"For as long as I can remember, hockey has been a part of my life in one form or another. At the age of 4 I was fortunate enough to have parents that welcomed in members of the local Junior A hockey team to billet for the season. One season turned to two, two turned to three, and eventually it became almost second nature to have these guys in our house year after year. Believe it or not, looking back those guys were the best role models in the world. At some point we ended up billeting the goalie of the team, and I couldn't help but fall inlove with the position. Everything from the gear, to the pressure and responsibility intrigued me. I had to do it. When I approached my parents with the idea, and I'm sure every goalie can relate to this, I was met with skepticism and terror. Being a goalie parent is stressful and expensive! At a young age I don't think I nesscarily realized how much time and money my parents were putting towards my hockey career, whether it be travel, team fees or gear. It only really started to click in that these two people were doing everything in their power to make me as happy as possible and to keep me doing what I love when I was in midget. Obviously it's every hockey players dream to one day play in the NHL, but once I hit major midget I figured maybe this wasn't reality, and it wasn't so much that I was giving up; it was more so a chance to modify my "dream". I aimed at using my ability to play hockey while achieving success in the classroom to help fund my education through scholarships and bursaries, and in turn help my parents help me. Going into my first year of university I received 9 separate scholarships and bursaries that are still helping pay for my schooling to this day. I am now going into my third year at STFX and my third and final year of junior hockey with the Pictou County Weeks Crushers while my parents do not need to feel the need to give me anymore then they already have. There is nothing more I could ask of them except for a chance, which they, along with the sport of hockey, gave me." (Luke Melanson - Pictou County Crushers, MHL)
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