Jonathan Eetoolook has dreams of following in the footsteps of Jordin Tootoo. Darius Aleekee wants to use hockey as a way to get an education.

They both love hockey and theySA国际影视传媒檒l get a chance to take a big step toward their goals this season in Ontario.

The pair from Taloyoak are in Gravenhurst, Ont., SA国际影视传媒� roughly a two-hour drive north of Toronto SA国际影视传媒� with the South Muskoka Shield Jr. A squad of the Greater Metro Jr. A Hockey League, which counts teams from Ontario, Quebec and Alberta among its ranks. They arrived at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Troy Kahler is the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 president and director of player development and he said the boys approached the organization to see what options were available.

SA国际影视传媒淲e talked about what they wanted to do with hockey and so I put them in touch with Scott Wallace, one of our players who comes from Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Wallace hails from Rankin Inlet and has already spent one season with the Shield.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey had a conversation between each other and (Scott) talked about what it takes to be here and the differences between living in Ontario and Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� said Kahler. SA国际影视传媒淛onathan has dreams, Darius has dreams, I had dreams of being a hockey player but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots of learning curves. I wanted the boys to get a good idea of what being here would look like and hearing it from someone from Nunavut whoSA国际影视传媒檚 been here and can relate.SA国际影视传媒�

Eetoolook originally wanted to go to Toronto and see if he could play there this season but those plans dried up due to a problem a lot of people from the North face.

SA国际影视传媒淚t cost too much money and I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 afford it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 just stopped thinking about it but I found a sponsorship and that helped me get here (to Gravenhurst).SA国际影视传媒�

That sponsorship consisted of grants for both Eetoolook and Aleekee from the Indigenous Kids Network and the Inuit Child First Initiative, the latter of which is operated by the Government of Canada. That gives Inuit youth up to the age of 18 the chance to access social, educational and health programs with help from the federal government.

SA国际影视传媒淲e helped the boys get letters written up so they could apply for those grants,SA国际影视传媒� said Kahler.

The boys arenSA国际影视传媒檛 part of the main roster just yet SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檒l be on the development squad to start off, which theySA国际影视传媒檒l suit up for beginning this coming week, and will have the chance to work their way into the line-up, said Kahler.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 part of the learning curve and they know that,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e been watching practices and theySA国际影视传媒檙e seeing what itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about. They know theySA国际影视传媒檒l have to work hard to make it but weSA国际影视传媒檒l show them how to get there and give them every chance to crack the line-up.SA国际影视传媒�

Off the ice, Aleekee said heSA国际影视传媒檚 enjoyed what heSA国际影视传媒檚 seen so far.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots of nice people down here and a lot more stores,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a bit more strict with the masks than it was back home but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 OK. The people we live with have been really nice, also.SA国际影视传媒�

Kahler echoed that last sentiment.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e living with the same family that billets Scott and theySA国际影视传媒檝e been really gracious to the boys,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒�(The family has) been telling me the boys are helping out with everything around the house and have been very respectful.SA国际影视传媒�

The pair will eventually go to school in Gravenhurst but theySA国际影视传媒檙e going through an assessment on where theySA国际影视传媒檙e at.

Kahler said theySA国际影视传媒檒l probably enter school for the start of a new semester in January and in the meantime, theySA国际影视传媒檙e working with a tutor from the Literacy Society of South Muskoka.

They will also have plenty of off-ice work in terms of fitness, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檒l get strength training, instruction on proper nutrition, keeping their muscle mass up,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檒l find out quickly if this is for them but if they have the right attitude, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no reason why they canSA国际影视传媒檛 be successful.SA国际影视传媒�

Eetoolook said heSA国际影视传媒檚 ready for the challenge.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 looking for a way to try and be like Jordin Tootoo,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to play in the National Hockey League one day and this is a good chance for me to do that.SA国际影视传媒�

Aleekee isnSA国际影视传媒檛 dreaming of a professional hockey career. He wants to become a doctor and is hoping hockey can help him get there.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 like to go to university in Ottawa and be able to play there also,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Being so far away from home isnSA国际影视传媒檛 too bad yet, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淚 call my family every day to say hi,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 miss home yet.SA国际影视传媒�

Kahler said he knows this is a big move for Eetoolook and Aleekee but he wants to make sure they have every chance to be successful because, as he put it, every player matters.

SA国际影视传媒淏oth sides are taking a chance here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e taking a chance on their life goals and weSA国际影视传媒檝e taken a chance on these boys but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 how good things happen. We want to give them that chance to experience life in a different place. We have players from all different backgrounds: players of African descent, players of French descent and now players of Inuit descent. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 always good stories to be told out there and if they have that dedication to get better every day, itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a happy ending for them.SA国际影视传媒�