Some of you reading this have begun the new year with a target to achieve in the twelve months that lay ahead.

Kevin Porter is still striving to achieve his goal on a journey that began back in 2010.

It’s a name that might be vaguely familiar to you after his tale was told in the Toronto Sun and an appearance on the Raw Mike Richards show.

His interesting story first came to my attention through Twitter after a follow from him over a year ago.

Porter’s junior hockey career was cut short for various reasons including a broken hand and the loss of two family members during his teenage years.
He decided to go back to school to train as a paramedic, and in his words from a recent interview “almost to — I’ll use it lightly — avenge my mother’s death, if you will. I wanted to help out people.”

Holding down a full-time fire department position and two part-time paramedics jobs, Porter’s life changed once more after a near-death experience while answering a house call for Brampton Fire in 2010.
Porter and his co-worker fell through ceramic flooring and into the basement of a fiery marijuana grow-up.

A close call with his own mortality changed Porter’s outlook on life and with the full support of his wife Ashley, set about achieving something most would think was a hopeless task.

Since then the now 42 year old has done everything in his power to make it as a professional hockey player, including spending a significant amount of his hard earned dollars on equipment, ice time and coaching.

Porter trains an estimated 10-15 hours a week – no mean feat for a man holding down essentially three jobs.

During the past off-season, he joined Jim Thomson’s summer camp.
A former NHLer‘, Thomson said of Porter “If he went to an AHL training camp, as far as fitness testing he’d be in the top percentage.”
No faint praise from someone who should know.

Skating with younger guys has also helped Porter get upto the speed of the modern game, as have sessions with the likes of Barb Underhill, Darryl Belfry and Mike Ellis.

The MasterCard Centre (training centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs organisation) has become almost a home from home with the amount of time spent there.

In September 2016, Porter’s dream became reality. He signed a one-year deal with IFK Ore in Sweden.
The team is part of Sweden’s third tier league (Division 1) and they play in Group C.

The second Canadian on the team and the oldest player on IFK Ore, the left winger soaked in the experience of being a pro-hockey. He was well looked after by his first professional team, albeit without the financial rewards, and enjoyed the atmosphere of the Swedish leagues.

Though having not played during this current 2017-18 season, Porter has not been short of offers from overseas, including one from IFK Ore.

In total he received three different approaches from Sweden and one from Netherlands but having taken an leave of absence from his jobs in 2016/17, was unable to take time off again.

Currently trying to get a PTO in ECHL as it’s closer to his home and easier with work, the Brampton Beast would be a perfect fit but it hasn’t panned out for him as yet.
Porter is proactive in his search for a team, contacting those struggling in the standings on the lookout for new blood or those who’ve suffered through call-ups and injuries.

Undoubtedly the way hockey has changed with NHL teams taking more of a controlling interest in their ECHL affiliates, has made Porter’s task has been made more difficult. Many ECHL teams are being filled with younger prospects as NHL organisations look for an edge in developing players longer term.

The only thing Porter has in his control right now is the way he trains and the commitment to his dream is something to behold. He regularly posts clips of his workouts on social media (@kevinporter10 on Twitter) which often follow elongated shifts at his job.

At an age when most professional sportsmen and women have long retired, Kevin Porter continues to chase his dream.

(Many thanks to Kevin Porter for his time and the use of images in this article)