High school hockey in Des Moines is not a school sponsored sport.  Neither the Oak Leafs nor the Capitals are affiliated with a high school.  Players for the Oak Leafs and Capitals are selected from a draft.  The rules of the selection process are listed below.

DES MOINES HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY SELECTION PROCESS

1a. All players must submit a completed registration form along with a tryout fee to be eligible for tryouts. Registrations must be received seven days prior to the first tryout. Any exceptions will be reviewed by the Des Moines High School Hockey Association Board (DMHSHA).

1b. To be eligible to participate, a player must be enrolled in an area high school.

1c. Sibling situations will be identified through questions on the registration form.  2004-2005: a sibling may optionally tryout for only his/her sibling's team.

2a. Tryouts will be held the week prior to Labor Day.

2b. Players currently rostered on each team will participate in two tryout sessions with their respective team.

2c. New incoming players will attend two tryout sessions with each of the current teams during the tryout week for a total of four sessions.

3a. The two board member of the Des Moines High School Hockey Association who are not affiliated with either the Capitals or Oak Leafs (neutral board member) will supervise coordination of the selection process.

3b. All selection rosters and selection adjustments must be approved in writing by the team representative of each team along with a neutral DMHSHA member.

4a. Each teams coach will submit a list of all returning players to either protect or expose each player. A protected player is off limits to the other team, while exposed players are eligible for selection by either team.

4b. This list will be restricted to the coaching staff of each team and the at-large advisory board members.

5a. The Oak Leafs will have first choice in odd year selections and the Capitals will have first choice in even year selections.

5b. The teams will alternate their selections until one of the teams declares that they have filled their roster. Once one of the teams declares that their roster is full, all remaining players are available for the second team to fill their roster. If, prior to selection of Youth Hockey Teams, a player selected by one of the High School teams decides that he or she does not want to play high school hockey, the team that chose the player can select an additional player from the pool of registered players not previously selected.

6. A player must play for the team he or she is selected by for the full season.

7. Any and all other issues in regards to registrations, tryouts and team selections will be decided by the DMHSHA.

Tryout Team Results

Do not directly contact the Oak Leafs or Capitals coaches, and do not contact either team manager regarding any issues concerning the selection of these teams.  If you have an issue or concern, please contact the Oak Leafs and Capitals team mangers in writing.