YOU DID NOT ADVANCE TO TRAINING CAMP FROM ANY FREE-TO-PLAY MAIN CAMPS? NOW WHAT? For 2005s, it may be time to move on. 2006-2007s may still have a chance.

Leave it to Eminem to come up with the lyrics that perfectly describe the pressure of free-to-play junior hockey try-out and camp season.

I get it, that's the kind of pressure almost every player takes into camp season. As bad as it is here in the United States, it's ten times worse in Canada. Especially now.

The perception is that every Canadian player is going to be better than the American counterparts. And seeing all the negativity from American parents surrounding last falls announcement that playing major junior (and really minor professional) hockey no longer soils NCAA Division I eligibility is very interesting. Meanwhile, Canadian parents are also crying about all the American prospects taking away Canadian Hockey League stalls from true Canadian players. 

The reality is that college hockey coaches at every level are thinking they hit the lottery with all their good fortune. Players they never before would even have a conversation with are all of a sudden looking at NCAA Division III and ACHA schools as primary options.

Penn State has secured commitments from several notable players, including Gavin McKenna, a projected top pick in the 2026 NHL draft, and Jackson Smith, a Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick. Do you think Head Coach Guy Gadowsky ever considered such a recruiting effort could be more than a fantasy when he took on the job back in 2011?

But this is where we are now, it's our new reality. Now let's talk about yours.

Are you a 2005 birth year player that has just been turned away from the last main camp on your schedule? Were you legitimately a top line skater, or #1 goalie (15+games, .920+SV%), last season at the pay-to-play junior or AAA level of youth hockey? If your answer is yes, go ahead and jump onto a pay-to-play junior team that's not going to front-load the contract and prove you do not belong there. You still have a chance.

But what if not? Just go to school, a trade school, or maybe the military. Get out of mom and dad's wallet and move on. It's time.

For the 2006s, this is your last chance to do something with your game. Don't let yourself become a could-have-been. Think of every open-eyed moment as an investment in yourself, in your dream, and your reality. For you, this is YOUR one shot, your once-in-a-lifetime moment to make the best of. 

2007s have a few different options.

Some will cash in the chips and just go to school. Maybe it's club hockey or even hitting the cold beer leagues. There's nothing wrong with that choice, because that's their reality.

Others will go back to AAA and take advantage of the lack of real competition. Let's face it, all the good players are already in juniors (or NHL draft picks), and what's left are a lot of guys coming up from AA and just happy to be there. For most, 18AAA will be the pinnacle of their careers. And it's going to be fun.

Others will give the parent's wallet a bit of a break and take advantage of the benefits of pay-to-play junior hockey. This can be a great option, as long as families can steer away from the dumpster fires. Unfortunately, there are a pile of three-alarm fires across the entire spectrum of junior hockey this upcoming season.

It is the pay-to-play junior level that can offer the easiest path to moving up to free-to-play in season. It's the players that put in the work, that make that personal investment of time and effort, that will do more than just visit higher level teams. The hardest working and productive players will be taking stalls from guys that are just there to have fun. 

Let's say this for the 2006 and 2007 goalies. I don't care if you are 6'5 or 5'5, have a save percentage north of .930% after five games and you are going places. 

And for all junior players, pack light. You are going to a billet, not a college dorm. If you have any hope of moving up during the season, pack one bag for your gear, another for your stuff. If your stuff can't fit into one hockey bag, you have too much. By all means, DO NOT pack the video games. Drive, don't fly. If you get the chance to move up, you don't have time to book flights. Gasoline is generally much less expensive than jet fuel. And I'm fairly certain you are not going to break the twigs along the way. We can't say that for airline baggage handlers.

I'll close with this. Do not go into any pay-to-play situation without a reputable advisor. In my case, we can generally negotiate the cost of our services off the sticker price of most pay-to-play junior teams. This is certainly the case for skaters. Goalies are more challenging, but not impossible. 

Interested in learning more? Let's have a conversation and talk about your situation. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime...