(Submitted photo/Marla Possberg Photos)

By Nolan Kowal

Barney selected

SJHL’s Barney selected to coach at World Junior A Hockey Challenge

Oct 20, 2023 | 5:00 PM

Humboldt Broncos Head Coach Scott Barney will be part of the coaching staff for Team Canada at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia this December.

Hockey Canada announced earlier this week that Barney will be the head coach for Team Canada West at the tournament.

Barney will be one of eight CJHL coaches on the staff between Team Canada West and Team Canada East.

“Very excited, it’s always an honour when you can represent your country and your league and obviously your club team here in Humboldt,” said Barney, who served as an assistant coach at the tournament back in 2019. “It’s going to be the elite of the elite players in Western Canada and all over the world. So it’s a privilege to be able to coach at that level any time you get the opportunity.”

“To be able to come together in a short format and a potential chance to win a gold medal for your country is always something you think of first right away.”

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Barney said the winning culture he’s established with the Broncos should serve him well in Nova Scotia.

“I think the goal has to be to win. No matter if you step on the ice with your club team or you step on the ice in practice, you want to win,” Barney said. “And hopefully that winning culture that I feel we bring here in Humboldt can help translate into gold medal success with the rest of the staff there at this tournament.”

He added that one of the keys to success at the tournament will be familiarity amongst his players.

“If you can bring guys who are familiar and who have played together on their club teams and have had success or bring players who have been successful in playoffs or players who play in a structural system that they’re able to adapt and play different roles when you go to these kind of tournaments,” Barney said.

“And not all players can do that and that’s a thing I definitely learned a lot the first time (in 2019).”

Barney said there will be no training camp this year and the coaches will select 22 players for the roster, with only five 2004-born players allowed.

The tournament begins on Dec. 10 with Team Canada West taking on Sweden at 3:30 p.m. Atlantic Time.

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com