Jay Barriball, one of those old-time rink rats, tasted his share of team success and letdowns in high school. As a junior, Holy Angels beat Moorhead 6-4 in the Class 2A title game n 2005. Barriball scored two goals.
The next season, Barriball's senior year, the Stars lost 4-3 to Apple Valley in the section semifinals. Coach Greg Trebil said he was disappointed for his players, especially Barriball, because he would not get a chance to show his talents on a big stage. He had 28 goals and 38 assists for 66 points in 22 games, so he averaged three points per game.
As it turned out, being in the spotlight for Barriball would happen soon enough. He went to the U right out of high school and led the team with 20 goals and 43 points as a freshman.
Barriball developed good hands partly by starting at shortstop for the Stars for four years.
He started out hot as a freshman and never tapered off much. Barriball had two goals in his third college game against Wayne State.
"I just try to crash the net and that's how I've gotten all my goals," Barriball said. "Those big defensemen lose me out there and I can sneak in behind them."
His sophomore year did not nearly go that well. He had six goals, 15 assists for 21 points. Everyone kept asking him what was wrong.
"This year [my season] was not like that," Barriball said as a sophomore, referring to his first year. "I had to fight for every goal. And at some points [of the season]. I didn't have a lot of confidence."
