What potentially could have been Tyson Barrie聮s breakout National Hockey League season with the Colorado Avalanche was instead spent Tuesday night in Abbotsford.
聯It聮s wait and see. It聮s a bit frustrating. But it is what it is,聰 the Victoria product said about the NHL lockout.
聯One day you聮re optimistic and then the next day you聮re not.聰
The Juan de Fuca minor hockey graduate has made good use of his lockout time. The quick-footed and mobile defenceman has four goals and 10 points in 14 games for the Lake Erie Monsters of Cleveland. The Heat got the best of the Monsters on Tuesday night though, as the Flames聮 farm team prevailed 3-0. The two teams will play again tonight.
聯We聮re off to a good start [9-5]. I have no complaints about that,聰 said Barrie, who had five goals and 32 points in 49 games for the Monsters last season as a rookie pro.
聯And it聮s always good to come back so close to home and I聮ll be going out for dinner after the game with family and friends.聰
But there is always one eye trained on the NHL聮s boardroom proceedings. The players have hung tight and Barrie聮s attitude reflects that.
聯We聮re trying to get a fair deal,聰 said the
21-year-old former WHL defenceman of the year, who broke into the NHL with 10 games last season with no points and a
minus-two rating.
聯The players know what is a fair deal and know what they want. We have a good core leadership group.聰
Part of the latter includes another Colorado blueliner from Victoria 聴 the Avs player rep Ryan O聮Byrne.
聯Ryan is the guy who keeps me updated,聰 said Barrie.
