Help Mike Go Pro

Hi, I'm Mike, I'm 26 and for as long as I can remember all I've wanted to do was play hockey, specifically goalie. Unfortunately growing up my family was not so fourtunate and this was not an option for me until I started working at 16 and started playing on my own. Since I had been an athlete my whole life and already knew how to skate from growing up next to a pond, playing goal came naturally. So since then I've been playing hockey constantly and quickly progressing from a beginner goalie to an advanced level goalie with the confidence to reach for my dream.

So here is my goal: I want to play professional or semi professional hockey in some capacity for a season or two. Playing goalie has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I have no delusions of reaching the NHL, but I believe I have what it takes to play this game at very high, competitive level.

So you might ask, why do you need funding for this? Well, the reason is that because I did not grow up playing hockey and have no hockey resume so to speak, I have to take the road less traveled to get there. The only way for me to get noticed is to travel around to as many placement camps and free agent days as possible. These can get quite expensive. As an example, I attended the Elmira Jackals Pro Placement camp 2 augusts ago. The cost of this camp was $475 and that covered only my hotel room and the ice time for the weekend. I still had to pay for my travel and meals on my own. So as you can see the cost adds up quickly. I work a retail job 40 to 50 hours a week and this pays my bills and takes care of my day to day needs, but leaves me little in the way of extra money to either save or put towards my goal. I know your next question, why can't you get a second job to help fund this? Well, between training for hockey and working my 40+ hour per week job there isn't much time left to be had in my life.

This year I am already scheduled to be at 2 camps. I'm heading to Indianapolis in 3 weeks for camp with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL. Then in september I head to Ames, Iowa for camp with the Hunstville Havoc of the SPHL. I will be attending they're exhibition showcase against Iowa State University, during which I will be one of two goalies priveleged enough to be invited to compete. I've taken care of camp fee's and hotels already this year. Where I need help is just having some money in my pocket for gas and tolls and food while I'm traveling. I am driving my car to both Indianopolis and Iowa. Between getting my gear and my car ready for this summer I have stretched my funds to they're breaking point. I have been trying to find a second job this summer to come up with the extra funds I need to make this happen without help but, between my schedule at Pure Hockey and my hockey schedule, finding opportunities has been tough. I'm not giving up though and I am going to make this happen even if it bankrupts me. This year is more than likely my last year of trying to reach my lifelong dream. I've spent the last 10 years of my life devoted to making myself the best goaltender I can be and I feel like this year I have a real shot, specifically for my Iowa camp seeing as I'm one of only two goalies to be invited.

Also donations do not have to be limited to cash, if you live around me and have bottles and cans your never going to recycle, get in touch with me and I will come pick them up and redeem them. Anything helps and every little bit adds up. The amount is never too little. Even if its $1, thats one more dollar helping me reach for a dream I've had since I was a child.



To anyone who may choose to give, I thank you in advance and just want to express how deeply I appreciate it. It will mean more to me than you can ever imagine. And to those who may read this and choose not to, I still thank you for your time. Thank you so much for reading.