Matt Barron receives league honours
Yarmouth Mariners captain Matt Barron didn’t get the opportunity to try and hoist the Canadian Tire Cup for a second time, but the captain who played five years with the team still collected hardware prior to the season’s end.
Barron was named to the MHL’s 2019-20 all-star team. He is a first-time all-star, though he was voted to the Rookie All-Star Team in 2015-16. The 20-year-old hometown forward set a career high with 79 points this season, which placed him fifth overall in league scoring. His 55 assists were fourth-most in the MHL. He also had 25 multi-point games.
“A leader on and off the ice, Barron helped the defending Canadian Tire Cup champion Yarmouth Mariners capture their third straight Eastlink
South division title,” the league said in selecting Barron as all-star centre.
This season, Barron set three regular-season franchise records for overall games played (236), assists (170), and points (262). Barron broke records set 14 years ago by former Mariner Justin d’Entremont. He didn’t break the franchise record for overall goals — that record by former Mariner Colin Campbell in 2014 still stands at 99. Still, Barron had an impressive 92 goals during his five regular seasons.
Rounding out the league’s all-star team were: Brodie MacArthur, left wing (Summerside Western Capitals); Kallum Muirhead, right wing (Summerside Western Capitals); Evan White, defence (Edmundston Blizzard), Ian Smallwood, defence (South Shore Lumberjacks) and Dominik Tmej, goaltender (Summerside Western Capitals).
The MHL also announced a number of major award winners. Barron was named Character Player of the Year after officials from all MHL teams submitted nominations.
“Matt’s work this year as our captain goes much deeper than his on ice play,” said head coach Laurie Barron. “Matt’s work with our Icy Knights program is something he takes very seriously. He knows how much it means to the young adults with various disabilities in our community because his sister Natalie has been in the program since day one. Matt also ran a workout program for the major bantam kids in our area and a skill development program for minor hockey. He is a role model for many young players in our area from Clare to Shelburne.”
“Matt was the calming voice in the dressing room,” Barron added. “He has shown a very young team how to play hard, practice hard and how to carry yourself as a professional.”
Looking ahead to next year, Barron has committed to Ontario Tech (U SPORTS) where he will study and play hockey.