J Robinson Camps

The following are real-life quotes and accounts from prior J Robinson Hockey campers, coaches and parents whose camp experiences have resulted in dramatic athletic and motivational improvements. The campers are proud to share their life-changing experiences and newfound perspectives!

Send us a note on how J Robinson Camps has helped you or someone you know! We welcome new stories and quotes. Email: [email protected]

Camper

Coach,

I am very grateful to have had the chance to go to JROB and I'm coming back for the 3 week camp in Minnesota. My season has been a sucess from an individual standpoint. I went from 3rd line as a freshman to becoming 1st line and the leading scorer with 14 goals 17 assits in 21 games as a sophmore. Our team was 8-10 this year which is a lot better than our 2-15 last year. My main problem now is that im 6'1" and only 135 pounds. I've had sucess this year but I can do much better next year if I gain some weight because I'm weak on the puck and very easy to knock over. My new coach says I have extrodinary speed and good hands and an actual shot now, and I know its all from JROB.

I have set a goal for myself to be 160-170 pounds by next november and I'm not going to start with JROB, I'm going to start March 1st by myself when my high school season is over. Don't expect an out of shape John the first couple of days of camp. With my passion for the game and my determination to become better, I'm going to return to JROB in shape and thats a promise. I am starting to realize even more potential when my coach said that if I was stronger it wouldn't even be fair for me to play in the league I'm in.

I look up to you for having played in the NHL for 14 years. I don't want to become a good hockey player I want to become an elite hockey player and person. JROB has helped me elevate my game and aditude last year and I'm looking forward to it this year. I realized last year what I want to do in life. Even if it's not at the NHL level I enjoy playing hockey everyday and would enjoy it for the rest of my life. Thank you for everthing and I can't wait until the summer.

John C

Camper

Dear Coach Zombo,

This is Eli from your hockey camp at Rennselear. I would just like to say thanks for everything, and after a couple of days of rest, I skated and found I was twice the player I'd been before entering your camp. I'd also like to tell you that I made Compuware, and I think that your camp was a big part of it. I'd like to say thanks for everything, and I really do hope to see you next year in Minnesota.

Hope to keep in touch,
Eli D

Dad

 Dear Coach Zombo,

My son, Michael age 15, has attended hockey camps for the last 7 summers. Last summer we were looking for a multiple week camp with a program that logically progressed from start to finish, not several short programs back to back that lacked continuity. A camp with top-notch instructors and staff, that was long enough to allow them to get to know my son and work with him to improve his performance. We found it at J Robinson.

At JRob he got more training in less time. A typical one-week hockey camp starts with a late afternoon or evening skate on Sunday and ends after a morning scrimmage on Friday, for a total of four full and 2 partial days of camp. The J Robinson 14 day intensive camp had 12 full days and 2 partial days of training about the same training as three one week camps. But three one-week camps in a row could never equal 2 weeks at your camp. The weekly addition of new campers and some times new staff wastes a considerable amount of time as well as making it impossible to provide a logical progression of activities.

Unless you go to an invitation to an 'elite' camp the skill level of campers at any summer camp is going to vary greatly. It is almost impossible to find a camp where the level of instruction is valuable to both the advanced and the recreational player. To expect great improvements in skill at a summer camp is a somewhat unreasonable expectation, especially at a one-week camp. At JRob you focused on conditioning both mental and physical. By concentrating on hockey specific conditioning on and off the ice, you help both AAA Tier I players and house league players become better equipped to play at the their next level.

Your staff was made up of real coaches trainers and hockey professionals, there were no 'counselors in training'. Both on and off the ice they had the time and took the time to get to know the players. You, George, Chris and the rest of the staff helped my son and the other campers identify and work on their weaknesses and further develop their strengths.

Having the rink and dorms at the same location within easy walking distance, across a parking lot, was a major advantage. At many camps valuable time is wasted every day traveling to and from the rink. This unproductive time is greatly increased when distance makes a bus or other transportation necessary. The only way I can think of to improve your camp would be to have the use of a 2-rink facility, but only if it is within walking distance of the dorms.

Thank you Coach Zombo my son benefited from J Robinson more than any other camp he has ever attended. He learned that he is capable of more than he realized and started this season in the best condition he has ever been in.

Sincerely,
David S

Camper

Coach Zombo,

The two weeks that I was at JRob turned out to be the most rewarding yet strenuous weeks of my life. All that I learned about hockey my whole life did not amount to what I learned in two weeks at JRob. The tough physical regimen that I was put through has helped me a ton in football, almost as much as hockey. I don't think I've ever hit harder or been faster in my life. Furthermore, I have never been better conditioned physically and mentally in my life. The two weeks I spent finally helped me build up enough wits to decide to spend a week in the summer at Annapolis to see if I really have what it takes to attend the Naval Academy. I want to thank you for all that you and the rest of the guys at JRob taught me. I will definitely apply all that I learned from you and the others to life, in addition to on the ice.

Secondly, I am applying to a couple of boarding schools right now and have just finished sending in my preliminary application to Choate. Hopefully I can continue to play three sports there as I do now if I gain admission. I'm sure I'll be keeping in touch with you in the next month or so and again in March to tell you if I get into Choate or not. Thanks for everything.

Sincerely,
Eddie B

Camper

Coach Zombo

I want to thank you for guiding me to become a better hockey player in the camp. I am playing the best hockey I've ever played in my life thanks to J. Robinson. My high school teammates cant believe the improvement I had from the camp. I'm working hard everyday on leg strength, quickness, arms, stickhandling, etc.

J Robinson camp not only taught me how to become a better player, it showed me how to work hard which I lacked before camp. I sleep hockey, dream hockey, and my mom gets mad that the only movie I watch every night is about hockey. I am determined to achieve my goal which is to play in the NHL. Thank you for pushing me hard and encouraging me. The strongest muscle in your body is the mind.   See you next summer.

John C

PS: That ball that you gave me has made me a much better player by just stick handeling everyday. In our varsity scrimage everyone couldn't believe how i was dominated the whole game. I scored 5 goals and had 2 assist to win the game 9-2. I cant belive how much improvment you get from JROB. I'm telling all my friends who play hockey. It is amazing.

Camper

Dear Coach Zombo,

I wanted to take the time to express how much I enjoyed the J. Robinson 14 day Intensive Hockey Camp and how much I think it helped and changed me.  Once I got into the car on the ride home, I realized how much was really done in those two weeks.  I started to reflect on everything that was done, and how it all led up to a 10 mile run.  What I finally figured out is that so much can be accomplished within a short period of time, in a challenging environment.  Therefore, I want to thank you and all of the coaches and staff, like Coach George, Coach Pilgrim, Coach Hurly, and the others, since they are the ones who allowed me to come to this realization.  This camp made me understand what hard work means and what it can do to pay off, such as the marathon run.  Every time I explain the marathon run that was completed to someone, they do not believe me, which makes me feel even better, knowing that my friends have never experienced anything such as the Intensive Hockey Camp.

Personally, I would also like to thank you for the insights and guidance you provided my father and me in terms of the steps to take to achieve my objective of playing college hockey.  I started sending e-mails to coaches asking them to watch me play in an upcoming tournament in MA.

I hope we are able to keep in touch and I am interested to know where the camps are going to be held next summer, because I would like to attend it again, perhaps even the 21 day camp next time.  If the Montclair State camp works out, I know plenty of players from my area that would love to attend as well that would benefit just as much as I did.

In summary, thank you again for making this camp an experience that not only has made me a better, more confident hockey player, but also instilled the confidence to lead and stretch my understanding of what is personally possible.

Best wishes for success this hockey season.

Sincerely,
Matt I

Camper

Intensive, what does it mean to you? Well up until last summer it ment very little to me, that all changed that first day of camp. First of all I'm not a morning person, and second of all I couldn't run long distance if my life depended on it (or so i thought).

when I arrived at camp it didn't seem to bad. We did the tests and listened to J`s speech where he told us about the shirt and I thought to myself oh I`ll get it. It can't be that hard, well it was, about a week into camp I thought to myself why am I here? Why am i putting myself through all this pain and suffering? Then I heard about the marathon that just blew me away.

As camp went on it seemed that I could run those 15 miles all those days of waking up to the sign above my head  telling me to get up and train wile my opponents are sleeping and forcing myself out of bed and as I would lean over to tie my shoes it would hurt so much as I got back up.

When we got to the night before the marathon I was pumped. I thought to myself I will; I`m going to run those 15 miles but for some reason the next morning I didn't feel the same way. Even though I ran 9 miles that wasn't enough for me when I realized that I had wused out I cheated myself out of running 12 or even 15 miles.

About a week after camp it all sunk in. I realized what all the coaches where doing when the wouldn't let me stop working and pushed me to the point that I puked and thought I was going to die and then working even harder. Even though I didn't make the team I hoped for I tried to make the best of things.  I`ve been training hard every day and working to the point where I can't work any more and then doing 1 more lap, 10 more reps or whatever.

I just want to say to all the coaches at camp thanks, you have changed my life drasticly.  I ended my season with 7 shut outs 11 wins 2 loses 1 tie.  My team was first in the district at the end of the season and we took 3rd in playoffs

Daelen S

Camper

Dear Coach,
 
Hello sir. Long time no chat. I hope you've had a good past year and I know my seasons went pretty good.  I am doing some elite hockey programs in St. Louis. I'm sorry I will not be able to attend the camp and train with you but please keep in touch. Thank you so much for your help last year and your extra push to help me get through the camp while making me a stronger person.

Your Friend,
Zak T

Dad

Hello,

My son Mike will be attending the 21 day intensive camp for the second year. Overall we are very pleased with the program. There was noticiable improvement in Mike's game, but significant changes in his lifestyle and work habits as well!! I can't say enough good things about the program!

Thanks for conducting such a great training program. We are looking forward to another great experience!

Mark K

Camper

Dear J Robinson,

The intensive hockey camp that I went through was by far the most mind blowing experiance I've ever been through.  The shocking news of hearing that I have to run a mile and max on push ups, sit ups, and lateral hops.  Before I left to go to camp, I was having seconds thoughts about getting on the plane.  This was my first out of state camp and I'm glad that it was this one I chose.  I got the award for most points in A group which meant so much to me, and I got the "I Did It" shirt which at first didn't mean so much, but then in the end I was saying if I don't get that shirt, I'll be upset.

All the kids that I met eventually became family.  I felt like I had known them for years.  All of the coaches were great.  They always pushed my to the next level every day.  One of the coaches was especially pushing me.  He was saying things that always made me and the guys bust our tails every day.  The younger coaches were good to have around because they are playing at a level of hockey where some of us wanted to be, so it was like we all wanted to look good and impress them.  They were always there to push us.

Coach Rick Zombo did a great job putting together this camp.  He was really reliable on knowing what to say when we had questions.  After our games I would go to his room and ask him how I'm playing and what areas of my game I need to work on. With all of his experiance of playing I knew that his knowledge of the game was something to remember.

This camp changed me in a lot of ways and I couldn't have been happier with the choice that I came to the camp.  I came out with 60 plus new friends and a new perspective on life and a more intense love for the game of hockey. I'll see you next year again.
 
Thank you,
Matthew L