afinogenov 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2008 hey guys, just looking for some advice from fellow MSH users. Basically I took a year out to pursue the pro hockey dream. Intense training, strict diet, no women or alcohol, long bus rides to crappy arenas etc. Anyway Im ready to take it to the next level and feel that with no contacts in the game I need to attend a free agent camp or open tryout. I have searched high and low and the only camp I can find is run by a company called IHC hockey. They have run free agent camps in the past and seem to be real. The other option is going to these walk on tryouts. I have found 2; one for the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, and the other for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. The pros and cons are as follows. I could go to the IHC camp, which could have no scouts and no contacts with pro clubs and have wasted my time and money. The pros being there could be multiple teams there which would make my chances better. As for the walk on tryouts, the pros are that these are ligitimate teams in pro leagues. The con is that Im putting all my eggs in one basket trying out for one team. What do you guys think is the better option? Free agent camp or direct team tryout?PS: Im not interested in anyones thoughts on my chances of making it. Not trying to be an ass but if I didnt think I could I wouldnt have wasted a year pursuing this. Thanks guys. Any advice would be appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chippa13 1844 Report post Posted March 22, 2008 If you are really that serious, the first thing I would recommend is to hire an agent. You need someone who knows how things work and how to find the opportunities. You need someone who can be working the phones looking for opportunities while you're on the ice. There have been cases at the NHL level where a guy is in camp as a free agent invitee of one team only to pack up his gear and hop on a plane because his agent has found him a contract spot with another team. I'm not saying an agent will get you to the show but if those things can happen at the NHL level then I am sure they happen all the time in the bus leagues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TBLfan 25 Report post Posted March 22, 2008 If it was me, I'd go to anything I could to get exposure. The more doors you knock on the better the chance someone's going to open one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShootsNScores93 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2008 those IHC hockey things are much like the free agent meat markets in football... they weight you, measure you and watch everyone scrimmage.. they hand you a T-shirt and say thanks for coming.... basically you pay money to get some ice time and a T-shirt and leave with false hopes of being picked up...I did it about 10 years ago... scored a ton of goals and got a ton of assists in the scrimmages as well handing out a few good hits... no phone call...... those ECHL walk ons couldnt hurt in my opinion... just remember no matter how good you are.. there someone better getting 4-6 minutes of ice time in the OHL.. so many players... so few roster spots..good luck either way... dont be like me...I gave up, stopped playing got fat and now get to be the fat guy in mens league talking about how I used to be in shape and faster and blah blah blah...6 years later... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dougie8 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2008 Also, wouldn't there be other lower level scouts (lower level semi-pro/ Junior) at the ECHL camps? I'm assuming you're over the age of any JR league though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greatsave31 0 Report post Posted March 22, 2008 I'm probably going to the IHC camp this summer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJStripes 1 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 Unless you played Major Junior or NCAA D1 last year ECHL GM's will likely think you are a joke. Almost every ECHL team has an AHL and NHL affiliate who has a lot to say about who plays. Unless you are an NHL draft pick you will have a tough time getting in the league. If you really are good enough to play pro hockey, maybe the best place to start would be the Southern Professional Hockey League. They are about the bottom of the barrel when it come to pro hockey, but if you perform there will be opportunities for advancement. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pantherfan 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 If it was me, I'd go to anything I could to get exposure. The more doors you knock on the better the chance someone's going to open one.+1 talk to people, get your name out their, compare skill levels and have some fun.What level have you played previously if you don't mind me asking? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ Thompson94 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 look, I know nothing, I'm trying to make my college club team but in my opinion an agent would be the best idea. An agent that knows the buisness can open doors and give you opprotunities you didn't even know existed. Don't ask people on this forum, ask people who know and I'm guessing Agents would know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pantherfan 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 look, I know nothing, I'm trying to make my college club team but in my opinion an agent would be the best idea. An agent that knows the buisness can open doors and give you opprotunities you didn't even know existed. Don't ask people on this forum, ask people who know and I'm guessing Agents would know.I'm by no means an agent, but one thing I've come to realise from posting on MSH is that you never know whose behind a screen name. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chippa13 1844 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 I highly doubt that agents are trolling MSH looking for the next great thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pantherfan 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 I highly doubt that agents are trolling MSH looking for the next great thing.Tell me, whose using the family brain cell today?I never said an agent would be here looking for talent, and for that matter I never said an agent would be here period, but there are alot of knowledgable people on this board and no doubt some that could give him valuable info that he wouldn't need to see an agent for.Besides whats saying that an agent of some sort doesn't like discussing hockey on the internet, you never know? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greatsave31 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 A lot of the previous statements are correct about Agents. you have to be a little gaurded though. I was lucky enough to find a trustworthy guy who has been helpng me a lot with wh to talk to and when, and when would talk to them, the fact that i could use my agents name as a "name dropper" makes a world of difference. Another thing i'e learned through my agent is to e-mail the guys who run hockeydb.com. The first place the GM/coaches look is that website. All yo really have to do is e-mail te guy with your stats and vital info and he posts it up there. played ACHA college in the states and the agency I go through deals specifically with ACHA/NCAA div 3 players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyguy1697 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 You go to a tryout. You need to. More people walk onto these teams then you think. Not every person played major junior or D1 ice hockey. There are plenty of kids that play D3 or even in some shitty Jr.B leagues that can make it. A kid from my Junior B league here on the east coast played in the ECHL for 10 games after playing in some joke squad pro league that was pretty much a glorified mens league. No one can ever tell you to stop living the dream only you have that in your mind to give up. Plenty of kids from the ECHA D1 CLUB teams play on these teams. It is not ever out of reach. Tryouts are probably your better option. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
greatsave31 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 You go to a tryout. You need to. More people walk onto these teams then you think. Not every person played major junior or D1 ice hockey. There are plenty of kids that play D3 or even in some shitty Jr.B leagues that can make it. A kid from my Junior B league here on the east coast played in the ECHL for 10 games after playing in some joke squad pro league that was pretty much a glorified mens league. No one can ever tell you to stop living the dream only you have that in your mind to give up. Plenty of kids from the ECHA D1 CLUB teams play on these teams. It is not ever out of reach. Tryouts are probably your better option.hahaha that's pretty much the only reason I'm still going to tryouts... hahaha, but it's true... what I've realized after my tryout last summer, before returning to school is a lot of guys have talent, but its the guys who have more heart/passion that end up doing anything. I played juniors and just finished my last year of college (ACHA div 1) and it's really just a matter of how bad do you want it. Look at Timmy Thomas, wow took him almost a decade after college just to be a rookie in the NHL!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chef_ducky 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 I would suggest an agent and a open tryout! Look at Vince Papali (the footbal player)Anyway, GOOD LUCK! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
afinogenov 0 Report post Posted March 24, 2008 hey guys, thanks for the advice.I play in the UK, and have for the past 3 seasons. I went to uni here and decided to stick around to play hockey. My problem is that even though I was born in the UK and have a UK passport Im classed as an 'import' player as I grew up in Canada. Skill wise I have been told by coaches that I could play in the UK Elite League no problem. The problem is that teams can only sign a number of imports and no one is going to take a guy with no pro experience. All the imports here have played in the ECHL or other minor pro leagues. So Im stuck in a catch 22 and realise that I have no future in hockey in Europe, so I need to go back to North America where Im on an even footing. Any way thanks again for your advice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
