Two years ago, Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves defenceman Joshua Blacksmith was toiling away in relative obscurity, playing house league hockey in Northern Quebec.
His mother, Flora, moved to Greater Sudbury to take business administration at Cambrian College and Blacksmith joined her, as he knew the city was a hockey haven.
They moved away from his father and other family members in Waswanipi in order to pursue their dreams. It was a tough move - one which has been taxing on their family life, but Blacksmith wouldn't have it any other way. (Blacksmith's younger brothers : Dallas, 14, Dakota, 13,  and Chewetin-Michael, 10 - also all play hockey at various levels in Sudbury as well.)
Blacksmith, who is from the Cree Nation, made a AA squad
last season and then stepped up to the top level last fall when
he tried out for the AAA Nickel Capital Wolves.
To say he was a longshot is a gross understatement.
Not only was Blacksmith overcoming the big leap of going from house league and AA hockey to AAA midget hockey, but he was trying out for a Nickel Capital Wolves team that was full of returning veterans.
For every player trying out for the team, it was especially hard since a good majority of the club was already set in stone, and Blacksmith was trying out in a completely new position.
He asked team manager Albert Corradini if he could try out for forward, but was told he would have a better chance of making the team a defenceman. Blacksmith heeded the words and made the transition to the blueline, and to the shock of many, made the cut for the 2007-08 Nickel Capital Wolves squad.
The coaching staff loved Blacksmith's work ethic and his team-first mentality.
He was exactly what they were looking for in a sixth or seventh defenceman.
Over the course of the season, Blacksmith improved at an
astonishing rate and became a regular contributor and even
earned more ice time and a bigger role on the team.
Regardless of what Blacksmith has endured to make the team and
stay on it while becoming an important role player, it pales in
comparison to the toll of being away from his father, Matt.
"It can be really tough some times," the 16-year-old said. "My
dad does a lot of travelling each month to come and see us. We
talk a lot on the phone and text message each other a lot too.
It's not the same as talking to him in person. My dad sees us
twice a month, and when he does, he treats us really good."
Needless to say, when his father is in the stands watching Blacksmith play hockey, it gives him plenty of motivation.
"He doesn't get to see me a lot, and when he's there, he's supporting me and I can feel it," the six-foot-one defender said. "It's such a great feeling to have."
Blacksmith's rise to prominence came two weeks ago at the Central Canadian Region Championship. Sudbury was playing the Ottawa Junior 67's in the round robin. Ottawa was pounding Sudbury and had taken a 3-0 lead. Head coach Peter Michelutti Jr., looking to change the momentum, tapped Blacksmith on the shoulder and asked him to make that change happen somehow, someway.
Blacksmith went out and crushed several Ottawa players with thunderous body checks and created big turnovers, which allowed his teammates to score some key goals. Sudbury then went on to win the game 4-3.
Blacksmith's performance in that game still sends chills up the coaching staff's spines.
"He helped turn that game and our game around and put us in the right direction going into the semi-finals and finals," Michelutti Jr. said. "It gave us the momentum. Maybe if we didn't win that game…we might not have been able to win the semi-final game, then the final and get to the nationals. It was a big moment."
Blacksmith's father Matt, sees his son as a  leader and is proud of what he has accomplished. "His brothers really look up to him," he said. "He's their leader and gives them advice and love. Even when Joshua comes home, other kids in the community look up to him. Joshua is a fighter and never gives up. I'm so proud of him and it means a lot to me to see him doing so well."
Matt has no reservations about the long drives he makes to see his family each month. This year alone, Matt has piled up thousands of kilometres travelling all over Quebec and Ontario to see his family.
"I don't really know how many kilomteres I have driven over the past two years," he said. "I want every chance I get to see my family. We're a close family. I couldn't be more fortunate to have four sons playing hockey in Sudbury."
Blacksmith has become a steadying influence on the Nickel Capital Wolves' defence with his robust play and willingness to learn.
"Joshua has been, by far, one of our most improved players from the start of the season," Michelutti Jr. said. "He has put in a lot of hard work and dedication. To come from house league hockey and make an AAA midget team two seasons later speaks a lot about how strong his character is. He's an excellent example for other players to follow…how to never give up and keep going no matter what happens."
A team of 20 Clydesdale horses couldn't yank Blacksmith away from the Nickel Capital Wolves. He has given his blood, sweat and tears to the team this year to help them reach the TELUS Cup and is willing to do anything to win.
"I expect to work hard and do whatever it takes to win hockey games," the 190-pound defenceman said. "If the coaches want me to score, I will go and try and score goals. If they want me to hit, I'll go out and hit."
His attitude and approach to the team game has endeared Blacksmith to the coaches and players. "He's a great teammate," Corradini said. "He motivates other players and when he's on the ice, he delivers strong play. He's come a long way and earned a lot of respect…respect he deserves."
Blacksmith will have little time to rest after the TELUS Cup as he will compete for another national hockey crown a few days after this event is over.
Blacksmith will represent a Quebec team at the national Aboriginal hockey championships in Sault Ste. Marie.
"It should be another great experience," Blacksmith said.
