Seems to me that if your son is not a top 3-4 attackman, a top 3-4 defenseman, a top 5 middie or top goalie then you should realistically expect that he will see minimal minutes. You should be able to determine this by the level of talent at the tryout. You're investing a lot of time and money in the team, so look at the competition at his position during the tryout and jot down the numbers of the better kids. Also, figure out if any coaches kids play his position because that will inevitably hurt his chances of getting on the field. If your son doesn't securely meet the above mentioned criteria, it would be best to find another team. Clubs will take the money of every parent that is willing to give it to them. As parents, we are responsible for doing our due diligence. There are plenty of teams out there. Everyone should be able to find the one that's best for their child. It may not be a top club, but at this age, that's of minimal importance. Lastly, don't pick a club with the expectation that your son will work his butt off and leapfrog a player or two on the depth chart. While possible, it's very unlikely.
