It has been a long journey, but reaching this point in the road made me realize that the journey is just beginning.

I come from a town in Southern Ontario called Brantford. Yes, that Brantford.
The fact we produced tractors for most of Canada up until the 80s, Ferrerro Rocher chocolates and Nutella (you're welcome) and the donuts for Tim Horton's is overshadowed by one particular hockey player that went and broke every record ever.

No, it isn't me.

Growing up in a middle-class family, we had benefits that some kids didn't, and shortfalls others didn't. My parents obliged with toys and video games through all the passing phases of Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, POGS, Pokemon, on and on and on.

Conveniently, I also enjoyed a game that my father actually understood: hockey.

My father was a goalie in his youth, but switched to football in high school and was drafted by a CFL team when he was 19.* But, he still loved the Maple Leafs, the sport of hockey, and happened to come from the hometown of the greatest player of all time.**

I remember the first time hearing that there were "actual scouts at the game." I was 12, and I was playing with the Brantford Smoke AAA Bantam team. There were whispers in the locker room that scouts were here, and they were totally going to draft someone that night.

Well, we played well (I had 3 assists) but no man in a suit was waiting in the hallway after the game to offer me millions of dollars and a chance to fulfill my dream.

But here we are, 5 years later. I have played the game I love my entire life, and now have the opportunity for that man in the suit to actually offer me a chance to fulfill my dream.

My journey is just beginning.


*IRL true. My dad was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger Cats in 1979 but didn't make the team.
** IRL true. I actually am from Brantford, Ontario. Walter Gretzky (Wayne's dad) and my grandpa owned a local baseball team together in the 70's.