The picturesque Trans-Canada Highway snaked its way through the breathtaking landscape of British Columbia as Tyson Barrie embarked on a journey filled with uncertainty and determination.
As the 13-year NHL veteran cruised down the highway in his SUV, his eyes alternated between the majestic mountains outside and his furry companion, Ralph, the six-year-old Aussiedoodle, riding shotgun. The familiar comfort of chartered flights seemed like a distant memory as he made the 14-hour trek from his home on Vancouver Island to an AirBnb in Calgary.
Barrie’s mind was filled with thoughts of his family waiting for him back home – his wife Emma, his young son, and his newborn daughter. Yet, he knew that in order to chase his dreams of playing in the NHL, he had to embrace the uncertainty of a Professional Tryout.
“It never did,” Barrie reflected. “You wrap your head around that, and you have to regroup.”
Navigating through the winding roads, Barrie was not alone in this journey of rediscovery. Many NHL veterans like him found themselves in unfamiliar territory, fighting for a spot on a roster through unconventional means.
“It’s all part of the journey. I’m grateful for what I’ve been given by the game. If you want to continue, sometimes you have to do unconventional things,” Barrie acknowledged.
Living the life of a player on a PTO meant embracing a nomadic existence far away from the comforts of home. The daily per diem of $132 provided by the NHL often meant relying on food delivery services for sustenance, a far cry from the carefully curated diets of professional athletes.
“Being in a hotel is tough. You’ve got to make sure you eat the right things, but you open the Doordash app and McDonald’s is the first thing thrown in your face,” Zach Aston-Reese shared from his own experiences on a PTO with multiple teams.
As Barrie continued his journey towards Calgary, the road ahead was uncertain, but he remained determined to prove himself once again in the ever-evolving world of professional hockey.
The landscape outside may have changed, but the fire within Barrie burned brighter than ever as he navigated through the twists and turns of his unconventional path back to the NHL.
