Disappointing but understandable
Mariners and MHL season comes to abrupt end due to coronavirus
When the Yarmouth Mariners skated off the ice on March 7 after claiming first place in their division for a third consecutive year, little did they know it would be their last game of the season.
But the day before the Canadian Tire Cup playoffs were to begin, the MHL announced the start of the post-season would be postponed due to COVID19 concerns. The next day, playoffs were cancelled, and just like that the season was over.
The announcement wasn’t a surprise, given the suspension of other sporting leagues, including the NBA, NHL and QMJHL, along with an endless list of cancellations of sporting events.
“Obviously it’s a tough way for a hockey season to end, especially for us 20-year-olds who won’t get another chance at winning a championship in junior hockey,” said Mariners captain Matt Barron. “In saying that, I agree with the decision as the safety of everyone involved is the top priority. It’s disappointing, though, being a team who had hopes of defending its title, but it’s out of our control.”
On March 12, Hockey Canada released a statement cancelling all of its sanctioned activities. That alone left the league with no choice but to pull the plug on the season.
Along with player safety is public safety. Social distancing of people to help curb the spread of the virus has become a priority.
Yarmouth was to have played Truro in the first round of the playoffs. The other league teams impacted included Amherst, Pictou, Summerside, Fredericton, Edmundston and Campbellton.
“I can’t say enough good things about this group of guys I was lucky to call my teammates,” Matt Barron said. “Our group put our heads down and won the division for a third straight year.”
Barron is one of three 20-year-old Mariners whose junior A careers have ended — the other two are Jake Jurgeneit and Nash Wood. Barron said he’s honoured to have played five years in the “best junior hockey town” in Canada.
“The memories I’ve made have been remarkable and I love every teammate I’ve had like a brother. Everyone always says ‘it flies by,’ which sounds cliché, but it couldn’t be more true,” he said. “I want to thank all staff and teammates over the years — they have all been amazing and I will not forget any of them. Also a big thanks to the ownership group, they have been nothing but great to me ever since I arrived.
“Last but not least, I want to thank the fans for being there every night,” he said. “I’m heartbroken I won’t be able to play another game in the Fish Tank but am happy to have had such great support throughout my tenure. It’s been an awesome ride. Thank you, Yarmouth!”
Laurie Barron is the Mariners’ head coach. He’s also Matt’s dad and has watched his son develop as a player from the time he first became involved in minor hockey.
“It’s one of those things — at some point someone was going to tell us it’s time to go home, it’s over, but this wasn’t how we wanted it to end,” he said.
On March 15, Nova Scotia announced its first three presumptive cases of COVID-19. Even before those cases, the coach said everyone understood the need for cancelling the playoffs. But it was still disappointing given how quickly things changed from that feeling of elation after finishing in first place in the Eastlink South Division.
“Obviously we’re gutted,” Laurie Barron said the day playoffs were cancelled. “We’ve won championships, we’ve lost in triple overtime, all kinds of different scenarios, but this is a first. It’s a weird feeling — disappointment being the biggest of all.”
Financially, teams will take a hit, as will their home rinks, as the playoffs are “the gravy time of the year,” said Barron.
Setting aside the way things ended, Barron was asked what he hopes players will remember most about this season.
“Obviously when you come here and you play with the Mariners it’s a family. The support through the regular season for the guys who haven’t played here before, the comments from all of them was ‘what a great place,’” he said. “Everybody that wore a Mariners crest this year are disappointed, but they’ll look back on a great experience and a chance to represent a great town. And for the guys who are returning, I think they’ll be very hungry to be back at it.”