Meet the Barkmans, the First Nations hockey family fuelling the dreams of their youngest son

If there's one thingRicky Barkman loves, it's hockey.

It's a passionthat led the teenagerto leave his home in Sachigo Lake First Nation to attend high school in Thunder Bay, Ont., nearly650 kilometressouth.

The 14-year-old wanted to play league hockey so badly, he was willingto take a bigleap. From Sachigo Lake First Nation in northern Ontario, with about 500 people, to Thunder Bay, a cityof 110,000, andHammarskjold high school, which has about 800 students.

"I wanted to do it ever since I was like 12 years old," Rickysaid. "It's fun to meet new people and play with other teams."

Since he was nine, Rickywould skate andplay hockeyfor about five hours a day,as soon as it wascold enough for the community's rink to freeze. He would play with a handful of friends, and from time to time would join teamspulled togetherto play intournaments across northern Ontario.

But when he came to Thunder Bay, Rickyentered competitive minor hockey, aworld away from what he was used to.

Hestarted by attending evaluations for the U15 division, where coaches get a chance to watch the players before a city-wide draft.He was trying out alongside players who had likely already been inorganized hockey for about 10 years.

But Rickysaid he wasn't daunted by that, particularly knowing he hadthe backing of his family.

"Oh, it feels pretty good," he said."I think I'm the first person in my family that actually has been on a team of any sport."

But Rickyis definitelynot the first in his family to leave home for high school. He haseight older siblings who left to pursue their secondary education, buttheyall attended school in Sioux Lookout, a community much closer to home about 440 kilometres away.

Whenparents Tim andEllastartedmaking arrangements for Ricky, there were new things to navigate, especially thisyear.

LISTEN |Here's The Barkman Hockey Family radio mini-documentary from CBC's Superior Morning

6:55Mary-Jean Cormier: Barkman Hockey Family

Team sweatshirts, long drives, and a whole lot of support...Hear about a young hockey player from Sachigo Lake First Nation ... and how his family is going the extra mile to support his dreams.

"With the pandemic, the kids are not even allowed or they don't recommend kids come and go, so all the students are still at home. But because Ricky wanted to play hockey, you know, we supported him,"Ella Barkman said.

"We had to sign a waiver for him to come and to go to school and play hockey."

Tim said the decision was tough, but worth it.

"It's not easy letting your child go out at 14 and for them to go to high school," Ricky's dadsaid. "But for him, he's lucky that he's got his sisters he lives with."

Kayla and SamanthaBarkman,Ricky's sisters who live and work in Thunder Bay,are looking after himwhile he's in high school, helping him meet the demands ofhigh school and his team.

"It's nice having him here. He always wants to go to the arena and skate, and to the outdoor rinks and stuff. Sometimes we both like to go to the practices," said Kayla.

While she initially wasn't into hockey until her brother started playing, Kaylaand the rest of her family are Ricky's biggest fans, wearing matching Barkmanhoodiesand cheering for every goal.

But his sisters aren't the only Barkmanswhocan be seen in the stands.

Tim and Ellacome to watch as often as they can, despite the sacrifices they have to make to get there.

Getting from SachigoLake to Thunder Bay means either taking an expensive flight, with plane tickets costingabout $700, or setting out on a long drive, when the ice roads are passable.

"The travel could be 17 hours, too, depending on the road. I mean, it could take longer than that at times, you know? But we have to, I mean, we have to travel," said Tim.

When they can't make it in person to watch their son play, the family gathers in SachigoLake to watch the livevideo feed available at several Thunder Bay arenas.

Even at home, Ella cheers like she's there.

WATCH| Ella Barkman cheers on Ricky from her home in Sachigo Lake First Nation:

Ella Barkman is her son's biggest fan

3 years ago

Duration 0:26

Ella Barkman cheers on her son Ricky from her home in Sachigo Lake First Nation, nearly 650-kilometres from where Ricky is playing and going to school, in Thunder Bay, Ont.

This season, Ricky has given his family a lot to cheer about asone of the team'shighest scorers, althoughhe shares thecredit with his teammates.

"Feels pretty good, but it's all of the team's work. They just feed me good plays and I'm just putting it in the net. That's just how it's going so far."

A star on the rise?

It's that talent that his coaches saw when Rickyfirst arrived for the U15 tryouts, according to KC Sabres head coach Nick Parry.

"From the get-go you could tell he had talent. He was skating hard. Very nice hands. You could tell the kid loved hockey. And that right there drew us into wanting to draft Ricky."

Parry said Ricky's lack of minor hockey experience didn't matter, and it's something he's seen before with other First Nationsplayers he's drafted from northern communities.

"Every single one of them I've had, they've loved hockey greatly. They've always been at every practice, every game. They want to be there. They give it their all and they want to improve."

If Ricky wants to stick with it, Parry said,he could definitely play AA hockey, if not junior hockey, down the road.

The teen has similar hopes, but is also looking to his education toopen up other possibilities.

"Maybe I'll become like an engineer or something."

Until then, he said,he'll enjoy the journey, knowing his family is cheering him on.