It’s a dilemma faced by countless parents of young, talented athletes. Trying to find exactly the right mix in providing opportunities and remaining supportive while also being grounded firmly in reality, especially when it comes to the athletic potential their child might possess.

It is certainly no different for Guy and Debby Jolicoeur. The couple have watched all three of their sons grow and develop through sport, with the youngest of the crew now some seven hours from home.

A mainstay within the SMHA “AAA” squads through both his Peewee and Bantam years, 16 year old Martin Jolicoeur is currently attending the Ontario Hockey Academy in Cornwall (Ontario).

Established just two years ago, the Academy is designed to mirror similar programs at Notre Dame College in Saskatchewan and Shattuck St Mary’s School in Faribault (Minnesota).

The decision to have Martin leave home in his second year of midget eligibility, one which was reached by consensus of both parents as well as the young teen, was not one that occurred with limited debate.

“We really had no preconceived notion of what to expect when we first visited the campus” acknowledged Guy Jolicoeur, a very familiar face at nearby rinks and soccer fields.

“We really garnered a comfort level during our visit and then took a few days to weigh all of the advantages and disadvantages, trying to put everything into context.” The context, both for the parents and Martin, lies in the opportunities that are presented both academically and in hockey.

Make no mistake – there is no denying that Martin Jolicoeur possesses a certain level of hockey talent. With four years of “AAA” hockey behind him, the well-spoken young man overcame the disappointment of not cracking the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves' roster in his minor midget year, enjoying a solid season with the Copper Cliff “AA” Redmen.

Topping off his campaign last year was a trek to the NOHA U-17 camp where both he and Adam Di Brina were selected to move on to the main camp in Ottawa, a definite rarity in having a pair of “AA” players chosen.

Home for the holidays last week, Martin Jolicoeur looked back on his first few months of a whole new experience, recognizing there was a need to develop at a couple of levels. “My consistency has been my biggest problem – making sure I was playing as hard as I could each and every night.”

Known primarily for his speed and scoring touch, Jolicoeur is enjoying the chance to be on the ice and in the weight room more often, but it’s his studies that makes him most proud so far.

“My schooling has been a really pleasant surprise”, he says. “I’m doing better than I’ve done in quite a while. I was a decent student going in, but certainly a better student now.”

Jolicoeur credits a very regimented structure, one which sees the students begin their day at 6:30 a.m., in class by 7:30, allotted two hours in the study hall after supper and curfew by 10:15 p.m. as positively impacting his academic career.

That, and a great student to teacher ratio. “The fact that there are five of six students in each class, and they’re all your buddies, your teammates, so everyone works together”, suggests Jolicoeur.

“He’s developed that maturity, looking at this as a life experience” notes his father, clearly pleased with the early signs of the impact of a very tough family decision. And while the academic component was a big part of the puzzle for the Jolicoeur clan, it is clearly the hockey aspect that prompted the initial look into this new program.

The school’s coaching staff includes 15 year NHL veteran Ray Sheppard, with Edmonton Oiler draft pick Brent Loney guiding the OHA Mavericks Gold roster for which Jolicoeur suits up.

His team competes in the Ottawa “AAA” hockey league, battling with the likes of both the Ottawa Senators and Ottawa Jr 67’s as well as Upper Canada College. The ultimate goal, for Jolicoeur as it is with hundreds of others in similar situations, is to hopefully draw the attention of NCAA scouts.

“I think there is likely more NCAA coverage in the Ottawa area and in Cornwall, being right on the border”, acknowledges Jolicoeur. The Ontario Hockey Academy teams will enter tournament play both in Canada and the U.S., with treks south of the border certainly more prevalent.

It’s a journey that, at least to date, has broadened the horizons of Martin Jolicoeur. He chats about linemates who have moved from Newfoundland (and the challenges of understanding their rather unique dialect), along with teammates from as far away as Scotland.

In the end, both Martin and his parents understand all too well that this opportunity may or may not pave the way to a successful next step in his hockey career. “I think the message for him is that he didn’t give up on his dream”, stresses Guy Jolicoeur.

“He wanted to see how far he can go with this, he’s willing to make the sacrifices and we are there to support him.” All while keeping their feet planted firmly on the ground.