Goers was second among Hockey East defensemen
in scoring in all games (24 points) and league
games (17 points). |
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Key Statistics: Despite
ranking second among Hockey East defensemen in scoring
in all games (4-20—24) and league games (3-14—17)
last season, Goers was not among the seven blueliners
who received Hockey East first-team, second-team, or
honorable-mention honors in 2008.
What He Does: Coach Blaise
MacDonald says the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Goers plays a
lot like a smallish NHL defenseman of some acclaim:
the Detroit Red Wings' Brian Rafalski. The Eastern Junior
Hockey League's Defensive Player of the Year in 2006,
Goers is the prototypical puck-moving rearguard who
plays with his eyes up and sparks the transitions from
defense to offense extremely well. That said, he's also
a tough guy to beat in his own end, playing a gritty
style down low that belies his size. He was thrust into
a major role last season after defenseman Jeremy Dehner
was hurt in the River Hawks' first game, forcing Goers
to chew up big minutes on the blue line during his classmate's
six-week absence.
The Bigger Picture: As
good as he is in transition, MacDonald says Goers generated
most of his offense last season from the point. He'd
like to see Goers jump into the play more and use his
vision and puck skills to create scoring chances off
the rush. He also expects him to kick his in-your-face
style of badgering opponents up a notch. Finally, Goers
will be relied upon for what MacDonald calls "his
natural leadership ability." An assistant captain
as a sophomore, he'll be expected to guide a blossoming
UML team — the River Hawks lost just one senior
from last year's team, and only three seniors occupy
this year's roster — to greater success.
UMass Lowell coach Blaise MacDonald
on Goers: "Everybody gets experience,
but the real good players make different use of their
experience and come in with a different mindset. [Barry]
is meticulous in his training and his preparation, [and]
he's a leader through example."
—
Mike Eidelbes |
