Barone looking forward to playing college hockey close to home

There’s a lot that goes into deciding where to play college hockey.

For Adam Barone, there were a number of reasons why the Sault product chose to continue his hockey career at Lake Superior State University.

Among them was one major factor.

Barone said the proximity to home is “a big reason why I chose to commit there.”

Barone added that he met online with the LSSU coaching staff during the recruiting process and was left impressed with what he saw.

“They took clips from my game and clips from their game and showed similarities in how I would fit into their style,” Barone said. “It just stuck with me how they were going to use me and use my game right away to help the team.”

Barone is in the midst of his second full season with the Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Cobourg Cougars.

Barone said he’s made strides in his defensive game with Cobourg and has made an effort to keep his game simple as he prepares to join Lake State in the fall.

“From U18 to junior, a big thing was simplifying my game, and another step from junior to college is making it even simpler,” Barone said. “The less moves you can make and saving as much energy as you can to battle in the D-zone or to win a puck and make a pass, that’s what will make the difference.”

After scoring three times and assisting on 21 goals in 47 games last season in Cobourg, the 18-year-old blueliner is averaging just under a point per game this season with the Cougars.

After playing with the Soo Jr. Greyhounds U18 team in 2019-20 and spending the 2020-21 season with the team through the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Barone signed with Cobourg during the summer of 2021 and said there was a key reason why he chose to join the team.

“The main goal here is to win a championship, but a big reason why I chose to come here is how seriously they take the development of players,” Barone said.

Enjoying his time in Cobourg, Barone said the city reminds him of home.

“It’s pretty similar to back home,” Barone said of Cobourg. “It’s a small town, really nice people and they love their hockey. We always have a really good showing whenever it’s gameday.”

The 2022-23 season has been one of accomplishments for Barone who, in addition to verbally committing to Lake State in the fall, suited up for Team Canada East in the World Jr. A Hockey Challenge in December.

Barone had a goal and an assist in six tournament games in addition to winning a silver medal.

The international game was a learning experience for the young blueliner as well.

“A big thing was finding a role that will help your team win,” Barone said. “Not everyone is going to be a goal scorer or a playmaker. You have to find the little things you do that will help the team win, whether it’s making a quick first pass, shutting the play down at the blueline.”