What a turnaround.
Last year, the Yarmouth Junior A Mariners had their worst statistical season ever, finishing with a franchise low 13 wins.
This season, the Mariners have 20 wins through 27 games, and sit one point back of Pictou County for first place.
Laurie Barron took over as Head Coach and General Manager in the off-season.
He says the ‘re-build’ has happened quicker than he expected.
“If I had of said we’d be near first place with a game in hand, I’d be lying, I didn’t think we’d be quite there. I thought we’d be battling. I guess our battle cry at the start of the year was that we want to be competitive every night and we want respect.”
Barron says this young team is special, as adversity has made them better.
“I don’t know if anyone realizes, but we’ve played with eight or nine forwards and five defensemen (because of injuries and suspensions.) To be able to play top teams in your division and the league and come away with points, this could have been a real bad time for us, but we found a way to make it a positive.”
He says he’s not done adding to the team, hoping to bring in another forward or two and a defenseman before the trade deadline in January.
The Mariners return to the ice on Friday, January 6th versus the Truro Bearcats.
