Pucks, Politics and the Players....

As the minor hockey tryout season wraps up this week with the majority of junior clubs running their rookie camps, a number of young players will be looking to extend their hockey careers to the next level.

Starting in mid April AAA, AA and A clubs across Ontario began the process of assembling their rosters for the 2011-12 season, with the midget AAA loop finalizing the bulk of their rosters towards the end of the summer and into early fall. Most other age groups have have the bulk of their line-up's intact following these skates and continue into the summer.

To anyone who is or has been involved within the minor hockey circles, this process has begun some time ago, in most cases before the end of 2010 or shortly after 2011 began.  It is a process that normally begins with coaching staff being lined up at that time, giving those involved the chance to scout, recruit and begin putting the proper pieces to the puzzle needed to ice the type of club that they are looking for.

Being on both sides of the coin (player and coach) I have seen my fair share of politics that come into the game, it is something that is as much of a given as death and taxes. Unfortunately this is something that can ultimately blindside any player, parent or coach if the political circus rolls into town unexpectedly. It is unfortunate and most of the time not fair, but to those who have been around the game know it is a trend that will not soon go away.

Numerous players will lose the chance to play on a team, let alone a specific level because of the interference of someone who has made up their mind well before that player has even packed their bag and twisted Mom or Dad's arm to go to a skate. In some cases, the parent is one who is caught off guard while their son or daughter has a pretty clear idea of whats in store. This happens every spring and usually creeps its head out every now again in the summer and tends to be in affect until the start of winter.

It is something that will ultimately drive numerous good players, parents and coaches from the game in general, some not venturing back for years if ever again. Yes, even coaches. For every story you hear of a coach who has paid their way into a position or recruited a club in order to make sure their son or daughter is playing on a team, there are a handful of excellent, well trained and extremely talented coaches left on the sidelines watching a handful of teams implode as the hockey season begins to ween out the contenders from the pretenders as the season kicks into high gear.

Minor hockey teaches everyone involved a number of valuable lessons that we carry with us for the bulk of our lives. One thing I have learned is to expect the unexpected and always remember being yourself and believing in who you are will ultimately carry you to the places you wish to be and dreams you wish to achieve. And politics, they will always be there so make sure not to let them stand in your way and for their own good, the way of your shot! Be true to yourself and those around, then ultimately you will be the one with the last laugh and all of the ice time you can imagine.