Introduction People have asked me what exactly it is within my sports administration background that qualifies me to provide advice and guidance to families seeking opportunities for their sons so they can use the hockey skills, good sense, and superb time management that has been developed over time as busy young men, to help further their opportunities in life. My response is that it is not the wonderful sports administration education that I received at Laurentian University in the mid-eighties, or the experience that I have derived from various positions and boards that I have been part of over the past 20 years, including athletic teams and leagues, but rather it was through the intensive undertaking that I commenced when I realized that our two oldest sons were wrapping up their minor hockey careers, and were beginning to emerge as serious hockey players that we believed would be able to earn an education and maybe a living doing what they enjoy most in life. I am not holding myself out as a "technical expert"... there are several of those in every community. I have never played hockey at a high level. I am a business professional, with certain insight and experience, and some wonderful contacts that I have nourished over time. I can help eliminate a lot of the "unknowns" and help you make the proper decisions for your son as he prepares to advance to the next stages of this hockey career. Several years ago, as I explored the various opportunities for my own sons, and as I invested the first 1,000+ hours into the research, I realized that I was just beginning to understand the complexities and hurdles of organized academic athletics, and major junior hockey. I had heard many stories about athletes earning scholarships at various Prep Schools and Colleges. I had talked to many people who could not understand why their son had never been invited to further their life opportunities through enrollment at a post-secondary institution (especially when a less gifted player had been). As I commenced my research, and after I had left dozens of telephone messages at various institutions (which were never returned)..., just trying to find out how it all worked..., I came to several realizations.... These realizations included the fact that I had entered a world which operated with it's own set of very sophisticated rules and regulations..., understandings..., and secret handshakes..... It was only after finally talking to (in excess of) 12 dozen different hockey programs did I truly have a workable understanding of how it all worked. You likely think that I must be a slow learner..., but really, every single program has it own set of quirks, traditions and acceptable practices. I have never before seen so many roadblocks and protectionism and pure confusion. I have never before come across so many people who hold themselves out as one thing, but operate with three or fours different hats..., and seem to place their own interests above all others. In the early stages of trying to make the right decisions for my own sons, I began to understand why so many families rule out the academic route, and simply let things "fall where they may...".... After months of perserverance in the early stages, I finally discovered that persistence does pay off, and after I invested hours and hours into the process, I began to make incredible contacts and developed a relationship with most institutions through referrals and knowing how to market myself and my boys through the most efficient means possible. After many enquiries, I realized who the gatekeepers of the various athletic offices are ...., and how to ensure that our information did not sit on the pile of 2,000 - 5,000 other hopefuls on the desk of the recruiters. I discovered the best way to present our package in the neatest, most efficient, method possible and I put my skills as a professional marketer and negotiator to work in the best way possible. I have taken the time to get to know and understand all the options. You can put my professional training and personal experiences to work for you, and your family. If you think I can help, I would be pleased to consider your situation. I will be honest and frank with you regarding your reasonable expectations and will only accept an assignment if I truly think that I can help. I offer a passive service known as HockeyResumes.com and I offer a more active personal service that we could put to work for you. Please, let me know if you would like to talk.   Sincerely,     | Main Page | HockeyResumes.com | Personal Services | Contact Us |