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6 // MARCH 2020 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS COURTESY OF Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center; Keith Barrett P layer, parent, coach, official and administrator. Over the course of a lifetime in hockey, Keith Barrett has done it all. And now he can add a new title to his hockey resume as the newly elected USA Hockey vice president and chair of the organization's Youth Council. Like so many volunteers in the USA Hockey family, Barrett became involved when his kids were starting out in the game. Over the years he rose through the youth hockey ranks first in his native Connecticut and then in Vermont. He was eventually asked to serve at the USA Hockey level as a District director and later as a member of the Youth Council. He will ser ve out the remainder of the term vacated by Dave Klasnick, who passed away in August. Barrett won a close elec- tion against two other dedicated volunteers in Joe Baudo of New York and George Atkinson of Michigan. "I had some stiff competition from two people who have also given their lives to the game," said Barrett, who lives in Northfield, Vt. "I think the difference was that I had a good ground game, as they say." Par t of that ground game involved contacting District directors from around the country to listen to their thoughts and concerns about the direction of youth hockey in their areas. One centra l theme, Barrett found, was a need to create more opportunities for recreational players to enjoy the game. " We talk about national teams and elite players, but we need to take a hard look at the grassroots level," Barrett said. "The tip of our spear is strong. Now we need to make sure that we don't lose sight of those at the base of the triangle and make sure they get what they deserve from a player development standpoint. "I'd like to put a little more focus on the kids in the middle band who will be the adult players of tomorrow." EGISTRATION for the Level 5 Coaches Symposium is now open. This year's event will take place at the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center in Duluth, Minn., from Aug. 20-23. The bi-annual event is for coaches looking to attain their Level 5 coaching certification, the highest offered by USA Hockey. In addition to general sessions, coaches will explore innovative approach- es to coaching through intensive breakout sessions dedicated to age-specific teaching and techniques. This will be the third time Minnesota has played host to the event starting with Minneapolis in 1999 and St. Paul in 2009. The event will include a number of gen- eral presentations featuring an impressive lineup of speakers presenting on topics dealing with all aspects of the game of hock- ey and will feature a number of prominent NHL, AHL and college coaches who will be announced at a later date. To register for this year's symposium go to USAHockey.com/level5. R LEVEL 5 COACHES SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION NOW OPEN O F F T HE D R AW COACHING BARRETT BRINGS DIVERSE BACKGROUND TO YOUTH POST Keith Barrett's involvement in the game includes helping to host the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championship. USA HOCKEY