Marty Barry came to Halifax to coach the St. Mary”s Juniors (representing the St. Mary”s Winter Gardens ) after a brilliant career with the Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins. The Halifax St. Mary’s had just gone through the Maritimes without a loss only to bow out to Ottawa St. Pat’s in the Eastern playoffs. The team didn’t have the competition, didn’t have the experienced coaching needed for this level. They needed a proven pro to teach and prepare them. Marty Barry was the answer. Marty Barry arrived in Halifax and immediately won the respect of every player on the team. His N.H.L. stats were most impressive to all the youngsters who had never met an N.H.L. player – after all, he was a member of the famous line of Barry-Aurey-Lewis. His patient teaching style, his strong, quiet, and modest approach both on and off the ice soon rubbed off on all his players. Marty began holding early morning practices before school. He decided the team needed better competition, so with his contacts he was instrumental in bringing the top Junior teams from Montreal. Each team had a future great star from Dickie Moore, Jaques Plante, Boom-Boom Geoffrion, and Howie Morenz Jr. Because of Marty”s name and the good competitive Junior team he developed, word spread quickly in hockey circles that he had something special down in Halifax. Soon scouts from the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Montreal Canadians, and the New York Rangers, for the first time ever, were seen at the games and around the dressing room. To prepare for a better run in the Eastern section of the Memorial Cup playdowns, Marty began challenging Senior teams around the Maritimes- which was excellent preparation. Marty led the team in two more Maritime Championships. He was a tremendous influence on hockey in Halifax and in the Maritimes. His very name commanded respect. At least five players of his first St. Mary”s Junior team went straight from Junior to Pro. It was the beginning of a long list of Maritime hockey players heading for the pros and Marty was the man who paved the way. Marty Barry is an original member of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.