CALGARY, Alta. – As a veteran coach and general manager in the Maritime Hockey League, Laurie Barron has accomplished plenty in his time in the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
The current bench boss and GM of the MHL’s Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners first joined his club back in 2003 as an assistant.
He has held the title of head coach for over 12 years, along with a one-year stint in a similar role with fellow league member, the South Shore Lumberjacks.
A two-time recipient of MHL Coach of the Year honours, Barron boasts close to 500 victories during his tenure in his league.
He also guided Yarmouth to a MHL Canadian Tire Cup league title back in 2019 and a berth in the Fred Page Cup Eastern Canadian Jr. A Championship event.
Like many of the clubs in the CJHL, the Mariners really stress being involved in the community.
Fully supported by Barron and the entire organization, each season Yarmouth players work with minor hockey programs assisting in skills and development.
The also run a program called ‘Icy Knights’ where each member of the Mariners buddies up with a young adult with a disability throughout the campaign, involving various activities.
Here’s a look at the latest CJHL Coach’s Perspective, which features Yarmouth’s Barron.
BIO: The Nova Scotia native has been coaching in the MHL since 2003. … Barron won MHL Coach of the Year laurels in both 2012 and 2018. … He served as an assistant coach with Team Canada East at the 2012 World Junior A Challenge held in Yarmouth. … Barron’s son Matthew starred for the Mariners and was named MHL playoff MVP in 2019 in helping lead his team to the league crown. … The younger Barron will continue his career playing U SPORTS men’s hockey and attend school at Ontario Tech University (OUA) in Oshawa, Ont., as a member of the Ridgebacks.
FAVOURITE PRACTICE DRILL: I love the old seven-pass two-on-one with a shot by the D.
It’s a great pin-point passing drill which stresses timing and tempo.
It really works the defenceman to get up ice after his shot to defend the two-on-one coming back.
ADVICE ON PLAYING IN THE CJHL: The CJHL is a great training league for all players.
If you are aspiring to play major junior, you get to practice and play with older players and the practices to game ratio is very good to work on your individual skills.
If you are looking to play NCAA, it gives you a chance to play in highly skilled leagues and keep your eligibility.
NEXT UP: Martin Dagenais, head coach & general manager Ottawa Jr. A Senators (CCHL)
Photo credit: Trevor McNally
With files from James Faulkner, Director of Communications (MHL)