Before the Bayshore faithful were used to seeing the C on Captain Colby Barlow’s jersey, there was a leader here so successful that he won the Ontario Hockey League’s Mickey Renaud Captains Trophy after a single season in that role. Fate would have it that Captain Mark Wooley would welcome a then 16-year-old Colby Barlow (along with Gavin Bryant) into his life as a billet brother. When it came time to name a new Captain, Wooley was thrilled when Colby was called. With game 4 on the horizon tonight and the Attack in a do or die situation, I kept thinking I’d like to call Mark. Turns out great minds think alike, as Colby had already beat me to it. I caught up with Mark between classes at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia for a few words about playing under pressure, competing as a bear and playing the game of your life.

Thanks for taking the time to talk between classes today Mark.I know you said you’ve been following the Attack playoff series. What have your thoughts been so far?

They have a good core group. Most of these guys I played with, but from what I’ve seen this is a strong group. I think they just need to find a way to get the puck in the back of the net. Obviously, Saginaw has a deep team and they’re going to have to earn everything they get, but that’s playoff hockey and that’s what makes it fun.

The boys find themselves in a do or die situation tonight and having acted as the Attack Captain during your time with the team, what would you say if you could stand in front of that room tonight before puck drop?

Just the same thing that’s always reinforced within that organization. Owen Sound is known as a team that always competes and brings a hard working effort every single night, no matter what. Even if you’re not getting the bounces, even if you’re not making all the skilled plays. That’s not what matters in playoffs. It’s going to be the hard work and greedy goals and chaos in front of the net. Especially at the Bayshore at this time of year, it’s a rink you need to use to your advantage. I think I’d just tell the boys, ‘Do what you know how to do best … be an Attack player. Go out and give the Bayshore faithful what they want to see’. These are the games you live for. That’s what makes it fun – the competitive side of the game.

Colby credits you often for teaching him how to be a leader. What would you say to him before tonight’s game?

He actually called me before Game 3 so it’s funny you decided to call too. I was lucky enough to have Colby and Gavin in move into my billet house when they were just 16. They’re still like brothers to me today. You could see right at 16 that Colby was a leader.  Having moved away from home to play already, his maturity level was substantial. It was obviously pretty special for me to see him named captain after I graduated. He’s just a lead-by-example type player. He’s always one of the hardest working guys, he’s a 40 goal scorer this year, but he’s also one of the most reliable defenseman. He just needs to keep leading by example. I told him to use the Owen Sound faithful and the home ice advantage. That’s huge in playoffs. But he knows what he’s doing. I believe he can rally the boys and get something good going.

They say the Bayshore is a tough place for a visiting team to play? What did you think of your time playing there and do  you have any tips for the fans in backing up the boys tonight?

Before I was traded there, as a 16/17 year old, I hated going to the Bayshore. But once I got traded there and eventually called it home, you learn to use it to your advantage, especially the way I played. It always suited my style with the aggressive physical side of things but all the little things like the Bayshore bounce, the crowd right on top of you while you play, the low scoreboard. It’s your home rink and the crowd should be able to get up on their feet for playoff hockey. It’s a pretty special time—to be watching playoff hockey in the spring at the Bayshore.

Will you be watching tonight?

I wish I could actually be there to support the boys. I am going to try and watch tonight but we have our athletic banquet at the university tonight too.

Thanks so much Mark.

Thanks for the call and I hope the boys can get it done tonight.