Barron likes what he sees

By Michael Gorman

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

It may be early in the season but Laurie Barron, head coach of the Yarmouth Mariners, is already pleased with what he's getting from his hockey club.

How could he not be? In the first month of the season the team is in first place with only one loss. That loss, a season-opening 8-2 drumming at the hands of Bridgewater, served as an early wakeup call for the team, said Barron.

"I think we got to see what type of character we had," said Barron.

That character has since manifested itself into nothing but wins. For fans who have seen the team so far this season, they are seeing a mix of younger players with little experience and older players who have been through the league for two or more years. It's a balance that seems to keep all of the players pushing the intensity level and it's one that Barron believes is a recipe for success.

"I think (the young players) push the guys each day," he said. "They come to the rink full of energy and they push the veterans. They're looking to improve every day and they want to make their mark."

Barron has said from the start that he isn't afraid to have young players on his team or to use them in the lineup. So far that's been obvious. He also doesn't have much of a choice. To rely only on the veterans from last year would mean burning out their legs before the season is half way finished. At this point, Barron's faith is being rewarded.

"I think there is a vast difference between being young and being good and young," he said. "I really feel we're good and young. Our defence — we've got one 20, one 19, four 18s and a 17-year-old and they're just getting better every day. Same up front. We've got a nice blend of veteran leadership and youth."

If there is a downside to the blend it is that sometimes it means making difficult choices. Last week the team traded veteran forward Matt Duff. Barron said that was a difficult move to make, especially considering Duff's experience and his character in the dressing room. However, with so many new young forwards, Barron said there needed to be ice time to allow all of them to play. That made Duff the odd man out.

"Young kids need to play every day to improve," said Barron. "As much as it was hard to let Matt go, we're not selling the farm. It's a rebuilding process but I don't think in any means is it that we can't win right now."

Another player fans are starting to wonder about is Patrick Sharkey. Sharkey has yet to show up in Yarmouth but Barron said it is because he is recovering from an injury. He expected Sharkey would be arriving in town within the coming weeks.

Much is different about this year's squad when compared to last year's veteran-laden team. But if there is one similarity between the two groups it is the uncertainty that surrounded them at the beginning of the season. Last year it was obvious by the amount of talent on the ice that the team could be very good but people wondered whether or not the team would gel and be able to play as a unit.

This year's questions revolved around the team's ability to come together, once again, but also whether or not the team could find a rhythm balancing the new with the old. Barron said so far those questions have been answered for him.

"The guys that have been around — Jordan Scott, Steve Pearson, Cody Lefrancois, (Lyndon) Proctor — those are guys that know what it takes. And then we have all that youth there who are fresh and ready to go so it's a nice mix . . . I've seen us come together already. We're learning every day but I feel we're better now than we were a week ago and obviously that's my job to make sure that keeps happening."