Im old but want to play semi-pro hockey...help please!

Question
Hi Martial, I am a 25 year old from southern ontario canada. Growing up I played AAA but once I finished my midget year I went away to a school where there was no hockey. I have always played in adult leagues and always end up leading them in scoring. I am very small (5'7) but very fast and talented (style of play similiar to Martin St. Louis). I know I am past any chances of playing NHL, AHL or probably even ECHL. I would like to play at the highest level available to me in my area (greater Toronto area). Any help/insight with some open tryouts you could send my way? Thanks in advance,

    Brad

Answer
Hi Brad...

I'm not sure that there is very much in the way of semi pro in the TO area...  you may have to look to south of the border or even Europe if you are serious about this...

Here are some links you can explore...

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/) --

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.bloorstreetwest.com/hockeytech_old/agentcamp.html) 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!

Here is another link you might want to look into --  you can actually recruit an "agent" who might be able to guide you even better:  http://esportsdesk.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?leagueID=13721&clientID=4226&page...

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