In this post, we’ll quickly break down the various MIHL hockey tryouts and prospect free agent camps for you in this semi-professional hockey league.
Alongside this, we’ll give you a few added resources, pro tips, and alternative playing options that can potentially help you in your aim to find a new club at a competitive level.
Let’s hop over the boards…
MIHL Hockey Tryouts & Prospect Camps
Each off-season, many of the teams in the MIHL hold some form of tryout or prospects camp.
They may go by slightly different names (ex: free agent camp vs tryout), but they all serve a similar purpose which is to identify a few select players to move to their main camps (come start of the hockey season).
Not all MIHL hockey teams hold them, but here’s a list for each of the teams that are (or have recently held) some form of one. Some clubs in this league will jointly run a prospect camp for efficiency or to attract players from a specific region.
Disclaimer: our team has had various conversations in recent years with clubs and players in this league, but much like any other team tryouts/camps at this level, we can’t personally advocate for any one club's free agent camp.
Our goal here is simply to share the latest info with you on these MIHL camps + tryouts so that you can personally make the best decision based on where your play is at (as you decide the next step in your hockey career.
Alpena 45ers Tryouts
Cheboygan Wendigo Tryouts
- Cheyboygan team staff attended Alpena’s main prospect camp this off-season
Kalkaska Kings Tryouts
- Kalkaska team staff attended Alpena’s main prospect camp this off-season
St. Ignace Saints Tryouts
Detroit Warhawks Tryouts
Michigan Shadow Tryouts
- Holding an open tryout on June 22nd, 2025- 4:00pm at Big Boy Arena in Fraser, Michigan
Muskegon Voyagers Tryouts
Waterford Sharks Tryouts
Uniquely held a series of weekly free agent prospect skates over the summer to identify potential new players.
By looking at the above, you get a pretty good sense for the formats of these camps.
The structure of MIHL free agent camps is quite similar to various FPHL Tryouts which sit a level up from here at the Single A pro level. You can also see that these camps are all naturally based in the summer prior to seasons start.
It might be well past that time of year though as you read this post…if that’s the case, keep reading.
You’re not out of playing options...
Depending on both your playing experience and how many roster spots a team has available, that may increase/decrease your chances of playing there. If say one of the MIHL teams has some hefty sponsors and strong local support as a couple of them do, they may be able to draw in players that could easily play (or had previously played) at much higher levels.
If you don’t have a strong prior hockey resume on paper, it’s potentially harder to crack a roster and may put you in a spot where you’re looking to play elsewhere.
Luckily, there’s other intriguing playing options.
The most attractive of these is playing pro over in Europe.
The wide range of leagues/tiers across the continent makes it a more realistic entry point for some players. Combine this with the experience away from the rink can’t be matched by most any city in North America. European teams are also able to pay quite well at many levels.
With us having a global team with partners on the ground across the majority of European countries, we have the access and ability to help players (a number with less heavy resumes on paper alone) get their foot in the door at the next level in Europe.
If you’re hungry for another shot to prove you belong at a higher level of hockey, send us a message and let us know why you have the drive to keep playing.
