Exclusive Prospects Camp Fund
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Dakota I am 15 years old and I've only been playing hockey (goaltending) for 2.5 years yet I just got invited to an Eli Wilson's Exclusive Prospects Goalie
Camp that is only open to Pro, Major Junior, NCAA Div 1, University, USHL, Junior A, Midget AAA, Drafted to Major Junior or via invite. I feel very honoured and am seeking help to get me there.
I started my hockey career in Thailand of all places. I was twelve, had never played before, but had been wanting to play goalie from the time I was seven when I first saw Luongo play with the Canucks on TV.
Since then I have been committed to going the distance - I know that I have what it takes to be a great goaltender. This Exclusive Prospects (goaltending) Camp is the perfect opportunity to skyrocket my abilities alongside highly skilled amateur and professional goalies. I feel that Eli Wilson’s training, his team and Eli, himself, are the best trainers out there and I would be honoured to attend this camp.
To me Luongo is an example of what you can do if you follow your dreams. He was the first goalie I ever saw during a hockey game. It was on January 7, 2010. The Vancouver Canucks won 4-0 and Roberto Luongo posted a shutout. This and hearing his story of strapping couch cushions to his shins has really stayed with me and continues to inspire me and my progress as a goaltender.
It took me six years to get started in hockey. My parents couldn’t afford it, but my mom always believed that no matter your circumstances, if you keep working toward your goal it will come closer. So I did what I could.
By the time my parents could afford hockey, we went to Thailand for a year and a half. We were allowed two suitcases; my second suitcase was full of cheap road-hockey gear. In the blistering Thai heat I would try to stop balls my dad would throw at me (some Thai kids thought this was a blast and threw balls at me, too). We didn't have a stick because that would have meant a third piece of luggage.
In Bangkok, my mom called about buying a goalie stick. When they found out I was a goalie, they asked if I would play, as they desperately needed goalies. We asked if it was okay that I didn’t know how to skate. We were 3 1/2 hours outside Bangkok so we would drive a total of seven hours to go to practice every week for the 4 remaining months we were there. We started a Go-Fund-Me account to buy hockey gear and found somebody that had used gear for me. When I started, I couldn't skate but once I got the pads on I felt like I could move. I played for different teams including Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia as goalies are in demand for Asian Tournaments. It turned out to be a great opportunity being in Thailand because it would have been harder to get started in Canada due to the fact that I could barely skate and I was 13.
Eli is one of the best goaltender trainers in the world — if not the best — and has helped me go from starting hockey in Canada two years ago as one of the worst to being one of the best in my league. This season I had six shutouts, received MVP a few times and won silver in shootout during a tournement. I will do whatever is necessary to reach my dream. I have played games with the flu, and even recently broke my finger at the very start of a game and went on to make 45 more saves, winning the first round of playoffs!
Before I registered for hockey here, my first Canadian experience was an Eli camp when we returned from Thailand. I have been doing as much as I can with Eli to reach my dream and my parents work very hard to support that. Just being invited to this Exlusive Prospects Camp is a huge honour.
I feel blessed for my opportunities and am looking forward to this camp being another experience to support my journey as a goalie.
It would mean everything to me to attend this camp. I hope my story and everything I have overcome is reason enough for you to support me and I thank you for any contribution you’re able to make.
Camp that is only open to Pro, Major Junior, NCAA Div 1, University, USHL, Junior A, Midget AAA, Drafted to Major Junior or via invite. I feel very honoured and am seeking help to get me there.
I started my hockey career in Thailand of all places. I was twelve, had never played before, but had been wanting to play goalie from the time I was seven when I first saw Luongo play with the Canucks on TV.
Since then I have been committed to going the distance - I know that I have what it takes to be a great goaltender. This Exclusive Prospects (goaltending) Camp is the perfect opportunity to skyrocket my abilities alongside highly skilled amateur and professional goalies. I feel that Eli Wilson’s training, his team and Eli, himself, are the best trainers out there and I would be honoured to attend this camp.
To me Luongo is an example of what you can do if you follow your dreams. He was the first goalie I ever saw during a hockey game. It was on January 7, 2010. The Vancouver Canucks won 4-0 and Roberto Luongo posted a shutout. This and hearing his story of strapping couch cushions to his shins has really stayed with me and continues to inspire me and my progress as a goaltender.
It took me six years to get started in hockey. My parents couldn’t afford it, but my mom always believed that no matter your circumstances, if you keep working toward your goal it will come closer. So I did what I could.
By the time my parents could afford hockey, we went to Thailand for a year and a half. We were allowed two suitcases; my second suitcase was full of cheap road-hockey gear. In the blistering Thai heat I would try to stop balls my dad would throw at me (some Thai kids thought this was a blast and threw balls at me, too). We didn't have a stick because that would have meant a third piece of luggage.
In Bangkok, my mom called about buying a goalie stick. When they found out I was a goalie, they asked if I would play, as they desperately needed goalies. We asked if it was okay that I didn’t know how to skate. We were 3 1/2 hours outside Bangkok so we would drive a total of seven hours to go to practice every week for the 4 remaining months we were there. We started a Go-Fund-Me account to buy hockey gear and found somebody that had used gear for me. When I started, I couldn't skate but once I got the pads on I felt like I could move. I played for different teams including Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia as goalies are in demand for Asian Tournaments. It turned out to be a great opportunity being in Thailand because it would have been harder to get started in Canada due to the fact that I could barely skate and I was 13.
Eli is one of the best goaltender trainers in the world — if not the best — and has helped me go from starting hockey in Canada two years ago as one of the worst to being one of the best in my league. This season I had six shutouts, received MVP a few times and won silver in shootout during a tournement. I will do whatever is necessary to reach my dream. I have played games with the flu, and even recently broke my finger at the very start of a game and went on to make 45 more saves, winning the first round of playoffs!
Before I registered for hockey here, my first Canadian experience was an Eli camp when we returned from Thailand. I have been doing as much as I can with Eli to reach my dream and my parents work very hard to support that. Just being invited to this Exlusive Prospects Camp is a huge honour.
I feel blessed for my opportunities and am looking forward to this camp being another experience to support my journey as a goalie.
It would mean everything to me to attend this camp. I hope my story and everything I have overcome is reason enough for you to support me and I thank you for any contribution you’re able to make.
Organizer and beneficiary
Dakota Carpenter
Organizer
Kelowna, BC
Keli Carpenter
Beneficiary