PAUL BUCZKOWSKI       Bio       Setting Goals       Respect       Back to School       Professionalism       Those in the know       Turn It Positive       Finding a Job       Eye Protection       Playing Injured       Gearing Up       WCHL vs. CHL       Europe v. N.A.       Specific Training       Training Camps       Road to Success       Dedication       Life in the WHL SANDY LAMARRE       Bio       Season to Forget       College vs. Junior       Sportsmanship       Game Prep       Conditioning FORBES MACPHERSON       Making the Jump BRIAN PATAFIE       Bio       Stretching       ICE PATRICK POWERS       Is Hockey Just a Sport? ANDREW ZOPPO       Be Tenacious
	PlayYourGame.com is proud to welcome Sandy Lamarre as a feature writer. As a 5th year professional, Sandy will bring insight to all parts of the game. College Hockey vs. Major Junior By Sandy Lamarre May 14, 2001 There are many pros and cons of playing both college and major junior hockey. They are both great opportunities to play highly competitive hockey, and they both help you develop into a better player and person. Each player will choose his or her path depending on what he or she wants to get out of their hockey career. In my case as a player, I opted for the major junior route. It was a hard decision at the time, but I felt it was the best one for me. I thought that playing major junior hockey would be the best chance to play professional hockey. At the time, I wasn't interested in college hockey, and in Canada, college hockey wasn't as big as it is now. I ended up playing professional hockey after my junior days, but left to play pro without finishing college. I feel that hockey is the main focus when choosing to play major junior. It is more or less hockey first, education second. There is still a chance to get a good education, but most players think they will make it big, so they don't concentrate on school. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I would choose to play college hockey. It is a great chance to play hockey and to get a great education. Players are required to have passing grades to continue playing for their team. A lot of professional teams are drafting older players out of college, because they are more mature and experienced. It also gives the players a good chance to live on their own and become responsible individuals. Each path has it own advantages. It is up to you, the athlete, to decide which one to take. It is a big decision that will affect your future. In either case, I would advise you to pursue your education, because an athlete's career can be short, and it is always good to have something to fall back on. Sandy Lamarre 2 Years ECHL 2 Years WPHL
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