It also depends on the school. For example, back in the day, the ISL formed two divisions to level the ice, Keller for schools that recruited athletes, and Eberhart for schools that relied mostly on student athletes. The lines have blurred since then, but a school like Middlesex (ISL) or Philips Andover (not ISL) isn't going to recruit a player for every spot on the team.

And, not all kids are Varsity level at 14. My kid played outside his school for his first two years and Varsity his last two years. He "made" the team in tryouts Junior year, but really "made" it by continuing to work hard on development to achieve his goal.