Each year, USA Hockey hosts a development camp in early August for the top 76 female U18 players – this year for the 2007, 2008, and 2009 birth years (40 Forwards, 28 Defense, and 8 Goalies).
Last month, the initial 63 players were named to the camp. With the final 13 players added at the end of the 16/17s girls camp which takes place a couple of weeks earlier in mid-July. It is my understanding that players from the late-July 15’s girls camp are still not eligible for the U18 camp, regardless of how they performed at the 15’s camp (much to the chagrin of many players and parents). This year, 9 15’s (2009 birth year) players were invited directly to the U18 camp (there were 5 15’s in 2023 and 6 in 2022). So, players not invited as part of the initial U18 list do not have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy at the 15’s camp.
The one key insight from the players invited to the U18 Girls Camp for 2024 is that there were a total of 6 2007 & 2008 birth year players (out of 29 total players from those age groups) who attended the U18 Camp last year, but were not part of the 54 players (from 2007 and 2008) invited directly this year. Instead, those 6 players will need to prove themselves at the 16/17s Camp and earn their invite to the U18s Camp. One way to look at it is, (according to USA Hockey evaluators) there were at least 48 other players from their birth year who showed they were better this year than the 6 players from last year. Another way to look at it is that players should understand that they cannot take anything for granted. No spot is guaranteed.
Note: This is not the first time players have had to start at the 16/17s Camp after participating in the U18 Camp the year before. Last year, at least 2 “downgraded” players did indeed get selected to move on from 16/17s to attend the U18s camp.