Russell Barkell was a hockey player that played for the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team. He would be the university's first star player as he would lead the team to a 6-0 record in 1920 and would play with the team until 1922. The team would not be recognized by the university as a varsity program until the 1922-23 playing season. In January of 1923 he would become the head coach of the Williams Ephs men's ice hockey team for just the 1922-23 season compiling a 6-3-1.