THE ABSULUTE TOP PROSPECT AT MOST CAMPS? BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Is it really about identifying prospects or cash?

Most players, and their parents, get very excited when the North American Hockey League pre-draft and main camp invitations begin flooding the inbox. "Wow, this kid must be really good," is the first thing most rookie parents tend to think. Then one of the teams' coaches calls the young man directly, personally inviting him to camp. 

So they register, make travel arrangements and even spend valuable vacation days, while getting excited about their son's chances of really doing something special with their game. These events are well timed with most taking place during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs and finals. It's easy for parents to imagine seeing their son on one of those teams, and maybe even raising that cup some day.

I am guilty because I was thinking along the same lines watching my daughter gain national attention as a young vocalist and song writer. She has a special way of turning a simple song into a soul searching listening experience. Now she's more focused on just fitting in at college, and not filling arenas and stadiums.

When that young man walks into the rink for his first junior camp, the stomach is full of butterflies during the pre-skate meetings. 

Then the glass slipper breaks once in the changing room. "They already picked the team," says one player before the first skate. "I'm just here for the ice time," says another as he pulls out the vape pipe.

While the parents' expectation remains high, the player hits the ice with a little less excitement before the first puck drop. The negative talk in the room has already soiled the player's enthusiasm. 

It gets worse once the first game finishes. The clipboard holder impersonating a bench coach offers zero to minimal bench management while some of the older players are taking two and three minute shifts.  

And it's more of the same for the next two to three games. Every man for himself is the rule for each shift. The defensemen think they are all puck moving playmakers and are completely irresponsible defensively.  As a result, goaltenders get left out to dry in the last games, facing one odd-man rush after another. Shooters are getting second, third, and fourth opportunities without an opposing player in sight. And no one cares.

But what if, regardless of all the negatives, the player excels and scores eight goals in the four games? Or maybe a goalie gets shutouts in three of the four games, stopping 96% of the shots faced?  Would it be shocking to learn that neither player was asked to play in the "all-star" final game?

Why not? Maybe because almost all those slots were going to the returning, tendered, and drafted players. Very few, if any, free-agent campers get a real opportunity at all.

That's when players and parents begin to realize what has really happened. This particular team has a long history of producing spectacularly successful camp revenue. And with a new crop of rookies dropped into the pool every year, the teams have the upper hand.

Yes, reality has a special way of creeping into the equation. 

There are good and bad operators in every league, from pay-to-play to major juniors. The trick is to know which programs offer legitimate opportunities and which are only interested in extracting those Benjamin Franklin faced bills from the wallet.

A good advisor will save their clients thousands more dollars than the annual fee. We try to steer our clients away from the usual suspects that are questionable operators. Going to five or more NAHL, NCDC, or even Canadian Junior A camps is unnecessary. 

If you are a player or parent that finds yourself in this situation, let's set up a call and have a real conversation.