Jr. A/ OHL

Question
QUESTION: Hello,

  I am in a state of total confusion. I can't seem to make a team, no matter what! I WANT to make it to at least the OHL, it has been my dream ever since I was a kid. I am going into the minor midget season with no teams wanting me. I want it so bad but I can't seem to do anything... Help!

ANSWER: Hi Joseph,

First, calm down!
I need some info from you. This is a very  common question I get and you should look through other people's questions and my answers to help you. I'm sure you'll find some answers in those (I know a lot of these are private in which others cannot read; unfortunate b/c I have a lot of answers that are valuable to others).

Age, where do you play, position (you did not tell me); if a goalie tell me your style- strengths and weakness, etc?
Have you ever been scouted? Been to any camps? Sent videos of your play to teams?

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

QUESTION: Sorry for freaking out :),
  
  I am 15 years old in Minor Midget now, I play goaltender and I am a mostly butterfly goalie. I have good hands so I can catch high shots when I go down. I also have good lateral movement & a wide butterfly.

  I don't think I have ever been scouted. I haven't been to any camps, unless you include goalie training camps at The Sports Village in Vaughan. I train with Dave & Marco Franco. I have not sent any of my videos to any teams.

  The Toronto Ice Dogs AA wants to sign me, but I think I should take 1 season off and just train. If you think about it, I could take the 2000$ or so required to play and put it into training camps... Seems like the smarter thing to do.

ANSWER: Hi Joseph

So you are still in High School? If you sign w/ the Ice Dogs what does that mean? How much hockey/ training do you get? Do you live somewhere else and make a little stipend ($)? If you take a year off, can you really train for that period of time? If you have someone you can really train with on a regular basis I suggest you think about what you really want to do in the future- play juniors, play in college, etc. Also, if you take time off make sure you try to contact other programs and stay in touch with them so that next season you might have a place to go or tryout with.

By the way...training camps are what?? Just week long goalie camps or camps that you attend and get ice, dry-land, nutrition and exposure? If they are just like goalie camps I would suggest you rethink your idea of taking a season off. If they are camps that offer more, then maybe it's an idea, but think why you would do this.

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

QUESTION: I am still in High School, If I sign with them that means that they can keep me on their team for two years. I get at least 4 hours of hockey /week. I don't have a job except for the summer time. I can train for that period of time. I am good friends with Dave and Marco Franco, and they train NHL goaltenders like Curtis Joseph. I can train with them on a regular basis. I would like to make it to (at least) Jr.A or the OHL. I really love hockey and would make it far.

  Training camps are -like I said before- with the Franco brothers and the ice I can get is elite goalie ice time with goalies in AAA & Jr.A. So there will usually be scouts there and their training is amazing. I could also just rent ice and ask them to come out for an hour or so to do a private session.

 So ya, the "camps" offer great training, exposure, dry-land, and they also let me know if a AAA team needs a goalie.

Answer
Hi Joseph
Thanks for the extra info.

OK so you are saying that if you sign, they own your butt for 2 years and you only get about 4 hrs of hockey/ wk which is prob just a few practices and a game or 2?

If you continue training w/ the Francos you get lots of ice time, dryland, potential scouting/ exposure and personal help?

Let me ask you this...what do the Francos say you should do? Are they open to you training with them regularly?

If this is right....I think you have your answer, but I'm not going to tell you which to pick :)