road to the pros

Question
QUESTION: Hi Im nick Grijalva i just turned 20 years old. i live in mcallen texas i been playin hockey since i was 8. ive played a little bit of jr C, and ive also played midgets lots of pick up hockey. I feel like im losing hope in a way, i still feel i want to pursue a career i love the game. wat can i do to get to a certain league like the Echl, or the Ahl.

ANSWER: If you are looking for minor pro (IN US)- there are several leagues you can look up --  SPHL (http://www.thesphl.com/), UHL (http://www.theuhl.com/) and CHL (http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/)to name three, or if you want to go to Europe - you can check out the Elite League (http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/) -- if you really want to aim higher you can try ECHL or AHL as well.  They usually have their open tryouts a little later in the year.  SO you may not find anything just yet.

You can also buy the Hockey News or maybe look up their site - they will occasionally have an ad or two in there about OPEN FREE AGENT CAMPS (see: http://www.ihchockey.com/news.htm OR http://www.pointswestinc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=) for Minor Pro players who want to get scouted and maybe get an "agent".  These camps will get you exposure and from there you may get a tryout...  be prepared as sometimes it is in Europe...  It pays decent in Europe -- but it can be a trek if you are not used to it!

Know that there are alot of "players" on the market --  so what will make it tougher for you is if you don't have a recent track record...  i.e. recent stats? references.  However, some coaches are more open to 'risking' than others - you may have to PR yourself for that.

Notwithstanding -- if you can stand OUT each and every game they watch you play -- you may get a shot somewhere and the key will be for you to keep the same level of play (or higher) going.

Feel free to follow up with anything if I missed something or if you wish that I elaborate.

Thanks and good luck with the puck!

Martial





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QUESTION: i really wasnt to clear. So are you saying i need to get a agent, and go to camps to get exposure. Do professional teams have open tryouts like to anybody??

ANSWER: Hi Nicholas...

Maybe not an Agent - but getting scouted thru exposure is definitely a must...  Unless you are playing upper level Junior or College - the likelihood of you being scouted is small!!

The lower level minor pro teams may have open tryouts from time to time depending on their recruiters and pool of available players...  when you write to a team you might be interested in - you can point blank ask them!!

Otherwise - you need to find tournaments or camps where Scouts are invited and you can work the process of SELLING yourself.

Hope this helps!

Thanks

Martial



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

QUESTION: ok well im 20 years old. its already to old for me to get exposure throgh
jr hockey. so all i have is college hockey. I dont think i can make a division 1 school.will i get enough exposure if i play division 1, or 2 hockey to play professionally. wat would you recommend me doing??

Answer
Your best bet is to make a Div 1 school team if you can!!  YES!  You must make it and play well to get scouted...  there will be minor pro teams interested notwithstanding - some of them recruit from even Div 3 and Club teams...   so you can always keep improving and work your way up the ladder!!!

Remember - you gotta enjoy the process...  if you don't - it's just not worth it!!

good luck!

martial