18 year old Andrew Ference loved to play hockey, but scouts weren’t impressed with the young defenseman. He wasn’t invited for testing to qualify for the 1997 NHL draft. Ference refused to accept that he wouldn’t be able to play for the league…his dream…so on his own he contacted the same organization that the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau invited other prospects to go through, and underwent the physical testing to prove the scouts were wrong. He then faxed his test results to every team’s general manager with a letter stating, “I am looking forward to proving myself this fall and my first NHL training camp, for whatever team is prepared to give me that opportunity. I guarantee that the team that has the confidence to draft me will not regret their decision.”

The Pittsburg Penguins took a chance and drafted him in the 1997 NHL draft. For nearly two decades, Ference had a stellar NHL hockey career with several teams, and was also chosen as team captain. Because he was proactive and didn’t give up, Ference has been able to live out his dream. In fact, he has his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. What if he had listened to critics and never pursued his goals?

“We loose so may chances by waiting for the “right time.”

The time is now…