Brett Barta has been an assistant boys hockey coach since 2012 for Andover High School. Last season, the Huskies won the Class AA state title, something he was not able to accomplish despite two championship game appearances when he was a player for Moorhead High School. Barta is a middle school teacher in Andover and he discusses his career as a coach, player and teacher. He also gives scouting reports on SCSU recruits Gavyn Thoreson and Leo Gruba, talks about his relationship with Andover head coach Mark Manney, his long friendship with Moorhead head coach (and former SCSU player) Jon Ammerman.
TIME STAMPS
:45 How he got the assistant boys hockey coaching position at Andover High School in 2012
3:20 How Andover head coach Mark Manney works with Barta, even though the two of them have coaching philosophy differences
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4:40 How he caught the coaching bug early with the help of some mentors in Moorhead, coaching in summer camps
6:50 Teaching science in middle school in Coon Rapids, Andover, some of the challenges
9:15 Coaching keeping him focused in his 20s, the changes since he has become a father three years ago
11:05 The ups and downs of the 2021-22 season for Andover finishing with a state title, something he was not able to accomplish in two state championship games as a player at Moorhead. How Maple Grove's Danny Nelson reminds him of former SCSU defenseman Nick Perbix. The relationship between Manney and Moorhead head coach Jon Ammerman. Manney's Diet Coke in overtime of the state title game. The benefits of not yelling at refs
24:53 The similarities between Barta's personality and SCSU recruit Gavyn Thoreson and some of Thoreson's personality traits
26:05 A scouting report on Thoreson: "a poor man's Blake Lizotte," some similarities between him and former SCSU teammate Ryan Lasch
28:40 Scouting report on SCSU recruit Leo Gruba
30:00 Best memories of playing for SCSU from 2007-11, the effect that Garrett Raboin had on the program, playing against the Gophers and his love of NCHC.tv
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34:00 Raboin being named the head coach at Augustana University after not being a head coach previously, getting some dirt from Raboin while fishing
36:00 Raboin quitting fishing to pheasant hunt
38:15 His friendship with Ammerman, the high expectations his former teammate faces as coach of the Spuds
