to play at junior level or university club hockey

Question
Hi Rob,

My son will be graduating in May. He has played goalie for 11 years (Ohio) and has shown steady improvement over the years. He finished his high school career with very good stats. I believe that he has potential to play at the ECHL level in the future.

We try to be realistic and look at all sides to his hockey career.  But at the same time, if he really wants to try for the dream, we will support him.  I feel like I have not a clue as to what to do, I am afraid that junior teams are trying to be money makers and their information might be a little bit skewed.

This past weekend, we took him to a hockey prospect camp for a university club team, Division 2.  He made an outstanding appearance. He was competitive with the current (much older) players, some who are excellent (chose not to pursue hockey) and then others who are average.

Question 1.


If Alex wants to seriously pursue hockey, where so you think he would he have the opportunity for his continued growth and development, if the end goal is to play at ECHL level?

A division 2 or 3 university level team with a promise to be the number one goalie?

A junior team, which might be difficult to initially gauge amount of playing time due to what appears to be an overloading of goalies on the teams?

Please advise at to what route you would suggest?  I will make sure that he attends college part time at a minimum so he will have a secondary plan in place.

Question 2.
Would there be any benefit to trying out as a walk on for any lower level professional hockey team as a means to evaluate his skills? Or would 18 be too young to expect to have such skills?

Thanks so much!
Anne

Answer
Anne,

In your second question, you asked..."would 18 be too young to expect to have such skills?"  18 is too last to have those skills.  A goalie at 18 need to be a brick wall at the age of 16.  But, he might have been that, but was not seen.  Ok, so before we can go on with the next step, I need to know the following.

1.)  What is his win - lose record?
2.)  What is his Goals Against Average?
3.)  How may shut-outs has he had?
4.)  Goalie camps he's been to?
5.)  Is he lead or back up goalie?
6.)  Send me a video or provide me with a Youtube link.

Rob