Former Pete looks to keep Humboldt strong
Scott Barney named assistant coach of Humboldt Broncos
Scott Barney’s entry into coaching is going to be an experience unlike any in hockey.
The former Peterborough
Petes captain, who now calls Peterborough home, has been hired as an assistant coach for the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
The Broncos are picking up the pieces after a devastating bus crash which killed 16 members of the team including their head coach and general manager. The Broncos were the recipient of an outpouring of support and generosity from across Canada and the hockey world following the tragedy in April.
Barney, 39, decided this summer to retire after a 19-year professional hockey career after helping Anyang Halla win the Asian Hockey League championship last season.
Barney’s career took him to 10 countries and included a stint with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
Barney contacted several teams looking for an opportunity to get into coaching including his former AHL teammate Nathan Oystrick who took over as head coach/GM with Humboldt.
“Obviously, It’s a tough situation for the community and players and families,” Barney said.
“I’m really excited for the challenge. It’s going to be a 98 per cent new roster and will be a work in progress. It’s a great opportunity and one I didn’t want to pass up.”
This is a special situation to come into and Barney feels a sense of honour to be a part of helping a community and hockey team recover from tragedy.
“My focus is going to be on spending a lot of hours at the rink and being there for players and families,” he said.
“You have to be a pretty good listener and bring a positive attitude to the rink every day and be there for the players and have an open-door policy.
“If anybody needs to call you for any reason you have to be there. You’re almost like a big brother but a father figure at the same time as well as a coach. You’ll have a lot of different hats on every day which will make me a better person in the end, too.
“I feel fortunate to have a family at home and kids. It will be a tough transition but I’m going to learn a lot. Probably more in my first year of coaching than in a lot of years.”
Barney’s wife Tara and two young children will remain in Peterborough as his oldest starts school next month. He wants the family to have its roots here and stability.
He also expects to spend many hours at the rink and on road trips so it will be easier for his family to be closer to grandparents and a support network.
“Being away from the family is not easy and definitely something I thought about,” he said.
“This career path is something I’ve thought about for years and something I think I can do a good job at.”
Winning a championship, he said, was a good way to end his playing career.
I feel like I could still play a couple of more years but I thought this opportunity was one I couldn’t pass up, to give back to a community that is going through a really tough time.
“I have a passion for hockey and it’s what I’ve known best since I was three years old. I know in coaching you have to put in a lot more hours than playing and I’m looking forward to doing that. There is only one way to work and that’s to put 110 per cent in.”