MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — This past Friday, Mississauga Steelheads head coach and general manager James Richmond announced the signing of 18-year-old Adam Barkley to a Standard Players Agreement.

Barkley, who was a third-round pick by the Steelheads in 2020, is looking to make his mark this coming season as he graduates to the major-junior level. Barkley spent the previous two seasons in the Central Canada Hockey League where he played for the Kemptville 73’s.

As for James Richmond, he’s especially eager for the new season to kick off now that Barkley is officially on board.

“Adam is a strong physical defenseman that will be tough to play against,” the Steelheads coach and GM said in a press release. “We look forward to watching Adam’s development over the year and seeing him in the blue and white.”

This week, the Steelheads bench boss went into greater detail about what attracted him and the rest of the team to signing the young defenseman.

“Adam worked his butt off throughout training camp and earned a spot on this year’s roster,” Richmond said. “He knows what his game should look like, and that is a tough physical shut-down defenseman.”

Among his plethora of assets, Barkley boasts a solid work ethic and just has a desire to keep improving as a competitor.

“Adam wants to learn everyday he’s at the rink with the coaches, so we believe his commitment to development falls directly in line with what we want to see in our younger players,” Richmond added.

For Jason York, who was Barkley’s coach in Kemptville, he had nothing but glowing reviews about the young blueliner. York was, and is, especially fond of Barkley’s unwavering work ethic, using an instance from the youngster’s first training camp in Kemptville as a shining example of just how much Barkley values hard work.

“Adam came to me, and he said, ‘Do you mind if I leave right after the workout? I have to get home,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, no problem. What’s up?’ and he’s like, “Well, I got to go home and do all of my chores after,’” an amused York reflected. “So, most hockey kids today, they’re good kids, but I’ll say this: they’re very privileged. They’ve got skills coaches [and] they’ve got all kinds of private lessons. They play hockey and that’s it. They don’t work…They go to school and they play hockey and that’s it.”

During his entire time coaching him, York always saw the opposite in the 18-year-old.

“Adam was playing, practicing, working out, then going home to work on his farm,” a proud York noted. “So, to me, kids like Adam, especially today, are very tough to find.”

While he did admit that he was sad to see Barkley move on, Coach York could not contain his pride — excitement, even — for the Inkleman, Ont., native as he prepares for the next stage in his hockey career.

Regarding words of wisdom, the Kemptville coach has some for Barkley.

“As far as advice goes, number one, don’t change,” York said. “Because the person you are is why you’re able to go there as an older guy and make the team. Keep doing what you do.”

As for what the future holds for his former defenseman, York couldn’t feel more confident.

“He works hard, he’s an extremely hard worker, and has a great attitude,” beamed the coach. “So, just keep doing what he’s doing. Whatever Adam does in life, he’s going to be successful. I know that 100 percent. That’s something a lot of these kids– they’re all in it for the hockey, which is great, but unless you have a solid work ethic, a solid foundation and all those things, you better be careful, and with Adam, I’m not worried. I know he’s going to do great.”

York continued.

“I’ll tell you one thing: I’m more concerned for these kids for what happens after hockey. Hockey’s just a very, very small part of your life and Adam’s going to do great because of that work ethic, because of his humility, because of the kind of kid that he is. So, I think Mississauga is very, very fortunate to have a kid like him.”

A former defenseman himself, York played 13 seasons in the NHL, spending five of those with his hometown Ottawa Senators. During his tenure with the Sens, York helped turn the club from a laughingstock, for lack of a better term, into a consistent playoff team. This is just one experience York has taken with him into his coaching career in order to help develop future NHLers. Whether or not Adam Barkley fits that bill remains to be seen but he was in good hands nonetheless in Kemptville and that will surely continue in Mississauga.

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