am i too old

Question
QUESTION: i am 30, 6 1 205 lbs in shape and highly skilled defenceman from maui hawaii. i startedplaying inline at age 14 and left to canada at 22 to learn ice. i learned in toronto and over the last 7 years i have progressed to a level that i beleive is pro quality. i play with current pros in the off season that play for hannover in germany and they all say i would be pro had i grew up in the system. i can skate with them and defend them no problem. i have played at the senior a level in ontario for tillsonburg(team went under) and a few games with the brantford blast. i know i am skilled enough to play at any level and i am wondering what i can do if anything to get  into a minor pro camp? should i hire an agent?if so who and how? i dont expect to advance to ahl nhl but i need to play i am too good to let this pass me by. at 30 i m in great shape and feel very capable what do i do so i dont go crazy. everyone always asks me where i played, did u play jr/pro? when i tell em my story they say i am the best player they have ever seenfor my experience level. my skating and hockey sense is just built in i have all the tools can do amazing things with the puck. i go to nhl games and ahl games all the time and i know i can play with them. i am better than my friends that play pro in germany and feel i am wasting away undiscovered and still i train. help

ANSWER: Brian,  

I recommend you call this guy. He can help you.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/carl-dipaolo/19/548/272

Rob Lopez - CEO
Pass the Puck, Inc.
www.passthepuck.net



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hey there i did not find a contact link for him there and he is not listed at vsm hockey. do you know if he has left them or do you have a contact number? i assume he is a player agent?

ANSWER: Ok, his name is: Carl Dipaolo   
He works for: Director of Hockey Operations at Atlantic Hockey Group.
Email Address: [email protected]
Phone number: 603 401 6476


Tell him you talked with me.
Rob Lopez - CEO
Pass the Puck, Inc.
www.passthepuck.net

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thankyou so much i really appreciate what you guys do here it is very helpful and motivating. i just have one more tiny question is he an agent? how do you think he can help me? i am just trying to figure out the best way to approach him. thankyou again for your time i really appreciate it. remember my name, brian james i will play somewhere its what i was designed for. ill keep ya posted! first pro from hawaii u watch!!!

Answer
I love your enthusiasm.  He is a Players Agent and he know a sh** load of scouts.  An agent is a guy that really is a salesman.  He's the guy who help you with your contact.  He's a guy that actually promotes you to the GM.  Now, he's going to want all of your "Stuff"...name, address, age, height, weight, names of teams, number of goals, number of assists...and a Youtube link of you playing.

You were wondering how to approach him....here it comes.  Call him and say..."Rob Lopez told me to call You!".  Here's the next thing I recommend.  Do you have a membership to Linkedin?  If not, get one.  Then join groups and invite people to be in your network.  I recommend that you start with players scouts and agents.  Then, I would contact every single hockey coach that's on their and again, there is a sh** load.  There are coaches from the WHL, CHL, ECHL, AHL, NHL, and a long list of teams from Europe.  Once you join, ask me to connect to my network and then you will have over 500 hockey contacts to as them to join your network.  Once you join, just go to my profile and click on the link that says...Rob's Contacts.

Contact the coaches and sell yourself.  Ask them for a walk on tryout.  Tell them that you have been playing with pro's and they feel that I am good enough to play at their level.  Then tell them that if they give you a chance, you will pay for your own ticket and stay at the hotel.  Yes I know this sucks, but sometimes you might have to do that to get your foot in the door.

Good Luck
Rob