Good Luck to all Goalies at the U14/U15 Tryouts

I just wanted to write somethng for all the goalies going to the U14/U15 tryouts this weekend in Tantallon.  I hope to grab a couple of hours and watch some of the events taking place in the next few days.  Watching all the young and upcoming talent this weekend would certainly help me relive my memories as a nervous goalie-parent watching one's child partake in the High Performance Program.

My son, Roman, participated in the high-performance programs for all three age categories over the last few years.  With hardwork and determination, he was fortunate enough to represent Team Nova Scotia at the Altantic Challenge Cup for the U14's and to win gold in the final game against Newfoundland 5-2.  It was a very exciting time for him (and for me).  There was a remarkable jump in his mental maturity from the experience.

And while he was able to be very successful at these camps with these various selections as a team member or as an alternate over the following years, the best lessons came from just being able to compete and train on the ice with the other many talented kids of the province.  Here he was able to learn many important things that go along with being selected.  Almost without exception, the participants were focused, serious, and dedicated to the sport and their position.  He also received a major boost of confidence in even being selected to participate in the Tantallon camp, as it was a signal to him that his coaches and teammates had a high level of confidence in him as a goaltender.  This "vote of confidence" should be a major shot in the arm to all the attendees, especially the goalies, that they can take into Major Bantam and Major Midget tryouts next year.

The challenges of the camp(s) are very daunting from a goaltender's perspective.  While there are 70  forwards trying out for 12 positions (1:6), 36 defense trying out for 6 positions (1:6), the goaltending position is extremely competitive, with 18 goalies trying out for 2 positions (1:9).  This makes the odds of making the team are much lower than any other position.  Unfair, some may say; a fact of life of being a goaltending, I say.

You goalies should realize that you will be in very good company.  Use this opportunity to see what else is out there in terms of ability, style, and work ethic.  Even if you make it to the camp in the summer in Antigonish, you should be able to learn something to add to your game and to your character from each and every goalie that you participate with or against.  This attitude holds true for whether those goalies move on or not, as every single goalie in Tantallon this weekend is there almost exclusively because they are talented and effective as goaltenders.

As a parent, I was, of course, exhilirated by the whole spectacle.  It seemed after years of my son playing minor hockey, other people were finally aligning themselves to my own parental biases.  It is very easy to get wrapped up about the supposed greater meaning of these camp selections and projecting illustrious future pro careers, but as parents and our children's greatest fans and backers, we have to draw back several degrees.  The camps have meaning, but that meaning should only be for our kids that are participating.  It means that they have a great opportunity to learn and to be influenced by their fellow successful peers.  There is a chance to learn that there are 17 other great and hardworking goalies in the province that want the same things that your child wants.  It should motivate and inspire.  Let them live and experience the camp "in the moment" and not get ahead of ourselves.  

In the end, it is several days of camps capped off with a long weekend tournament.  The privilege and honour of wearing and representing your province in a high level tournament is a lasting one.  The pressure that the kids put on themselves is great enough without us adding another rich dollop.  As I said before, treat the event seriously, but ultimately, as parents our job to our kids remains the same as any other time in the season.  Get them to the rink on time, well-fed, well-rested and well-adjusted.  Then sit back and enjoy some great hockey!