“My dad is probably the only person who vacations in Winnipeg before Christmas.” With a smile on his face, Justin Barron knows full well that his parents chose the Manitoba capital to play hockey, not to relax on the beach and under palm trees.

Gerard and Jenny Barron will be watching their two sons hit the NHL ice for the third time. The first two times Justin and his big brother Morgan faced each other at the Bell Center were on January 17, 2023 and October 28, 2023.

Both times the Canadian triumphed over the Jets with wins of 4 to 1 and 4 to 3 in the shootout. And both times the little brother (Justin) was on the top scorer list with two assists in the first duel and a goal in the second duel.

“No, I can’t really imagine how my parents must feel watching us,” Justin said Saturday after CH’s morning practice at the Bell Center. But I know it’s very cool.”

“Due to our age difference (three years), we never really played against each other. We’re doing it at the highest level possible in the NHL. I know they are very proud of us. I can’t thank them enough, they sacrificed so much for us. They never said no to a spring tournament or buying equipment. My mother just retired as a nurse and my father still works in sales (at Graybar Canada) in Nova Scotia. He didn’t hesitate to take time off work to travel to Winnipeg.”

Another way

Justin grew up in Halifax and didn’t have to look far to find a role model.

“I followed Morgan whenever I could,” he said. We had an outdoor ice rink in our backyard at home. We learned to skate there. I followed my older brother in all sports. We were very competitive in basketball, street hockey and now golf.”

Justin and Morgan didn’t follow the same hockey path. The youngest played for the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL, while the oldest played three seasons at Cornell University in the NCAA.

“Morgan was drafted into the QMJHL, but only in his second year of eligibility,” said the CH defenseman. The Sea Dogs asked for it (57^e in total). He grew up late, he developed later.”

“I was the better choice in the QMJHL and the decision was easier for me because my hometown team (Halifax Mooseheads) drafted me in the first round (13th round).^e). My brother has always been a big influence, but I chose the right path for myself. There is no way that is better than the other. It always depends on your own personality.”

Endurance

It’s not just the journey that is different between the two. Justin is a defender while Morgan is a winger. The defenseman is a first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in 2020, while the winger is a weak 6 pick^e Tower (174^e) in 2017 from the New York Rangers.

“Morgan taught me that persistence always pays off,” Justin said. He ended up being a captain in his third season at Cornell. He reached the NHL at a slightly older age. He shuttled between New York and Hartford of the American League for two seasons. He set out without receiving a gift.”

“Morgan talked to me a lot last year when I was at the Rocket,” he continued. At the Canadiens camp in spring 2022, I was hoping to get a spot on the team immediately. I was disappointed when I went to Laval in the American League. But he quickly made it clear to me that it wasn’t the end of the world. It was just an obstacle. It was up to me to overcome it. He reminded me that I was very young and that it was part of my development. He helped me forget the negative and focus on the positive.”

Statistically speaking, the two brothers have similarities. Justin scored five goals and five assists for 10 points in 27 games with the Habs this season, while Morgan also scored five goals and had two assists in 29 games with the Jets.