Blaze bring Miner Barron to Coventry

COVENTRY Blaze have added defenceman Alex Miner Barron to their ranks for the rest of the Elite League season.

The 6’1” right-shooter, 26, spent last season with Strasbourg of France where he led all Ligue Magnus defencemen for assists (26 in 44 regular season games). He also had three goals for a total of 29 points.

Before pro hockey, Miner Barron played three years of junior hockey with the North American Alex Miner Hockey Barron League’s Bismarck Bobcats and United States Hockey League’s Indiana Ice and Waterloo Black Hawks. Being able to play both forward and defence, he then earned a scholarship to play NCAA Division I hockey at Quinnipiac University, going to the NCAA tournament four times, including two Frozen Four appearances, and winning an ECAC Hockey title.

After signing with the Wichita Thunder in August, Miner Barron decided to retire from the sport to focus on his newly established health, fitness and, lifestyle business, however his love for the game and the opportunity with Coventry has saw him choose to do a U-turn.

Miner Barron said: “At the time, it was very important for me to be public about retiring and my intentions for doing so. I had a business coaching and mentoring younger hockey players that I didn’t want to give up. Hockey has given me a lot and I felt that it was time for me to give back to the sport and the youth of this sport.

“That said, in the back of my mind I knew I wasn’t ready to step away from hockey just yet. I have lost three Championships and I don’t want to leave the game without winning one. I feel I am ready for a more competitive league. Coventry has been on my radar for a long time as a team. My good friend Ben Arnt played here and had nothing but terrific things to say about the team, the organisation, the fans, and Coventry itself.”

Blaze expect Miner Barron and fellow new signing Dorian Peca to be in the line-up this weekend.