|
I recently attended your “Future Pro” goalie camp in Sarina, Ontario. I am writing to thank you for the best camp I have ever attended. My mom and dad said that your words of wisdom to all the participants and parents at the end of the camp were worth the cost of the camp and our trip to Canada. Once I am home, I would like to post your three points on a poster board in my room, however, I would appreciate it if you could refresh my memory with each of the points. I do remember the first one…start a doubters list…and your name is on the top of chart! Because I had such a good time and learned more than I ever imagined, I plan on attending your camp every year, and maybe if the snow is not to deep, I will try to come to your January camp. Again, thanks for a great camp and I will look for you whenever the Mapleleafs are in Washington, DC. Sincerely, Shawn T. Hart I just wanted to let you know that Evan was extremely excited about having gone through your goalie camp. Since he has only played two full seasons this was the perfect gauge for him to measure where he is relative to other players his age. We discussed all of the things you taught him at camp, and can't wait to see him on the ice this coming Monday evening. We plan on picking up the video set so he can watch them when he needs to figure out what he's doing wrong. I also liked your 10 minute speech at the end. I asked the boys if it sounded familiar? They told me that it sounded like me. I never made pro ranks (I played upper level baseball), not even close, but I do analyze my game continuously. I also tell the boys that after every game think about what they might change if they could do something differently. Also to look at the positives because it helps with confidence. I just wanted to tell you that you and your wife (and staff) are awesome!!! I make a point of trying to contact people when I have questions about their services etc... So far, you are one of very few who will call personally. I can't thank you enough for that. My wife was excited the first time she spoke to you. We couldn't believe somebody in your position was so "down to earth" and personable. Thank you again for a wonderful experience. Sincerely, At your camp, you mentioned that you would like to hear from us about how the young goalies are doing. Young Camille (playing Richmond Hill Atom "AA") was very solid in a weekend tourney at Westwood arena. He was stellar in a couple of 2-1 losses- as I said we don't have much offense, but he is developing and your camp served him well. His biggest challenge is realizing that he can only do so much each and every game to keep his team in the game - he has become mentally tough. I have a video that I will get to you at some point as well Steve. Thanks again, I brag to everyone that you are always there for the kids even with your busy schedule. Mike (Camille Senior) I thought you might be interested to hear that my son Sebastien who attended your camp this summer came home from his first practice of the season on Sunday and said « Mom thanks so much for sending me to the goalie camp this summer. I am way better than I was last year.” He then went on to describe how he stopped several shots from the team’s best players! I too was so impressed with the warm and friendly atmosphere at the camp, combined with the solid teaching of skills. It was a great investment of our time and money! Thanks! Just a quick note to say Dylan really enjoyed your camp in Grand Rapids last week. Going in, he was nervous and wondered how he'd fare with the kids from the great white North! From what he tells me he did fine. He enjoyed the whole experience and it was a great workout for him. We'll definitely be back next year. Have a great year. Mike I just want to tell you that Drew had an outstanding time at your camp last week. I was fortunate enough to have the week off an to be able to observe him with your staff. I can't tell you how many times he came off the ice with the biggest smile on his face (except after the showdown's...he wasn't very happy then..lol). Drew's confidence grew each and every day he was out there. I look forward to having him attend again next year. Also, your speech to the parents at the closing address was something that all hockey parents should hear. Thanks again, My son Austin just attended your summer camp at the Farmington Hills Ice Arena. Although he has had some personal instruction and coaching in the past, this was his first goaltending camp. At 8 years old, Austin was a little bit apprehensive prior to sign-in on Monday morning. While he was fired up and ready to get started, he also had about a hundred questions for me on our 45 minute drive to the rink. I knew that this was just a normal case of pre-camp jitters and that 5 minutes in the locker room would take care of that. What I didn't expect was his reaction during the last couple of days at camp. Although Austin loves hockey and always gives 110% effort, I figured that he would be worn out and ready for a break at the end of the week....but nnoooo, in fact, he didn't want camp to end. On Thursday he asked me if he could attend another one of your camps this summer. While I admired his enthusiasm, I had to deny this request (you know...budgetary constraints). Austin accepted this decision but he immediately began negotiating for enrollment in your 2006 summer camp in Sarnia. I questioned him about why he wanted to go to the Sarnia camp... He has played a few times at the SSEC in Sarnia and likes the arena but what he really wants is the "complete Future Pro experience" (camp + boarding at Future Pro Complex). My answer, "We can probably do that....but let's wait until fall season to see what's going on" just wasn't going to cut it... Austin wasn't going to settle for anything less than an immediate commitment along with an early registration for next summer's Sarnia camp. So, he won... I agreed to do the early registration. On Friday, Austin begin aggressively recruiting several of his new buddies to get their parents to sign them up for the Sarnia camp.... by the end of the day I had at least four of the parents approach me to discuss/coordinate registration for the Sarnia camp (and I know that at least two of them also registered their boys). I started the week with the idea that I would like to drop Austin off in the morning, get back to my office and get some work done and then return to the arena at ~2:00 each day to catch the last hour of ice and the last dry land session. Well, I enjoyed watching so much that I only ended up missing about 6 hours of the entire camp and that was because I was summonsed for jury duty and had to report on Friday morning. Every parent that I talked with throughout the week agreed that the camp was an outstanding experience for their kids. Steve, I was particularly impressed with the amount of time that you spent with the younger kids. When I read on your web site that you would be on the ice every day of camp, I guess I thought that you would make an appearance in the morning, do a short "chalk talk" session with the boys and then spend most of your time with the Elite group. I think it is fantastic that you give the Regular group so much of your time and attention. I am also impressed with the way that you (at your experience level) are able to relate to these young athletes and break things down to a level that they can understand. Although my wife was only able to attend the camp on Friday afternoon, we agreed that your closing address was inspirational for the parents as well as the kids. Your message was clear and well received. I guess this is just my long-winded way of saying thank you for providing my son with an incredible first experience at goalie camp. As you noted in you closing address, the camp is expensive....agreed.... however, I feel that it was worth every penny. Austin and I look forward to seeing you again next year and attending your camps for many years to follow. Best Regards, Just wanted to thank you for a great week at Farmington Hills. Zach had a blast and learned alot! He met alot of new goalie friends too. Looking forward to next year in June. He also enjoyed getting the poster and puck from you on the last day, it meant alot to him! Sincerely, Thank you so much for everything this past week. I had a great time at camp and the complex. Thank you for all the meals and the movies. Ever since I started going to Future Pro, I feel I have been improving. During the dryland and on ice sessions I got in better shape. Overall I just wanted to say thanks for everything. I plan to go to the winter clinic and next years boarding camp. Louie Ronayne Thank you for a great week in Strathroy this week. David talked about the camp all the way home, how much fun he had, and he cannot wait to go back. Also, please thank Derek, Chris and your staff, they made David feel very special, and helped him gain the most of his hockey camp experience. He told me on the way home that all the older guys liked him and were trying to help him. He came away feeling great about himself as a person, something you rarely find. Regardless of how long my son plays goal, he will always remember this week and the positive overall experience it was for him, as a goalie, and as a boy. Lastly, David is sleeping with his clear puck tonight, it means the world to him because he "won" it. He won't let his big brother touch it..... Thanks again, Mike Turner Thanks for the enjoyable and advancing week provided to my son, Colin. It says something about your program when a kid three days into it is begging to be able to come back next year. I know the prizes had something to do with his interest in registering before he left, but he is also a boy that does not get caught up in others excitement and keeps his emotions in check when there is uncertainty. I told him we would wait until Friday to make sure the remainder of the week was as enjoyable and educational. It was. I also thank you for your patience and time spent answering my questions/concerns. You made me feel like you not only cared about my sons advancement but also sincere in your comments. I do not feel Colin was just "another kid". In fact I noticed you communicated the same with any other parent that took the time to talk with you. As an opinionated coach and father that wants to put his children in the best situation possible, I have committed to Colin that he can return and I like the idea of him continuing to be coached with your fundamental philosophies. I plan on passing your DVD pack to his local goalie coach advising him that your fundamentals are what I feel should be used while enhancing Colin's skills. If there is anything specific that you feel Colin should concentrate on more than another please let me know. I'll pass that on as well. With that in mind, I would like expand on our brief conversation on Friday regarding the possibility of yourself or one of your "Michigan" guys coming to Midland to hold a in-season clinic. Along with giving my own son an opportunity to have a refresher of this past week, you may remember that I am the President of the Midland Amateur Hockey League. Our association's goalies have a high demand for goalie coaching but limited resources. Is there something you can send me regarding what you could offer if our schedules are able to work out? If things do not work out with your availability, we would be interested to know if Jeremy or one of your senior guys might be interested is helping us out. Thanks again and I hope we are able to work something out to make the Future Pro philosophies a main stay with MAHL. Sincerely, First and foremost I want to thank you for everything you did for me this summer. Future Pro was absolutely amazing and I could not have gotten that experience from any other camp. My whole life I have dreamt of playing professional hockey and you brought me closer to that dream than I have ever been before. I have a very long way to go, and the odds are not in my favor, but you have given me the tools I need to make this dream a reality. Not only have you improved my skills, but through your words I have realized that this dream is under my control. It all comes down to haw bad I want it, and what I am willing to do to achieve it. My problem going into your camp was that i did not know what I needed to do to achieve it. I have always wanted it, and my willingness has been there but I have never had a goalie coach to train me. Now I know what separates the beer leaguers from the true elite of the goaltending world. I know countless amounts of drills, training techniques, and mental strategies than I even knew existed before this summer. I have been filled with a level of internal confidence I have never felt before, and I even went out for the Columbus Junior B organization. I didn't make the final cuts, which I expected, but I had the courage to try out for the next level and get a little bit of exposure. I was a little down after being cut, but keeping your words and articles in mind, I continued to train, striving for my dream. Not only did this summer's camp help, but reading your articles have pushed me even more. As you said in your Top Ten Reasons For Success article, every goaltender faces these obstacles, but they must rise above all doubters, jealousy, and common excuses for failure. I have to do it single-handedly. I have started my high school season giving up only three goals in our first five scrimmages. Before your camp I gave up over five goals in our first scrimmage alone. I could not have accomplished any of this without Future Pro. Your camp truly was a life-changing experience. I look forward to assisting with the younger guys next year, as well as participating in both weeks at Strathroy, and I will be training hard in hopes of playing Juniors next season. Many Thanks |
|
Website Design by Fowldog On-Line
