Protected list

so how often does a kid, who is not on a team's protected list, make the roster?

also, if you get a ushl main camp tryout invite, does that mean the team seriously wants to look at you or are they mostly fund raisers like the open camps?

I can't speak for every team/league but I know there have been players who were not initially on the protected list but made the team because they worked harder than players who were on the list. I don't know if USHL camps are as much fundraisers than other leagues. I know the Lincoln stars camp is only like 80 or so players, anymore than that and the coaches can't get a chance to evaluate each player. I don't know if this would be possible, but maybe you could contact the coach or rep of the team you are interested in and see if they are willing to tell you how many players they have invited to camp. Usually the invite only camps are going to be for the players the coaches actually have interest in, but that's not a guarantee. Another thing to remember is even if you don't make the team often times coaches will remember players who were the last ones cut and will keep them in mind for later in the season if needed or for the following season so you wouldn't want to burn any bridges, if you have a good showing there's a chance you could get a good word from the coach when you try out for other teams/leagues. These are not hard and fast rules, each situation is different, but the one constant is to play your best regardless.

I also can't speak for every team but I know that is seems 3 players or so every year make the Cedar Rapids roster out of tryout camps and a few make the futures list in that draft or even are drafted the next season. Same type of deal I've seen kids who where cut be brought in when a player doesn't seem to be working out. So overall I think most USHL camps are not a waste of time or money. I know that in the past I've seen NAHL team in attendance also and the cut players get a chance with those teams as well.

awesome, thanks for the replies.

my brother was one of the last cut at the waterloo main camp. coach said the position he would play was already taken by a vet from last year and he would call if injuries or trades opened up that spot. he also said he would talk to other coached on behalf of my bro to see if he could get a spot at a training camp. if not, he is tendered in the NAHL so he can fall back on that.