Owen Sound Attack Ontario Hockey League star Colby Barlow was mobbed by young fans at the 2024 Wiarton Willie Festival. To hundreds of youngsters, he was more important than the famous groundhog.
Barlow was one of a dozen Attack players who joined young skaters on the ice at the arena after the Wiarton Willie prediction. In 2023, Orillia born Barlow was drafted 18th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in that year’s NHL Entry Draft. The left winger is the Attack Captain and, this season, is the team’s 3rd most frequent goal scorer.
He has had many accomplishments including winning a gold medal in the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
The kids were very impressed. Barlow was asked to autograph sticks, pads, caps and items of clothing. He also posed with fans during the team’s hour-long skate/meet and greet.Several youngsters said they were thrilled to meet him and that they look forward to following Barlow’s career in the years to come.
Oh yes, Wiarton Willie conferred with South Bruce Mayor Jay Kirkland …in “groundhogese.”Then the mayor, with help from the town cryers, told the more than 4-thousand Willie fans gathered for the event: “no shadow….which means early spring!”
This was the third year in a row that Willie did not see his shadow, leading to the prediction of an early spring. Over many years Willie has only a 30% success rate.
