 CLAP FOR THE WOLFF-MAN Players growing up away from cities with AAA hockey associations can often get the feeling of being on the outside looking in. The additional travel that a dedication to the game of hockey requires of players and parents who make the jump to AAA teams can be significant, but before dealing with the travel and costs associated with hockey at the AAA level, the player must first make the team. When comparing a AAA schedule to that of an A team for example, there can be some significant differences. On top of competing against other elite players in games, the AAA player may get the benefit of more practice hours, more games or better instruction from coaches. All of these factors can be discouraging for players not in the AAA system. To illustrate the situation, consider two players vying for the last spot on a AAA team. While they may be very close in ability at tryouts, by the end of the season, the player who made the team will have had the benefit of a full year on the AAA team. Meanwhile, the player who did not make the team must find a way to not just keep pace with the development of the AAA players but improve to the point where, when the following years’ tryouts start they can outshine the AAA returnees, and all of this improvement must be accomplished without the advantage of the extra practices, games against elite competition, and usually a higher budget for development at the AAA level. Kurt Wolff, of Erin, ON, found a way to do just that. The 1994-born forward has set for himself the goal of earning an athletic scholarship, and after years in the Orangeville Flyers organization and repeatedly making the long drive to the Varsity Training Centre he has proved that a player can make the jump from A to AAA hockey, joining the Major Bantam Grey-Bruce Highlanders. A notoriously hard worker, Kurt, who will now be playing a year up as well, has been a familiar face at the VTC. He has made sure to get the most out of every program he participates in, including Elite 3 on 3 Summer Development, Rep Skating and Skills and Open-Enrollment Dry Land Training. While there are still many challenges ahead on the road to a scholarship, the staff at Varsity Hockey has no doubt that Kurt’s dedication and work-ethic will not hold him back. Congratulations Kurt and best of luck this season. 
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