Clarkston Junior High School student Zachary Gootee has been selling candy bars to raise money for hockey camp.
He is not going to any hockey camp, but a camp ran by U.S. Junior Development Program that helps train and prep junior elite players for college and professional hockey.
At 13, Gootee is the youngest hockey player to be invited to the camp.
He just got back from Heartland Hockey Camp in Minnesota, where NHL coaches gave him individual attention to prepare him for next week’s camp.
‘It was more challenging,? said Gootee. ‘I liked it a lot.?
Gootee has been on the Bantam A Birmingham Rangers ?94 travel team for the last year. During the winter season he made two goals and had four assists.
He has also played for the Berkley Bears and Lakeland Hawks and has been playing since he was 5 years old.
‘He told us he wanted to play hockey,? said mom, Darlene Gootee.
Zachary will be selling candy bars at Rudy’s Market this week.
Read about his experience at the USJDP Prep Camp in a future edition of The Clarkston News.