Since moving to PA in 2000 there has always been a love for hockey in his blood. He started off playing street hockey with the neighborhood kids. I can even remember that we organized development teams that played each other on one of three developments streets (all gear required).

In the first year of play there were three teams and he co-captained the Ducks team. Because it was the first season and we did not know what to expect, the three teams played each other one time each. The idea was that the top two teams were slated in the development championship game. In that year his team and the other top team (both with a record of 1 win, 1 loss, 1 tie) were co-champions because we never got the final game in due to weather conflicts. The Ducks eventually won a single tie-breaker game played late in the same year. He finished with 16 goals and 0 assists and was thrilled that he played in his 2nd championship game (the other championship game was from an indoor roller hockey league that he played the year before in which his team won).

The following season there were five teams and each team had to designate the nearest corner as their home "street". The two year old league had grown to the point that parents all lined up in the yards to watch the evening summer games. I remember that there were 10 games in the schedule and each team was required to play one one of three designated streets to count as an official game. At this point we even had the neighborhood dads participating as official referees. In this particular year he played for the Avalanche and his team wound up with a record of 4 wins, 6 losses, 0 ties. He finished with 85 goals and 0 assists.

He was now too old for the local indoor roller hockey league and too big for development "street" hockey so we signed him up for an In house hockey league (level Pee-Wee Minor) at a local ice rink. He picked up ice hockey quickly after having played roller hockey for several years.

Ice hockey registration and upward movement is done with the birth year of the individual not necessarily the skill level of the individual. The following levels exist for ice hockey and each level has a Major and Minor to differentiate between first year and second, at that level.

For example: Mite Minor indicates first year at Mite level whereas Mite Major indicates second year at Mite level.

St Louis Blues - Pee-Wee Minor (record W-5, L-5, T-1, 0G, 1A)

In hist first ice hockey season he was selected for the Blues (a "C" level team) but we did not mind since he enjoyed the sport. The team did not do too well completing a 10 game schedule at 5 wins and 5 losses. He did however get his first assist during the Blues season as an offensive wing. It was after this season and during a local Firecracker tournament that he got his first two ice goals - A thrill even today when I watch the video.

He continued with ice hockey through the levels and years...

Buffalo Sabres "B" - Pee-Wee Major (record W-4, L-8, T-2, 1G, 6A)

Middle School "B" - Pee-Wee Major (record W-10, L-5, T-4, 6G, 2A)

He was voted "Most Improved Player"

Middle School "A" - Bantam Minor (record W-17, L-2, T-4, 0G, 3A)

Middle School "A" - Bantam Major (record W-7, L-10, T-3, 0G, 1A)

Travel Hockey - Bantam Major (record W-1, L-19, T-1, 0G, 1A)

This was the year that we were first exposed to travel hockey and he was a Bantam Major. He tried out for a travel club called the Glaciers and made the team as an offensive player. The skill level between school and club was quite noticeable as the club players were more skilled than his school team - a challenge he willingly accepted. Aside from the places we visited during the season and his continued desire to improve his skills the whole first travel season, including the coaching, was a bad experience for him and us.

But he continued with ice hockey...

JV "B" - Midget Minor (record W-10, L-2, T-0, 5G, 4A, Champions)

JV "A" - Midget Minor (record W-12, L-6, T-5, 2G, 5A, Champions)

Travel Hockey - 16U Midget Minor (record W-9, L-19, T-1, 4G, 2A)

This year he was invited to play for another travel hockey team and this time it was Midget Minor. We hesitated, based on our previous bad experience with travel hockey, but elected to accept the invitation.

He tried out and made the Raiders team as an offensive player and we never looked back. From the first day of try-outs to the last game played it was a tremendous experience for him. The team finished in the middle of the pack in terms of the standings but the tournament they won in Maryland and the trophy he received for "Most Courageous Player" did wonders for his development toward adulthood and as a hockey player. It was the Midget travel hockey program, all the friends he made and all the places we visited that will forever be etched in his mind.

Travel Hockey - 16U Midget Major (record W-12, L-20, T-1, 6G, 4A)

In his last year of eligibility for 16U he tried out for a different travel hockey club after receiving word that the Raiders folded.

He tried out and made the Wildcats team as an offensive player and had another tremendous experience with Midget hockey. The team again finished in the middle of the pack in terms of the standings but the the trophy he received for "Most Improved Player" validated his desire to stay with a sport he so loves.

While his hockey career is far from over, the Midget level is where we discovered how serious he is for his commitment to this game. He can play offense or defense and has impressed me with his smart, good position, balanced, team oriented style of play.