forward Dane Irving and goalie Dylan Hojnacki walked on to the team as freshmen.

UA students can register to try out through the team’s official website, arizonawildcathockey.org. The participation fee is $100, and players are expected to supply their own equipment for the open camp.

The Wildcats open their season Sept. 27 at NAU. Their home opener is Oct. 25, also against the Lumberjacks.

— Follow Joey Putrelo @JoeyPutrelo