Barriball Bounces into Blues’ Organization

by Tomorrows Blues on Feb 28, 2007 1:21 PM CST

Online exclusive to stlouisgametime.com by Brian Weidler

As part of the Bill Guerin trade yesterday, the Blues acquired forward prospect Jay Barriball from the San Jose Sharks' organization.Â Barriball was a seventh-round selection by the Sharks in the 2006 draft, 203rd overall.

Barriball at Minnesota

Barriball, a 5-09, 160-pound right wing, is currently a teammate of Blues' 2006 first-overall selection Erik Johnson at the University of Minnesota, where he leads the Golden Gophers in scoring with 36 points (16 G, 20 A) in 35 games as a freshman.

Prior to this season, Barriball skated for Academy of the Holy Angels in Bloomington, Minnesota, where Johnson was also a teammate in 2003-04.Â In three complete seasons with this top-rated Minnesota high school program,Â Barriball racked up 80 goals and 130 assists for 210 points in 86 games.Â He finished the 2005-06 season at Holy Angels with 28-38-66 totals in 25 games, and was a finalist for the coveted "Mr. Hockey" award, given annually to Minnesota's top high school hockey player.

After completing his season at Holy Angels,Â Barriball moved on to the United States League and the Sioux Falls Stampede.Â In 13 regular-season games for Sioux Falls, Barriball racked up five goals (one PPG, two GWG) and seven assists, and was a plus-8 with two minutes in penalty time.Â In the playoffs, Barriball added two goals and an assist in five games for the Stampede.

Hockey sense and skating are Barriball's two best attributes, and he is a player that isn't afraid to get his nose dirty despite his relatively small stature.

More to come in the March 6 print edition of "Game Time," on sale at multiple locations around Scottrade Center every game day.

Newest Blues' prospect Jay Barriball

Jay Barriball

RW, shoots R, 5-09, 160 pounds, Born, Prior Lake, MN, May 2, 1987.Â San Jose's 6th choice, 203rd overall, in 2006 Entry Draft.Â Traded to St. Louis by San Jose with Ville Nieminen and New Jersey's 1st choice (previously acquired) in 2007 Entry Draft for Bill Guerin, February 27, 2007.

Tracking Jay Barriball, month-by-month

-------------------+-----------------------------+

## Player .. Ps/Yr | GP .G .A PT PIM PP SH GW GT |

== ========= ===== + == == == == === == == == == +

26 Barriball RW FR | .8 .6 .6 12 ..2 .2 .0 .0 .0 | Oct06

26 Barriball RW FR | 17 .9 10 19 ..6 .2 .0 .1 .0 | Nov06

26 Barriball RW FR | 21 11 13 24 ..6 .3 .0 .2 .0 | Dec06

26 Barriball RW FR | 29 12 14 26 .10 .4 .0 .2 .0 | Jan07

26 Barriball RW FR | 35 16 20 36 .12 .5 .0 .3 .0 | Feb07

==========

"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

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Comments

His numbers are pretty damn consistent, especially for a freshman. His size still worries me. On the message board, someone said he’ll be a solid NHL player like a Cliff Ronning or a career AHLer.

by Brad Lee on Mar 2, 2007 8:40 AM CST reply actions