I am a newly retired professional goaltender. I was the first goalie to make it from the lowest level of professional hockey (FPHL) to the American hockey league (AHL). One step away from the NHL. Let me tell you about my story.

I started playing goalie as a freshman in high school

I played my first year of junior in the NA3HL my senior year of high school at 17 years old. I played my first USHL game in the same year... I thought I had it figured out and was going to play Division 1 hockey, NO DOUBT!

Then I was humbled...Sent the the NAHL where i would spend the next 2 seasons. Mostly as a back up.

I got cut from my NAHL team going into my 20 year old season.

Instead of playing my last year of junior, I committed to play NCAA D3 hockey at Adrian College.

In my four years at AC, our team made 2 frozen four appearances and 2 more national quarterfinal appearances.

I studied Exercise Science and found my passion for coaching athletes off the ice.

But once again... I found myself in a back up roll for all 4 years of college.

Deep down, I knew I had what it takes to play professionally and always had the goal of doing so once I graduated.

My senior year I put up ridiculous numbers (.949 SV% and 1.20 GGA) in the 11 games I got to play.

That earned me an opportunity to sign in the ECHL to play my first pro game after my college season ended.

I still had a long way to go to get to where i want to be.

I dedicated myself every summer, doing everything I could to give myself the edge over my competition in hopes on being a full time guy in the ECHL.

My first full season of pro, I played in the SPHL and got my first call up to the ECHL. I played ok, but it wasn’t enough to be a full time guy at that level.

The following year, I thought I’d get more opportunity after having a strong season in the SPHL my rookie year...The opposite happened.

I got cut from my SPHL team out of camp and was forced to go to the FPHL, the lowest level of pro hockey.

Then covid happened...

I wasn’t always the most confident or mentally tough goaltender. Consistency was something i struggled with and the mental side of the game was something that always held me back.

I wanted to find ways to change that, and give myself the edge in every area of my game to gain that confidence and consistency that I lacked.

I knew if I found that, not only could I play at the next level. But I could dominate.

During covid, I started my remote goalie training programs and participated in the program myself.

Growing up in northern Michigan I didn’t have access to a high-level performance gym or any of the training tools that other kids had living in more traditional hockey areas.

I was on my own.

I worked on every aspect of my game in hopes of getting an advantage over everyone else who was struggling to find remote training.

I found ways to improve both my physical and mental game while doing everything from home.

After covid, I was back in the FPHL, but the leagues were smaller so the competition was better.

I felt the best I ever had, and was confident physically and mentally in my abilities.

I was ready to prove I could play at the next level.

I tore up the FPHL and got a call up to the SPHL. Where I started the following season.

I was on the worst team in the league but was a top 5 goalie statistically. We only won 2 games from the start of the season to christmas while sporting a .923 SV%.

Finally, I got my first call up to the ECHL in 3 years. Kansas City needed a goalie and I was ready for revenge.

I only got 1 game with Kansas city, A 7-1 win with 29 saves. Their goalies got healthy and they had to move me. So I was traded to rapid city.

I went on to win my first 9 starts with Rapid City. Going 10-0 in the first 10 games of my revenge tour in the ECHL.

The league and others started to notice..Then I got a call....I was getting called up to the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL.

In less than a year, I went from playing in the FPHL and SPHL, to starting my first game in the American Hockey League.

Something I knew i was capable of but didn’t know if I’d get the opportunity.

I won my first start 4-3 in a shootout. Killing off a penalty in overtime, making multiple highlight reel saves, and going 3/3 in the shootout.

Not bad for a D3 back up eh?

From there, I finished the season with great numbers in rapid city and played the remainder of my career in Kansas City where I would go on to have a great career. Only losing 10 games in the last 3 years of my career including a 16-2-1 record in my final season (23/24) and became a fan favorite.

I owe all of this to the hard work I put in during the off seasons and the little things I did during the season that made me consistent and confident.

Now that I’m retired, I want to share the training and knowledge that helped me get to the next level with dedicated goalies who have the same drive and aspirations.