Regardless of the situation, when Zack Barbis has the puck, opposing teams are
on alert.
The freshman defenseman from Mentor, Ohio, might be seen as small compared to most defenders at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, but his skills make him a force on both sides of the ice.
Routinely, Barbis carries the puck out of trouble - from behind his own net, out of his goaltender's crease and through the neutral zone with confidence. Since the beginning of the season, Barbis has manned the point for Ohio's power play, usually with Chris Perko or Steve Osacky.
And without a few injuries, he might not even be there.
Until two years ago, Barbis was a forward. He was a skilled skater in junior hockey and got used to having the puck. A gifted passer, Barbis loved to score.
While playing for the Cleveland Jr. Barons under-19 team, his team's defense took a major hit and lost three players to injury. The coaching staff, led by Greg Heffernan, held a tryout to replace the missing defensemen and Barbis stood out.
It was a tough switch at first
Barbis admitted. I had been a forward for so long and I started to miss having the puck on
my stick.
I played the point on the power play as a forward, too, so that wasn't a big difference (after switching to defense).
Now in his first season of college hockey
he has quickly become one of the players opposing coaches make note of in the locker room.
Barbis said he wasn't sure where he could find his niche with the Bobcats
and with the team not winning as much earlier on in the year
it made things difficult for the coaching staff as well.
Coach Dan Morris immediately noticed his offensive sharpness and made him a regular presence on the power play.
Early in the season, his confidence was kind of shot, Morris said. We took note and put him in successful situations.
It lets him be creative
and we like when he has the puck on his stick.
Morris said Barbis has become the team's top-scoring defenseman.
His 18 points on the season lead the team's defense corps, and last weekend he became a shootout specialist with the winning goal against Robert Morris.
I've always had a knack for the shootout
I guess
Barbis said.
Barbis's four power play goals put him fourth on the team.
At the beginning of the year
I wasn't sure how I would fit in
he said. Once I figured out I could play at this level
