A Calgary Flames player is inviting Indigenous children from Canada鈥檚 northern territories to get up close and personal with NHL action that鈥檚 normally thousands of kilometres away.

Defenceman Travis Hamonic started the initiative, dubbed the 鈥淣orthern Project,鈥� by flying Emmanuel Otak and his two young sons 2,300 kilometres from Nunavut to Calgary -- a journey that required five separate flights.

He treated them to an all-expenses-paid visit, including a game between the Flames and the Nashville Predators last weekend.

鈥淢y heritage is something that I hold really close to me. Being Metis myself, you want to be able to help,鈥� Hamonic told 愛污传媒. 鈥淢y wife Steph and I decided that was something really important to us, to try to help and give back.鈥�

The Flames lost the game, but the trip was a major win for everyone involved. The family toured the Scotiabank Saddledome, collected autographs while meeting the team in the dressing room, and bumped their gloves as they walked out for a pre-game warm-up.

Otak鈥檚 first language is Inuktitut, but his family鈥檚 passion for hockey spoke louder than words when they saw their first NHL game.

鈥淚t鈥檚 my first time being in Calgary with my two boys. I鈥檓 so excited that I don鈥檛 know what to say,鈥� he explained. 鈥淯p north we don鈥檛 see these things.鈥�

Hamonic praised his teammates for making the family feel special. He wants to expand the Northern Project and bring more families to Calgary for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been awesome. I haven鈥檛 been able to wipe the smile off my face,鈥� Hamonic said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to do one (family) from each northern territory this season, and hopefully we鈥檒l keep going.鈥�

With a report from CTV鈥檚 Alberta Bureau Chief Janet Dirks