PUCKED OVER IN THE FED - My Hockey Nightmare | S3 Ep. 7
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 พ.ย. 2024
- In this gripping video, I share my harrowing experience with a hockey team that turned into a nightmare. Join me as I unveil the shocking secrets and challenges I faced during my time with Baton Rouge Zydeco. From toxic culture to unexpected betrayals, this is a story you won't want to miss. Subscribe for more real-life stories and share your thoughts in the comments below!
Hey Andrew, we are an FPHL podcast and would love to have you come on to tell your story and shed some light on Baton Rouge! Just let us know
Hey! Thanks for the opportunity! I would love to. Send me a DM on instagram @renaissancerocha and we can discuss more details.
All the bs around the fed its the boards fault the people in charge cant do the job by going around keeping an eye on there teams they have playing in there league.
He’s just a bad goalie
@@jeffreylovegun6620ok Mr love gun explain
@jeffreylovegun6620 then why sign him and tell him that he'll play?
as someone raised in BR that loves hockey, I saw the mess happening from the outside and knew it was probably way worse for the players
Yeah it's unfortunate. I believe everyone deserves better especially the players and fans.
Tough video man. Just wanted to say this is the first one of yours I've watched, but I hope good things happen for you!
Welcome to the channel! Hope you stick around for the rest of the journey. Thanks! Really appreciate it!
After winning back to back championships in the fed, I flew down to Dayton to play and after playing a few games over a few weeks I hadn't been payed once out of three cheques. I brought it up with the coach/gm after a pregame skate who made up some bogus excuse about holding my first few cheques. Then he followed that up with the quote "why am i doing this? Because I am god". I hung em up after that. Flew home the next morning
What a mind boggling realization of how hockey organizations can be run at the professional level
Yeah it's surprising and very unfortunate
The word professional is carrying a ton of weight in your sentence hahaha
Fed seems shady, jr hockey is shady, hope you find your path man! Best of luck
Yeah like I said unfortunately there’s some bad apples in hockey. Thanks for the support! Really appreciate it!
I am so sorry to hear about your experience, but please don't give up on the Fed totally. I am a fan in Binghamton and the Black Bears have a tremendous fan base, an owner who is very invested in the success and happiness of the players. The staff are well respected and seem happy too. Just won the Commissioner's cup as well. Good luck to you and carry on!
One of your Finland videos popped up in my recommended, just watched through all of your vlogs to find this as your latest video! I was shocked how your channel isn't bigger, because your production value is really high, this video looks like it's doing some numbers though!
I really hope you're able to find a place to play, you're definitely good enough to. I see Melo and Archie are still playing in Nivala, so seeing a "Andrew's Finnish Return??" as a video title pop up would be awesome!
That's awesome! Really appreciate the support! I'm impressed you watched all the vloggs and I'm so happy you enjoyed the videos. Hahaha thank you! Hopefully the channel will continue to grow! Yeah this latest video seems to be doing well which is amazing! Really grateful to be getting some success on TH-cam after years of making content. Thanks! Yes they are both currently in Finland. We will see what happens in the next few videos ;)
Damn. That's a bitch of an experience, good to see you keep positive and from background seems like some new plans have been cooked up!
Yeah it’s unfortunate but all you can do is learn from it and move on. Hopefully my experience will help others avoid going through the same thing. I also hope it inspires others to keep going even when things get tough. Yeah this isn’t the end for me. More videos coming soon 💪
First time watcher! Man, I hate hearing these kinds of things happening in hockey...but I know it's the brutal reality. My son is a U16 AAA goalie back here in Ontario. His dream is to play pro one day at whatever level he can. It's hard for me to see what he may run into in his pursuit to play...probably a good idea for him to watch this video and show him what's out there. I did enjoy the video, though...well done....you seem like a great guy and I do hope you find a great fit to show your stuff. I subbed! :-)
Yeah, unfortunately, this is part of hockey. That's great to hear! I really hope he can achieve his goals in hockey. Just like in life, he'll likely encounter numerous obstacles, but that shouldn't deter him from pursuing his dreams. Overcoming challenges is part of the journey, and the reward lies in achieving those goals despite the obstacles. Anything worthwhile usually comes with its fair share of difficulties; otherwise, everyone would be doing it. I'm glad you enjoyed the video, and it's important to be aware of the negative aspects. However, you might also want to show him some of my other videos that highlight the positive experiences I've had. I've been fortunate that hockey has allowed me to travel around the world, and I'm incredibly grateful for those opportunities.
That sucks man. As soon as I heard "co-coach" I figured there would be at least 1 shady character in the story. Good video though,subscribed.
Haha yeah that was definitely a big red flag when that was announced. Thanks! Really appreciate you for subscribing! More content coming soon :D
It’s sad to see the things you went through. I live in Louisiana and follow the zydeco. The fans are very supportive and willing to do lots of things for the players. It sucks to see that the management doesn’t do the same. Best of luck to you buddy.
Yeah it seemed like the fans were great! I was excited to be apart of the community but it's unfortunate how things worked out. Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Wait. There are… two semi-pro TH-cam goalie guys out there?
Good video, I’ll check out the others. Good luck!
Thank you! Really appreciate the support.
Between this and Trav seems like you gotta really wanna play to go to the Fed. Seems like a lot of talk from management flying by the seat of their pants
Yeah from my experience it seems like a league of empty promises and zero loyalty. Can’t say every team in the league is like this but if other organizations are similar to what I went through in BR then it doesn’t seem like a place I want to be
Trav just sucks lol
trav4oilers is just a terrible goalie
@@alexrivolta50 may or may not be true, but he's def bounced around the league. He seems to echo the sentiment of empty promises and no loyality.
@@dumpster_bear_goaliehe's said that about every team he's played for. Jr B, VIU, Sweden, Fphl.
Same tune from Trav
Geez bud what a gong show that was. Very sorry you had to go through that. But man you have a good story to tell.. It will be good to look back at this as the Spinal Tap of hockey. Birthday party change room . 😬 hang in there bud. I just found you on here the other day. Always enjoy this kind of content from this slice of life.
No worries! Life goes on. Just need to learn from it. Thanks! I'm really happy you enjoyed the video. Hahaha yeah it will definitely be interesting to look back on. Thank you! It's awesome you found the channel! I'm grateful for your support!
this video style is top tier, great video!!!
Thank you! Really happy you enjoyed it!
Just found the channel recently. Great videos great story telling. I'm a bit perplexed by the recent hate on fb from a fed player towards this video. Keep up the great content.
Thank you! Very interesting. I haven’t seen any of the hate but I’d be curious to hear what they have to say. I’d be happy to discuss with whoever it is.
Hey Andrew, insightful video. Sorry to hear about your terrible experience with this joke of a team and league. This is the first video I've watched of yours but I can tell you're a quality person and technically solid goalie based on the clips you showed. I had a negative experience at a MAHL tryout years ago in Illinois that was similar to what you experienced in Baton Rouge. I hope you're able to find another team because you definitely have talent and something to offer a team that is willing to give you a fair chance. Keep working hard at it!
Thanks! I really appreciate that! No worries, it’s unfortunate but I just need to learn from it and move on. Sorry to hear you had to go through a similar experience. Thank you! Fortunately I found a team in Sweden and things are going very well. Really grateful for the opportunity.
Sorry to hear about that but i hope the stay and the people in lafayette were nice. poor planet ice is all we got if you ever want to visit we got pick up on Thursdays. The food is always good so always welcome back
Yeah I really enjoyed my stay in Lafayette! The local people were very kind! Thanks! I'll keep that in mind. HAHAHA yes I loved the food!
First time viewer here! BRZ looks like an unorganized team ON the ice, so your story adds up. Im sorry that happened but im excited to follow your journey! Trav4oilers fan here so i think thats where the algorithm shot me here! GL
Welcome to the channel! Happy the algorithm brought you here haha. Yeah wasn't ideal but life goes on. Thanks for the support and I look forward to sharing more of my journey with you!
what a fucking disaster......I'm actually pretty amazed that team is still functioning....
Haha yeah it’s impressive. I’m not sure what has happened since I left. Maybe they have turned things around and hired new people. Luckily the local people involved that I met seemed to care about the team. In my opinion it’s a shame because the people of Baton Rouge and Louisiana deserve better.
I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in New Orleans over last weekend. That place was fantastic!
Nice! New Orleans was fun to visit
Very sad to hear about this man. I’m a big zydeco fan and there’s not hockey fans at all down here so hearing that our team did that to you makes me upset. Best of luck man, Baton Rouge sucks anyways.
Hey man! Really appreciate the support! Would've loved to have been able to play for all the fans in Baton Rouge and Louisiana! It seemed like all the locals I talked to were really nice and excited about having a team. That's the reason I signed in the first place. I think it's a shame because I believe you deserve to have a team to be proud of! I went to a saints game and the fans in Louisiana are unbelievable! It would've been really cool to see the team succeed. I think it would've been great for the city and great for hockey!
I'm pissed about hearing this. I'm sorry you had to go through that and had a poor experience. I live near Lafayette and one of a handful of avid hockey fans in the area and also play goalie. I know the ice rink isn't the best compared to rinks up north but it's what we got here and there's a lot put into that building. Not that I speak for any of them. But they don't represent the team itself. Hopefully you do give Louisiana hockey another chance because those 2 "co-coaches" which is a weird thing to experience, had an early exit in the season. But then again, like all players I hope to see ya'll do well an advance ya'll careers. I do see the poor organization, I want the Zydeco to do well to grow hockey like it was back in the 90's when I first caught wind of the sport. It's a big hill to climb. They have some good fans here, and many more wet behind the ears itching for more. Kick some ass.
No worries, it's a learning experience. Life isn't always going to be easy or fair. That's awesome! Yeah it may not be the best rink but at least you have a place to skate I can appreciate the effort put into having ice in Louisiana. Everyone at the rink treated me with respect and I have nothing but good things to say about the local hockey fans that I met. Yeah I understand that it's not everyone. It was only a handful of people that were the reason for such a terrible experience for me. If the right opportunity presented itself I would be happy to give Louisiana another try. I also want the team to do well. I think the people of Louisiana deserve it. Thanks! I wish you well!
Damn bro sorry you went t through that. Not all fed teams are this brutal but sadly a good amount of them are. Management over there is a joke, your impression of P.M. complaining had me dying though 😅 that guys a clown - good story telling good video 👍
No worries! Life goes on haha. Yeah I’ve heard some people who have had much better experiences. Unfortunately just wasn’t the case for me. lol thanks! Happy you enjoyed the video!
I will say though, as a voracious hockey fan in Louisiana, it is super interesting to hear about our team’s behind the scenes. Following tsn and hockey media in general I know everything that’s going on in the leafs team and shit like that but it’s hard to follow the zydeco when there’s no media coverage. I just hope we can get some sheets of ice in Louisiana so people can learn to appreciate the game.
Yeah I was looking forward to documenting the season in Baton Rouge. I was hoping to create really positive videos about the team, the fans and the community but unfortunately I never got the opportunity. I had big plans for the channel while I was down in Louisiana. Yeah I hope so too!
I'll address all that also when I speak with Rocha.
Hey man, that was a good video and you kept your head up. I’m a mental health therapist and with all the disrespect coming at you you’re out this whole video and your whole experience. You didn’t disrespect yourself so I hope to see you with the big boys someday go play for the avalanche. They need a good goalie. I’ll call Joe. No I don’t know Joe but I wish you the best.
Thank you so much for the support! I really appreciate it. Hahaha yeah that would be amazing! Sure, feel free to give him my contact and I'll be right over lol. Thanks! I wish you well! :D
Living in NC, and going to Fed, SPHL and ECHL games. I'll drive past 2 Fed teams to go to Roanoke. Or 90 miles south to go to Greenville.
That’s awesome! Cool to see you travel all over time watch games. I have some family in Greenville and a buddy of mine plays on the Roanoke Rail Yard Dogs. How do you find the experience as a fan between the 3 leagues?
@@renaissancerocha i like Roanoke.. they've had teams through the years so the fans are knowledgeable. And the current team seems to know how to run things well. Winston Salem is pretty good for the Fed. Fans are into it, but the arena is pretty basic. Greenville is a nice arena. Fan support isn't what it should be but its decent. I think the best minor league game I've been to was in Toledo though. Nice arena.. and it feels almost like an NHL game. Always packed and they are into it. The 90s were great in NC though. The I-85 rivalries were great. Greensboro Monarchs, Raleigh IceCaps, Charlotte Checkers, and Greenville Grrrowl made for a bunch of teams close together. Charlotte and Greensboro hated each other. Its insane that NC has zero ECHL teams nowadays.
Much respect for what you guys go through to try and play pro hockey. As a huge ECHL fan, (Walleye!) it seems that the FPHL (and probably the SPHL too) are basically organized men’s leagues, masquerading as ‘professional’. None of the teams are profitable. They are either tax write offs for wealthy owners or so they can claim they “own a sports team”. Teams constantly folding, moving, new ones starting, etc.
ECHL teams are barely break even, some profitable. As much as I’d love minor pro hockey to grow, having “pro” leagues below the ECHL level isn’t feasible. Either merge the Fed and SPHL and patiently grow the league, or just expand the ECHL by having it absorb any of these lower level teams that have proven they can possibly be successful. If a player can’t play at the ECHL level, he’s not a pro. Nothing wrong with that. Go play in men’s league and enjoy yourself. No shame in that. Plenty of men’s leagues that are competitive, but the guys have jobs/careers and aren’t being sold a dream about “being a pro”.
I guess that depends what your definition of professional is. The players are technically getting paid to play as well as receiving housing, gear, etc. I don't know the financials of each team, however, I don't think it's impossible to make a profit in the FPHL or the SPHL if you have good attendance and marketing. The players don't make as much as the higher leagues so your cost for players in much lower. I agree there's probably some tax incentives for teams as well as wealthy owners being able to claim they "own a sports team", although that's at every level of professional sports. (NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB) I don't think that's exclusive to the minor leagues. I think knowing how to run a business and understanding money is more important in determining if a team is profitable. It's basic money math. If you keep more money then you spend you will be profitable. It's pretty simple.
I understand your perspective but I disagree. I don't think it's because the level is lower, I believe it's likely more how the league is run on why there's so much turnover or other issues. There's enough attendance and money to go around. The US has such a large sports market. I believe there could easily be profitable sports teams in many markets that aren't being targeted by the larger leagues. Louisiana for example doesn't have any other professional hockey teams and they were able to support an ECHL team for many years. Those people and fans haven't gone anywhere. It's just a matter of giving them a product to be proud of. Again I understand your perspective but I also strongly disagree with that statement that if you can't play in the ECHL then you should go play men's league. I'm not even sure where to begin on this statement since I think I could make an entire video on why I disagree. Regardless I appreciate your comment and I think it's good to have these conversations. Hope you continue watching the channel so you can better understand why I do what I do and work towards "being a pro"
I think the SPHL skill level is a bit better than the FED. I've gone to both recently and the FED game was a snooze fest compared to SPHL. However, I'm no expert. Just my observation.
Not sure now but I know the Ice Flyers used to pack their stadium. Looking at their site now, Pensacola and Huntsville sell out 93% (5,253) and 96% (5,813) of their seats.
Goes back to even the CHL and UHauL era, though I do think those leagues were miles ahead of the Fed in terms of professionalism
@@RobJaskula Yeah you're probably right.
BR had a sick Belgian hockey in their plans too. He saw the red flags and left.
Are you talking about the Belgian goalie? If so he was a good guy. We talked a decent amount at camp. He was also the one who gave me his jersey when they didn’t have enough for everyone 😂 So really appreciate him for helping a brother out
@@renaissancerocha That's him!
I was here as well, was not a good experience. Great video
Sorry to hear that but thank you! I'm happy you enjoyed the video
I used to work for the team and could answer why they did some of the things that did. It’s a messed up organization with a terrible owner and manager- well now she got fired
I’m sorry to hear that and I’m not surprised. I’m sure not everyone involved with the team were bad apples but it seems like there was some major fundamental underlying issues with the organization. I think it starts at the top. I feel really bad for the people of Baton Rouge and Louisiana who deserve to have a well run organization. I believe there’s so many great hockey fans that would love to see the team succeed. I’m also sure there are many great volunteers who have or will be taken advantage of. In my opinion it’s very sad to see.
Hi andrew as a carolina thunderbird fan ur always welcome to join the thunderbirds.
Thanks! I appreciate the warm welcome!
@@renaissancerocha well anytime u want to join let Coach harry know cause there always room for u andrew You are always welcome to join the thunderbirds
I have a couple buddies in the Fed. It’s clear as day that the highs r high and the lows r low. Usually speaking the league will work itself out and the shady teams won’t find themselves operating for very long
Yeah after posting the video I've had many people massage me. Mostly bad experiences but also some good ones where people have really enjoyed the team/organization. I hope you're right. I think the league has a lot of potential if they can get the right people involved.
Im from Baton Rouge and we had a ECHL team here for 10 or more years. It did well in the beginning but lost steam because we never had a winning team. I’m quickly learning that the FED front office is not the ECHL. I’m sure it has a lot to do with not having NHL money invested. We still lead the league in an attendance with little to no advertising or social media presence. I hope we can get on par other teams in the FED like the River Dragons or Seawolves.
Yeah I heard some cool stories about the ECHL team. Supposedly they had lots of fans and great support! Yeah it's hard to maintain good attendance when the team keeps losing. I agree money is a factor but I believe having the right people in place is the most important thing. With the right marketing and proper recruiting, I believe Baton Rouge would easily be able to attract the right talent. One of the only reasons I signed in the FED was to experience the culture of Louisiana and atmosphere at the rink. Players love playing in front of big crowds or at least I do. I felt the excitement and wanted to be apart of that. Hopefully they can figure it out because I think there's lots of potential in the city of Baton Rouge and the State of Louisiana to have a successful hockey franchise.
To be fair seeing your story, seeing trav and hearing stories from my buddy that dealt with a team in the FED. It sounds like the league in general is a giant joke.
Yeah in my experience it's overall definitely not a great league.
A good buddy of mine owns a team in the Fed. He doesn’t run his team like this. I’ve met the owner of BR thru him. Just sounds like who’s running the show shouldn’t be running the show. Good luck catching on somewhere.
Interesting. I'm happy to hear he doesn't run his team like BR. I don't know the owner personally but I've heard many stories and from my experience with what I've heard I agree with you. Thanks! Really appreciate it!
Seems similar to the "outlaw" league here in Ontario but the pro version , I am sure you are aware of it with how shady and "fake" it is when they like to call it Junior A when its pretty much Junior C Tier 2 players with adults just getting one last skate in before hanging em up.
Sorry this happened to ya, happy to have found your channel! Will be watching more from Barrie ON, best of luck in the future my man!
Yeah it sounds very similar. I think both leagues are affiliated in some way which makes sense. I've had some experience with the league. When I played Jr. A some teams tried to recruit me to come play with them but I had no interest. My overage year I skated with one of the teams as a player for fun and I agree it's definitely not Jr. A hence why I skated as a player. Welcome! I'm happy to have you here! I actually played Barrie Colts AAA for a season! I went to High School at St. Joseph's. I had a lot of fun that year! Also my brothers GF is from Barrie. Thanks!
what league is ( the outlaw league?)
Well isnt that a crazy small world moment as I played Barrie trips growing up before finishing in Jr with Uni, and also went to St Joe's lol! that is crazy@@renaissancerocha
Its branded as Tier 2 Jr. A , and not to come off as an A** but its pretty much a bunch of misfits that will pay to play with what they believe is high quality junior a but its a step below Junior C here in Ontario@@xevani96l62
Maybe you will find your way back to Finland. Good luck!
Yeah maybe! We will see what happens
I would love to hear your vijhl experience I am from alberni we have a team here now and the team now compared to when the bandits were here in 90’s is so noticeable
Yeah if people want to hear about my earlier days, maybe I could do a video this summer about my Jr. experience including the VIJHL. The hockey quality wasn't as good as Jr. A in the NOJHL, however, I loved living in BC and the organization I played for was great! Awesome teammates, good fans, management and probably one of the best coaches I've ever had. I have family on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo so I have a special connection to the area. I always enjoy going back! I even skated with the VIU Mariners in the BCIHL after the season was over which was pretty fun.
@@renaissancerocha no sh!t lol I used to live in Nanaimo obviously junior b is not as good as a but would you prefer that experience at a lower quality hockey or this quality hockey and a terrible experience.
i hope your video/story gets back to the team and the league and they have to answer for it in some way. But from what I know about the Fed, that's probably unlikely. I cringed when you mentioned leaving Europe for this league.
Yeah it's probably unlikely but in all honesty I just wanted to share my story so people could be educated and made aware of what happened. Now that it's over I just want to focus on the next step in my journey. Yeah I don't blame you haha
Hang in there dude, don’t let a sh1tty experience with a sh1tty organization get you down. Scott Darling had a similar start, and he is has a Stanley Cup ring…
Thanks man! Really appreciate it! I know this is just the beginning for me.
that team sucks tooo should be happy you got out when you did.... keep grinding !!!
Yeah I'm very thankful I don't have to be part of that organization. Thanks! Will do!
Did the guy you roomed with who was also in the video make the team or did he get snubbed as well?
From the team’s site, no.
@@danielpenrodii2389 I just checked the FPIH League standings and Baton Rouge is in dead last in their division and only 6 wins for the '23-'24 season. They're probably both glad they got cut 😂
No he was also cut. I wish him well though.
Years and years ago I worked with a Jr. A club that was affiliated with the Elmira Jackals (and the Detroit Hitmen of the AAH...A? - that team lasted maybe 16 months). The owner of that team went on to work with the first Delaware team in the Fed. And my experience with him was a similar gong show. First chalk talk session I sat in on, he was teaching the kids how to fish hook with their gloves on. Told them to clear the punk into the other team's bench. First game, we had a kid who was 100% too old to play in the league got 2 fighting majors in the same whistle. Went up and worked a scout camp in Elmira, and it was run exactly how yours was. Maybe a little more organized. But the only coaching was to figure out who the fighters were and get them lined up. After the tryout, the guy had me trying to find him hookers on backpage & craigslist, because, apparently, it's not cheating if your wife doesn't know about it. Absolute goon shit, the whole operation.
Complete cluster fuck. Turned me off to hockey all together for a couple years.
AAAH.ABH
Wow that's brutal. Thanks for sharing but really sorry you had to go through that. It's unbelievable some of the stuff that goes on in the league. It's terrible for the game and it's embarrassing for the clubs that have these types of people running things. It's really too bad better people aren't involved. The current culture is probably what drives the good people away.
How the Hell would one coach not know whats going on...... Just WOW!!!
This is terrible. What an awful organization, can't believe they treated you like this
Yeah it sucks anybody has to go through what I did. The worst part is I’m not the only one and I know people have been through much more terrible experiences than me
Just found your channel been looking at videos on the Fed legaue cuz Mobile might be getting our former team back as a expansion team in that league talks are stull early tho
It’s crazy how the day you recorded this was the day I had a game there at Kiruna. Had to drive about 7 hours there and took a blocked shot in the face
No way! That’s awesome! Not the puck to the face part though. I hope you’re alright. Way to take one for the team.
I play in the MHL ( Mountain Hockey League ) and several guys who play with us said they hated playing in the FED.
Yeah I've heard some horror stories from the league. Supposedly a few teams are run well but overall not a great place to be.
What is the MHL? Is that the semipro league that plays around the rockies resort towns and such?
I was in line for a coaching position in the Fed about 15 years ago and the main coaches were total assholes who had no interest in hiring assistants claiming that if you wanted to be an assistant, you needed to run the stars at the rink better than the players otherwise you weren't qualified. Clearly nothing has changed.
Sorry to hear that. That's so strange they didn't want assistance. I don't understand that philosophy.
@@renaissancerocha Egos. The league was a glorified house league at the time with 2 venues and 6 teams and there was a head HEAD coach, who seemed to run all of the teams, and then the rest of the bench coaches were empty suits who fought hard to keep their spots.
The new real Travis!!!😊
lol I guess I'll take that as a compliment? Thanks
The difference is that our guy here can actually stop the puck, and isn't a douche. Travis Ridgen is a goof.
@18:31 that’s insane that there was that big of a gap just left like that.
dont give up man youll find a team and go father
Thanks! Really appreciate it! It’s all part of the journey. When one door closes another one opens.
At this point ive only heard horror stories from the FED
U should play in the SPHL
Maybe someday!
wow, that is outrageous. I've heard some terrible stories about the Fed but this is the worst
Yeah it was brutal. Not that it's a competition but I think I've heard worst stories which is sad to think about.
sucks man, i am friends with AJ Galante and the story about what happened to Amesbury was really bad too. I hope you get all the ice time and good looks in Soumi@@renaissancerocha
This situation was almost the same as my situation going into my first year of college football…coach who recruited me left the program with no words to any of the kids he recruited
I’m sorry to hear that. It’s awful when people are treated like that in any sport. I wish you all the best.
This is exactly why I did not even pursue minor pro hockey after NCAA D3. I had some good stats too, but it just generally wasn't worth the bullshit - and I had a good major from a good school. I went to grad school instead. I have some friends that went to the SPHL and FPHL, but I just didn't think it was worth it on my end. Many of them spoke about not being paid on time (especially the canadian players), not being given meals, extremely poor housing options unless family or a girlfriend was helping them out, showing up to camps like you and no one having a clue what was going on, as well as the camps themselves being run very poorly to actually evaluate players. I think the FPHL has more of those secondhand shit show experiences that I've heard of, but I've heard the same happens in the SPHL too. I don't think it's anything you can avoid with any minor pro sport to be honest.
Beer league for me!
Yeah I can understand why a lot of players chose not to continue playing. It’s definitely a grind and especially considering how much you have to sacrifice. It’s a shame there isn’t a better more reputable league players can play in after Jr. and/or school. I believe there’s enough talent if the conditions were better and players were treated with more respect. Luckily I’ve had great experiences in Europe which makes this journey worth it. It seems they are doing it right or at least better overall in my opinion. Might do a video later on explaining the differences and why I prefer player in Europe. Really happy you enjoyed the path you took and at the end of the day hockey is supposed to be fun. Sounds like beer league is more fun than what I went through with BRZ. Thanks for the comment! Interesting to hear your perspective.
@@renaissancerocha You have to do what's right for you and the goals that you want to accomplish. I've generally heard that minor pro in Europe is better than in North America though.
Fed Legend Andrew Rocha
😂😂😂
I follow trav 4 oilers and his experience is crazy go back to findland or Europe next year
Taking a quick look at the current FPHL standings, it sure does seem like their stellar tryout methods don't seem to be working too well.
I suppose that's what happens when people don't do a good job. That doesn't surprise me.
My advice to you would be change your agent ASAP. What a bad decision to send you there. He should know what’s best for you but he definitively don’t. Anyway thanks for sharing
Thanks for the advice. I am currently representing myself and no longer using an agent at this time. I will definitely be much more cautious moving forward. I know agents can be helpful but it didn’t go well in this situation.
imagine a player telling on another player for wanting to organize on ice time lol "do not message him again"
lol yeah it was a very strange situation. Never experienced anything like that before. Usually players are excited to have a goalie to shoot on.
Delaware thunder would have been a great fit for you 😢
I believe they folded last year correct?
@@renaissancerocha they are rebuilding a rink, they used a rink at the state casino but they wouldn’t allow them to stay there anymore and kept dragging the process. Even locking the players out from getting their stuff. But they are building a new home in Dover, Delaware. The team is great with hardcore fans
Similar thing happened to me with my juniors team. Got a ton of good contract offers from other teams after my first year wanted to stay loyal to this team, declined them all. Have end of year meeting, get told not only I wouldn’t be the starting goalie, but wouldn’t even be on the jr.a team anymore and I was getting sent down to jr.b if I wanted a contract. This was after all year, and summer that they hold told me I was the starting goalie lol. Some people are just shitty man
I'm sorry you had to go through that. I also had a very similar experience in Jr. A. Maybe I'll make a video about it someday if people want to hear about some of my Jr. stories.
the entire FED is like this. every team is a joke
Every time I've been in an unbelievably shitty work situation there's suddenly free pizza. Terrible managers think it solves everything. "What are you complaining about? You got free pizza, didn't you?" It sounds like that team is run by sociopaths.
Hahaha yeah I guess the pizza helps but it doesn't fix all the problems
I work at the rink and play youth hockey there, I'm sorry they treated you like this, the team has given me sketchy vibes since they started but I hope they didn't ruin your perception of hockey in louisiana, the drillers and mudbugs are much more professional than zydeco.
No worries! I still have so much respect for the hockey community in Louisiana. All of the locals were very kind to me. I felt very welcomed by the local people in Lafayette. I feel bad for all the fans because I think the community was really excited about the team. In my opinion the Baton Rouge Zydeco organization is missing out on a great opportunity. I believe the hockey fans in Louisiana deserve a team to be proud of on and off the ice. I think if they had a good product they could be really successful in that market.
It seems like the only Fed team worth playing for is Danbury, everywhere else seems so terrible lol. But yea, had my run ins with egotistical and rude coaches in my time. That’s one thing I don’t miss about hockey.
I've heard that they're known for being one of the better-run teams in the league. It's definitely unfortunate when players have to deal with those kinds of distractions. Ideally, players should be able to focus solely on performing well on the ice without having to deal with off-ice distractions.
@@renaissancerochaAnd you’d be absolutely right. You’d think a warm welcome would be in place for players who WANT to play for you, it’s not right to treat them the way they treated you in tryouts of all places.
The same happened to me years ago when I tried out for an NAHL team.
Sudbury represent!!
Let's goooo!!!!
Could've used you in Danbury this year!
I played a couple years of tier 3 junior in the States and the standards were higher at that level than the circus Fed
Yeah I’m not surprised. When the bar is set so low it doesn’t take much haha
@@renaissancerocha haha lovin the content good luck back in Europe
First mistake: referring to the Fed as a professional league.
From my experience with the team it was anything but professional
my brothers friend got asked to play a game for baton rouge and he showed up they said sorry are goalies are gonna play maybe we will ask you to come tryout next year he said but i was told i was gonna play the coach said well seems like a you type of thing.
Really sorry to hear that
Love agents for the Fed, what’s 10% of rolls of take and ice time?
Yeah I unfortunately haven't had the best experience with agents
Handing somebody a completely incorrect itinerary is a wild move! At least use a pen and write on the sheet itself with corrections before handing it to the players.
Yeah we probably would’ve been better off with no itinerary lol
Sounds like you dodged a bullet. Good luck man!
Hahaha yeah I agree! Thanks! Really appreciate it!
All jokes aside, your movements look good.
Thanks! I still have some work to do but I appreciate it
Just checked the FPHL standings. Looks like that team could use a goalie
As someone who works where the BRZ play, they were, and are, a mess, to say the least. Not nearly enough time between the BRZ became finalized and a product being put on the ice. Coaching, FO, and everything was put together with hopes, dreams, prayers, spit, mud, icy sludge, and anything else they could find. Coaches and FO have been changed multiple times to try and get people who actually care and respect players as humans. Hopefully, the players now are getting a better experience than the ABSOLUTE BS that you got from top to bottom. The best thing about the whole team and organization is the fans, which is sad and says more than I wish for a "professional" organization. I hate this was your impression of Baton Rouge and South Louisiana as a whole, especially because you are right in the beginning. The city, somewhat, has embraced this team. BRZ has the second highest attendance in the Fed, the second highest social media presence in the Fed, and BRZ suck this year, but attendance has gone up despise it because the city seemingly wants to become a minor league sports city.
Seems like an absolute cluster F🙀
Definitely wasn’t a great situation 😂
Just found this page. Is it like Trav but you're good?
whats your opinion on that Trav4oilers. was it for him just like a PR stunt for teams. his numbers were horrible. worst in the league i think.
I don’t really have a strong opinion about Trav4oilers. I’ve never met the guy so I don’t really want to comment based on what I hear and see online. Regardless of what you think of his skill level, I respect his perseverance and he makes videos that a lot of people seem to enjoy. I’m not sure if it was a PR stunt for the teams or not but regardless he found a way to create those opportunities for himself and I can’t really be upset with someone for working towards their goals.
Perfect example of why so many teams in the FPHL come and go, this organization is a complete dumpster fire. Waste of time for everyone, be thankful you didn't get hurt for this joke of a team!
Yeah it’s unfortunately but happy I’m with a better organization now. Really happy with how things worked out.
@@renaissancerocha and all this for $ 200 a week..average listed Salary. Guys in Fraser, MI make that..one trip to grocer store nowadays..I often wonder how do those guys manage life..I coach in Fraser,MI ( not FPHL) and they have FPHL... talked to this guy he told me he was from Florida and making $ 175 a week...I was amazed... 30 yrs ago I played there in Colonial hockey league I was making & 750 a week plus condo they provided and fed us 2x a day..this league should just fold or something..paying players $ 175 a week
the FED is just as shady for the fans as it is for the players, a lot of unkept promises and lies.
That's really unfortunate to hear. I believe the league has a tremendous opportunity to create an outstanding product for fans and provide an excellent experience for players. In my view, they should have all the necessary tools at their disposal, yet for some reason, it's still being managed poorly.
The original coach of the Zydeco who was replaced by co-coaches is Matt Hamilton for those wondering.
Oh really? I thought it was Paul MacLean. I guess I was wrong about that. That guy isn't even listed anywhere as having been the coach.
I think the coach hes talking about is named Paul MacLean. If im mistaken and the guy who pulled this shit was Everett Thompson then i apologize, but the timeline would suggest it was MacLean who coached 12 games and they went 2-10-0 and buddy got canned. So there you go.
Not a fun time but its good that you put it out there.
I have a similar but not as bad experience at a no name D3 NCAA school. Was going to try and walk on so I reached out to coach and just got no response back even after sending a video and my accolades. Did all the team meetings but only could make half the captains practices because I had class at the same time. First day of tryouts, 3 minutes into scrimmaging, I came out of the net and gave a great pass to my defense who gave it away. I got in net and made the save. Coach pulled me and never put me back in the rest of the session.
In the end they took the starter from last year, a junior, and 2 seniors. No matter what I did, I was not making the team. The starter was good, the other 2 not so much.
lol not making an NCAA team as a walk on is not remotely similar to this dude's experience
It's difficult to make any team as a walk on especially at College/University. They often spend lots of time recruiting so it's unlikely they will take a chance on someone they see for the first time. Good for you for trying to make the team and I'm sorry if you didn't get the opportunity you think you deserved. It's unfortunate but I'd recommend trying to find a team that is searching for a goalie and communicate with the coaching staff prior to attending the school. That way you are putting yourself in the best position for success. Thanks for sharing your story.
Normally you need to be recruited to these programs. The d3 team most likely was filled months before you reached out. Unfortunate for you, but not the same situation remotely
Would the SPHL be a better fit? Does it have the same shadyness? I wonder if your agent can try to get you a shot with an SPHL team.
Yeah most likely a better fit since it's a higher league. My friend from MUIK in Finland now plays in the SPHL and seems to really enjoy it. That doesn't mean some teams may not have similar issues but I don't know. I would certainly entertain playing in the SPHL if I had the opportunity but that wasn't really realistic after what happened. Very unlikely an SPHL team would take a chance on a goalie who got cut from the FED. Not saying it couldn't be done or that I don't believe I could play in that league, however, it was not an option for me at the time.
@@renaissancerocha thanks for getting back to me! I understand. I hope you get an opportunity in the SPHL next season or more opportunities in Europe! How do you like Sweden? It seems as if your friends/teammates from last season have stayed in Finland another year.
@@patricio78999 Thanks! I hope so too! Don't worry I will have videos coming soon explaining everything! Short answer. Loving it! Yes, Melo and Archie are both still playing in Finland!
@@renaissancerocha love it!
What an absolute shitshow, but not surprising. I've never heard a single good thing about the FPHL but it sucks what you had to go through. Now come back to Finland 😉
Yeah it was a mess! I've heard a few positive experiences but for the most part you are correct. It seems like it's mostly negative experiences from players around the league. Hahaha yeah maybe ;) We will see what happens
Watching this and Trav’s videos.. it kinda seems like it’s your agent whom is to blame for these bad experiences.
They should know exactly what you are getting into, it doesn’t seem like that.. idk
Yeah I would agree my agent is partially to blame. Intentional or not it was a bad situation and could've been avoided. I was worried about coming to the FED for this exact reason but when
I spoke to him he assured me it would be alright. I trusted him and that's partially my fault. It's definitely a learning experience for me and hopefully I won't have to make the same mistakes again.
Maybe it's you not them. A career 4.50 or higher GPA in lower juniors.
Yeah maybe you're right
after hichschool n it not AHL LEVEL pro i aint ever hear teams being organized for goalies.... just gonna make the amount of goalie numbers drop down more than they already are.
Yeah it's definitely not easy being a goalie. I have a lot of respect for the goalies that stick with it after Jr. since most of the time people don't understand the position and it's often difficult to find a place to play.
I see some Swedish in the background rink.
👀🤷♂️
Any word on what happened to your roommate after his cut?
Great question. I think we went back to play Jr. but I will reach out to him.
Did your roommate make the team or get cut too?
My roommate also got cut
Have you found somewhere to play?
Updates coming soon in the next video :)
A lot of Fed teams treat their players like shit and that’s why guys don’t last long in the league. They either get cut or come to their senses and leave.
I don’t have any personal experience with other teams in the league but Baton Rouge was not a very pleasant hockey organization to be apart of. I heard some organizations in the league treat the players better but if it’s anything similar to what I endured then it’s not a place you want to be.
@@renaissancerocha I'll tell you this, there are a few organizations that treat their players like gold, but I'm really sorry that happened to you. I was hearing bad rumblings in Baton Rouge of stuff happening like this.
Legit loved to hear all about this. I’m sorry for you man, keep your head up and keep at it. However, anyone scouting you that sees this video may scare off potential interest my boy. No team wants their dirty laundry posted to TH-cam. Consider taking this video down for your own sake.
Thanks! Really happy you enjoyed the video. Thank you for the support and I will! Yeah I understand your perspective and appreciate your concern. That being said, I gave it a lot of thought before making/posting this video. I’ve been making videos for over 2 years now documenting my experience with hockey. If you go watch any of my previous content with other teams you will see that I’m very positive and respectful towards the organizations I’ve played for. I’ve had 2 great seasons in Finland playing in MUIK and with the Nivala Cowboys. I have nothing but respect for those clubs and will continue to sing their praises since they treated me very well and most importantly with respect. I understand some teams might not want to take me after seeing this video, however, if there’s an organization that is worried about me exposing fundamental problems about the club then I probably don’t want to play for that team anyway. I want to be part of great organizations. Those are the teams that win games and win championships which is ultimately my goal. I understand nobody is perfect and I’m not trying to find things to be upset about. Of course there might be times where I disagree with certain things and that’s ok. My goal is to make hockey content, not create drama. These videos take a lot of time to make and there’s so many other topics I’d rather focus my energy on. The main reason for this video is to help other players avoid these situations. The reason these teams get away with treating people like garbage is because nobody talks about it or exposes them. If I can help other players avoid these horrible situations by talking about my story then I’m okay with the consequences that might come my way. If nobody speaks up about the issues in hockey then nothing will change and things won’t improve. Hockey has given me so much on and off the ice and I want others to share similar positive experiences.
I heard trav4oilers goes to russia 😂😂 well thats a hockeystory that will be interesting 😂
Andrew are you going back to finnland?
Hahaha interesting 😂 Unfortunately I don’t have the inside scoop on Trav but I will have some updates soon in the coming videos
It's a 10 day tournament of some sort.