Here’s the question you have do answer in order to decide if now is the time to contact coaches on teams you are serious about:
Are you ready to be seen during the spring ECNL showcases? vs
Are you waiting too long to be seen next winter / spring?
You only have one chance to make a first impression. But, by waiting to the u16 year you are only giving yourself one bite at the apple for most schools. By the u17 year, most of the better d1 schools will be done.
D contacted coaches early, right after she had joined an ECNL team and had a few really bad tournaments as she worked through the growing pains. She was seen by a few coaches of schools she was interested in and by the time she got he momentum back, the next spring, she was never able to get those coaches to come see her again.
Things worked out, and she was seen by many good fit schools, but the list was narrowed by her being a bit too early.
It is a delicate balance though, the time window isn’t very big.