Goalie getting noticed

Question
I am a goalie 17 years old. nova scotia Canada. I'm playing midget AA right now.. ( i got invited to major midget tryouts last year but i was injured couldn't go also i was named starting goalie of my high school team but two people bailed and we didn't have a team.. and at midget AAA tryouts I was first cut even though i only got scored on once in the inter squad game and they got scored on 3 times. They were also the same goalies i beat out in high school try outs. ) Right now i have played 7 games and have got 5 shutouts. I trained with Joe Johnson of 1 to 1 goaltending and I've trained with Pat Dallaire (former Q goalie coach). Also all the goalies i was grouped with over the summer are playing major midget the QMJHL or AAA. so this is my last year and i don't know where the best place is to go next. Or get noticed.
My goal is to play at the next level and try to go pro. I Spend at least 3-5 hours a day just thinking about goaltending or practicing. unfortunately my financial situation wasn't so good two years ago and i could only tryout last year and this year for my entire career so far.

These are my questions;

#1 - How do you get people to see you? and how do you make them like you?
#2 - Where is the best place for me to go next? and what will i have to do to get there?
#3 - will coaches even give me a shot if i tryout and there is a AAA guy and a major midget guy there too?
#4 - If i have better stats than another goalie who played AAA will they look at that or will they push me away because i played AA?
#5 - i heard people send recruiting videos? like i seen some on youtube would it be a good idea to make one? but who do i send it to?

Thanks for taking the time to read and answer my question it means a lot I've asked people around here and they couldn't give me an answer.

I'm willing to go anywhere too. Even if it means going to a different province or the states.  

Answer
Matt,

Thank you for writing and thank you for allowing me to help you this this problem.  First, before we get started, I want you to understand this and understand this good! You are a AAA Midget Goalie ready to play Major Juniors.  You are not a AA Midget Goalie. Now, I don't mean to be an a**.  But, you need to start telling everyone and yourself that you are a AAA Midget Goalie with a successful track record.

Second, You need to contact the major junior coach that invited you to try-outs last year.  I recommend that you remind him why you were asked to attend.  It should go something like this...

Mr, (name# I don't know if you remember me, you invited me to come and try-out, but as you know I got injured.  However, I have been hard at work with the following coaches and a physical trainer to get me back to the top of my game.  I would like the opportunity to get a second chance for you to look at me again.  What can I do to help with this process?  If you recall, the reason why you invited me was because of#this)and at that time, you contact me/parents about me coming to your try-out because you felt that I have a lot of potential to help and grow under your leadership.  If you would like, I could send you a tape and some information to help you in this process.  I look forward to seeing you again and thank you for your help and time in this matter....(Your name#

Now, here's the deal.  If he has any heart, which most of them do, he will stop and take a second look.  We only act like we don't because we don't want any anyone to see that we actually care sometimes.  Some coaches feel that caring is a sign of weakness.  But, deep down, they do care.  Well, I do.

Now, here's another reason why goalies get cut.  It's not because you are or are not good.  They get cut because the coach doesn't want to take a risk sometimes.  You see, some coaches go year after year with the same goalie because they know what their currently goalie can and can't do.  And, in a clutch situation he will want to put that goalie in the game, in which he feels, which goalie will get the job done with a positive outcome.

That's why you see goalies that suck, play year after year.  Because the coach doesn't want to take that risk. Trust me 99 percent of all coaches do that.  But, because I played the position and I have been in your shoes, I know what it's like to see the suck goalie get the job, while you are outside, looking in.

This is why I recommend that you go back to the Major Junior coach and remind him why he asked you to come and try-out.  This is your best bet right now...well maybe. The next thing you need to understand is that high school teams are nice, but in your part of the world, do high school goalies get drafted in the NHL?  I am thinking in my mind that they do not.

The rule of thumb is that you have to be playing major juniors at 16 to 18 and if you are not, there is a really good chance that you will play in the beer league the rest of your natural hockey life. This is the other reason why you need to go back and talk with the Major Junior coach and remind him why you were asked.  Those type of opportunities only come our way once in a life time.  When they do, you have to grab it with both hands and hold on, because you are in for a crazy ride.

So, let see if we can answer some of these questions....
1.) How do you get people to see you? and how do you make them like you?

Well, here what Pat Quinn #sorry don't mean to name drop)but he told me this back in 1993 when we are just sitting outside on a bench together.  He said..."it's not what you know and who you know, but being at the right place, at the right time!"  I personally don't think you can get people to like you.  You can't make people do things that they don't want to do, only you can do things or make the change.  Only you, have the power to change your destiny.  

But, I have seen people that have come in front of me that seem to have a power of attraction.  I have a little girl that does that.  Maybe it was because we have raised her that way.  Have you ever been in a room with a bunch of people and the majority of the people are with one person and it's like they have pulled everyone in the room to them a like a magnet.  That's my daughter.  

I think in order for you to have that type of effect on people you have to be out going.  You have to be the first one to put your hand out.  You have to be the first one to say hello.  You have to be the first one to go around the room and say...."Can I get you something".  You have to be the one in the room, no matter how much you can't stand boring people, you have to be the one that actually listens to what the other person is saying and be there at that moment, not in some distant far place playing hockey in your head.


2.) Where is the best place for me to go next? and what will i have to do to get there?

Wow, are you ready for this answer? Here's what you said..."What will I have to do to get there!"  Ok, believe that you are going to make it.  I do!  You have to have a solid conviction that you will make it.  The mind is the most powerful tool you have.  If you think you can...you can.  If you think you can't...you can't!  Ok, let just say your not this type of kid.  How do you get there?  How do you make things happen for you?  Ok, here's where a lot of people are successful in getting what they want out of life.  Warning:  you can believe this or not...it's up to you.

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve!"

Ok, yeah,yeah,yeah...blah,blah,blah.  Fine, now how are we going to make this work?  Remember this. If you don't come away with anything that I tell you in this whole "Stuff" that I have put down here, I want you to understand this one thing....again!

Rule # 47: "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve!"

So, on that note, here's some home work for you.  Go on the Internet and search for pictures that turn you on about hockey and where you want it to take you.  Now, here's a little example: Make a folder to place all of these pictures in.  Then go on the Internet and just copy all of these picture to the folder...like a picture of the Stanley Cup, a stack of money, a fine multi-million dollar home, with hot tub, pool, and hot chic's in the pool. (I know, just keeping it real here, your 17 for god sakes, I know exactly what you are thinking)A private plane, A Rolex watch with all of the shinny rocks on it, a picture of you holding up a jersey of your favorite NHL at the NHL draft.  

Now, find about 50 pictures that you would mind seeing or getting when you get there (NHL).  Now, make a power point presentation with all of these pictures and set your favorite song to this presentation.  Then, every night before you go to bed, you watch this.  Ah..wait, remember Rule #47!  Every night.  Then once you have this completed, contact me on my e-mail address and I will tell you what the next step is.


3.) Will coaches even give me a shot if i tryout and there is a AAA guy and a major midget guy there too?

Hum, ok, when you went to that Major Junior Try-out, how many goalies were there?  Next, getting injured is just part of sports.  Not just hockey but every sport. This is why I have 2 goalies and maybe one or two on reserve.


4.) If i have better stats than another goalie who played AAA will they look at that or will they push me away because i played AA?

Hum, this is why you need to sell yourself and others that you are AAA not AA.  Remember this and I want you to say this every night.  Here it comes, you say this..."I am a World Class Goalie, nothing gets through, I am a brick wall, oh you can try, but don't get mad or sad if it doesn't go in!"

5.)I heard people send recruiting videos? like i seen some on youtube would it be a good idea to make one? but who do i send it to?

Ok, do you have a video recorder at your finger tips? If not, do you have a friend that can help you with this.  Do it, make it, send it!
Once you have the link in hand from YouTube...send the link to me.  I have a couple of scouts and agents that are friends of mine.  I will put this link in their hands.  Once it's there, it's up to you.  I will get the door open, but you will have to walk through it.

Hope this stuff helps!
Rob Lopez - CEO
Pass the Puck, Inc.
www.passthepuck.net
Skype: pass.the.puck