Mariner Michael Best: Living up to his name

By Michael Gorman

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Michael Best is back where he thinks he belongs and living up to his name.

The 19-yaer-old forward for the Yarmouth Mariners has been on a tear since the start of the season. Heading into last weekend's league showcase in Summerside, P.E.I., Best was the team's leading scorer and third overall in the league with five goals and 16 points. His average of 2 points per game is the best in the league.

Best is a big reason why the Mariners sit atop the league standings and that, says the Cambridge, N.S. native is what he's enjoying most about the season so far.

"When I came to camp I was happy to be playing with some good linemates," he said last week before practice at the Mariners Centre. "We've generated some good offence, got to know each other well and things have just been clicking. You always hope for a great start but it's team first and whatever happens individually you're happy with that success."

Success is something one could argue Best did not get a full taste of last year. As the Mariners marched towards the playoffs last season Best was part of a deal that brought Cody Lefrancois to Yarmouth. Lefrancois enjoyed the rest of the season in the blue and gold and hoist the Kent Cup. Best, meanwhile, was relegated to the MJAHL version of Siberia — playing for the Restigouche Tigers. Going from a team with as much firepower as the Mariners to a club where he was expected to be the main offensive tool was an adjustment, he said.

"You try to go out there and just play a simple game and do things the same (but) it makes life a little easier when you know that if you have an off night or you miss a pass there's always guys that are there to bail you out and it takes a little pressure off and makes the game a little easier."

When the news came in the offseason that he would be coming back to Yarmouth, Best said he was excited.

"I've always loved Yarmouth," he said. "This was always my number one choice for junior A hockey and when (Mariners GM) Mark (Cole) gave me the call and said I had the chance to come back I was thrilled."

Best wasn't the only one. The team's head coach, Laurie Barron, said he also welcomed Best's return. Barron said he's always known Best was a skilled player at the offensive end of the ice, but he believes his success this season has a lot to do with his dedication to improving his defence and strength off the ice. Those attributes added to his offensive talents make him even more dangerous, especially in power play situations, said Barron.

"He's so patient with the puck. He waits and doesn't force passes and so on. He sees the ice real well."

In the Mariners' last home game Best seemed to be all over the ice. He gets back to play defence but is also a constant threat to spring on a breakaway. And unlike past seasons when strength might have been an issue, Best is now strong enough to muscle by his man and finish the play.

Best said the conscious move to focus more on defence is something that started last year while he was with the Mariners. Since he made the changes, the offensive improvement seemed to follow.

"I've learned a lot over the past year with (Steve) Kasper and (Barron) that defence kind of generates my offence," he said. "So I really tried to work on that this summer and in practice every day I try to work on my defensive game because the offence will come, it's defence first for the team."

If Best is able to stay on this path and continue the trend all season, both he and the team should be more than pleased with where it leads.