Play Your Game.com - Andrew Zoppo

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 Andrew Zoppo as a feature writer. From the NCAA to the ACHL, Andrew will bring insight to every aspect of the game, as a sport and as a career.

Be Tenacious
By Andrew Zoppo
May 29, 2003

te·na·cious - persistent in maintaining or adhering to something valued or habitual

Adversity can help us grow both as people and as athletes, but we will only grow if we are tenacious. Every true athlete has a great passion for the game that they play, but playing that game always comes at a cost. When I graduated from college in the spring of 2002, there was nothing that could have prepared me for the adversity I would face in my first year as a pro.

After a hard summer of training, I was eager to begin my professional career with the Pee Dee Pride in the ECHL. Unfortunately, in less than two weeks, I found myself released and at home waiting for a phone call that would not end up coming until the 2nd of January. After briefly speaking with former Bruin Brian Curran, the coach of the Macon Trax in the ACHL, I had found a team and thought my problems were solved. Macon needed a goalie, and I was convinced that I was the man for the job! Once arriving in Macon, however, things did not go quite as I had planned.

After three months of being off the ice, making the adjustment to professional hockey was not as easy as I expected, and I struggled. It is in times of strife that our true character shines though. For anyone with plans for success, it is imperative to ratchet up your effort when you are not up to par - and that's exactly what I did. First one on, last one off - everyday. Fortunately, my timing was perfect in catching the team at the beginning of a hot streak that would carry us out of the basement and into third place. Everyday at the rink was a day to improve and show the coach that I deserved to play.

However, after three months in Macon and only seeing about 35 minutes of ice time in games that were already out of reach, it became clear that I had not proved myself to be the answer to Coach Curran's problems, and I was released from my second team. Being released or "cut" at any point is a tough pill to swallow, but being a week away from the playoffs, I was sure I had missed my chance at professional hockey.

As fate would have it though, before I could leave town, news came to me that one of Macon's goalies was hurt, and like that, I was back on the team as an emergency backup for the last game of the season. In a near fairytale like ending, I entered the game after five minutes of play to relieve yet another injured goalie. In my only full game of the 2002-03 season, I am proud to say that my hard work paid off. And, although we lost the game 3-4, it was a victory for me to finally get a shot. It took me a full year of practice, watching, waiting, and some luck, but I was able to achieve my dream of playing professional hockey. I can proudly add that Coach Curran was so impressed with my play that he invited me back for next year!

Now, there are plenty of stories like mine, but hopefully my shared experience will illustrate that if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it. So the lesson is?.if you want anything in life, you have to be tenacious and hopefully you'll find a little luck along the way.

Andrew Zoppo
1 Year ACHL
4 Years NCAA