DI men’s hockey forward Barker makes U23 Canadian National Team for fastpitch softball
7/18/2025 6:49:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
Rising sophomore Brad Barker will travel with his 16-man team to Argentina in September to play in a World Championships qualifying tournament.
Brad Barker, a rising sophomore forward on Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team, was selected to Softball Canada's U23 Men's National Team for fast-pitch softball, as a pitcher who is also one of the better hitters on the Toronto Batmen U23 club team.
"It's a pretty big accomplishment for myself, and an honor to represent my country," said Barker, who previously played for Team Canada's U18 team that qualified for the World Championships. "I am super blessed to be a part of this team, and I'm super excited."
The 6-foot, 2-inch, 201-pound power forward will play in the Flames' season opener against the West Chester Wolves NCDC team on Sept. 5 before missing their first three official games against ACHA DI newcomers North Carolina State and UNC Chapel Hill to travel with Team Canada to La Pampa, Argentina, to compete in the WBSC Softball Americas Pan American qualifiers from Sept. 13-20.
If Team Canada can place in the top three out of seven teams there — including host Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the United States, and Puerto Rico — it will qualify for the World Championships in Colombia in May.
"It will be pretty special this year, traveling to Argentina, Finland (with the DI men's hockey team in January), and if we qualify, to go to Colombia," Barker said. "It will be a crazy year for myself. I am super excited for that Finland trip."
He said fast-pitch men's softball is a huge sport in Argentina and Canada, as well as in Venezuela, Czech Republic, and other countries around the world.
"It used to be an Olympic sport, and they are trying to get it back into the Olympics for the 2032 (Summer Games in Australia), which I do hope to play in," said Barker, who hopes to continue training by making the roster of an International Softball Congress (ISC) team in Canada featuring players from around the world.
For now, he primarily plays the sport to stay in condition for hockey over the summer months.
"It is great cross-training, and keeps me strong in muscles we don't train (for hockey), protecting muscles most hockey players don't use," Barker said.
He expects to graduate from Liberty in 2028 with a B.S. in Business Administration — Entrepreneurship and a minor in Strength & Conditioning, and wants to pursue a career in coaching hockey.
Barker was one of 10 players from Ontario selected to Team Canada's 16-man U23 team after first being among a pool of 50 players from all over Canada that was cut to 25 before a five-day tryout in Kamloops, British Columbia.
"We had a training camp, practices, and then we were put into an ISC tournament to play against a professional softball league team," he said. "I pitched, hit, and played first base in that tournament, and I played well in every scenario."
He then flew back to his home in Goodwood, Ontario, and played with his Toronto Batmen U23 team in its elimination rounds and qualifiers for nationals.
"I ended up winning MVP for Ontario, my province, and the Toronto Batmen team I was playing with won that eight-team tournament, going 4-0," Barker said, noting he pitched in two of those games, including the final, when he tossed a two-hit shutout and delivered the game-winning RBI in a 2-0 triumph.
As a freshman at Liberty, besides playing for the DI men's hockey team, Barker worked as a manager and bullpen pitcher for Liberty's NCAA Division I softball team.
"I learned a lot from Head Coach Dot Richardson and other coaches, including pitching coach Emily (Kirby) Nagle," Barker said of the wife of former Flames DI defenseman Tom Nagle. "I kept pitching throughout the year, three times per week. That allowed me to keep in shape, and when I came back home to Canada, I was throwing a lot faster than I normally do, and I was in great shape so I could throw more innings. It was awesome."
He also became a better hitter because Richardson allowed him to use the softball team's batting cage facilities after practices.
"I would go in and hit on my own time, using their machines," Barker said. "Their entire facilities are insane."
While pitching batting practice to the Lady Flames, a line-drive comebacker broke Barker's cheekbone the week before the Flames Hockey home opener. He was able to play through the injury and contributed to the team's success throughout the regular season, scoring four goals and distributing five assists.
"I was super blessed to be able to help out with the Liberty Softball team this year," Barker said, noting he went to all the Lady Flames' home games, helped with practice on occasion, and spent most of his time with the team in the bullpen or filming games. "It was an awesome experience, and I can't wait to do it again this year. It was super fun to learn from (DI men's hockey Head) Coach Kirk (Handy) and Coach Dot on how to have a winning program in both sports. They have also modeled for me how to be an athlete of character and use my strengths and weaknesses to honor the Lord through the platform God has given me in sports."
While softball has taken much of his time and energy over the summer, Barker is fully focused on returning to the Flames at the top of his game in August to help them contend for an even deeper run at the ACHA National Championships, after Liberty advanced to its third Final Four in five seasons in March near St. Louis.
"I am really excited for next year after having a year under my belt along with the other freshmen," Barker said. "I believe in our guys, and I am hoping we can take last season's experience and win the entire thing this year."
He has cross-trained on the diamond and in the rink over the summer months.
"I have been working hard this offseason in the gym with guys who have played high levels of hockey, guys who play professionally," Barker said. "I plan to take back what I've worked hard for this summer and take it into the season and have a great season with the guys."
Additionally, he and his best friend, Ryder McIntyre who played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, co-own and operate Precision Hockey, a hockey school in Stouffville, Canada, five minutes from his hometown.
"We started the school two years ago, training players of all ages, and just finished our first week of camp for minor and junior hockey players," Barker said. "I had a lot of high-level training growing up, working with trainers who train NHL guys, and I want to take my expertise and give back to kids in our town."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
"It's a pretty big accomplishment for myself, and an honor to represent my country," said Barker, who previously played for Team Canada's U18 team that qualified for the World Championships. "I am super blessed to be a part of this team, and I'm super excited."
The 6-foot, 2-inch, 201-pound power forward will play in the Flames' season opener against the West Chester Wolves NCDC team on Sept. 5 before missing their first three official games against ACHA DI newcomers North Carolina State and UNC Chapel Hill to travel with Team Canada to La Pampa, Argentina, to compete in the WBSC Softball Americas Pan American qualifiers from Sept. 13-20.
If Team Canada can place in the top three out of seven teams there — including host Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, the United States, and Puerto Rico — it will qualify for the World Championships in Colombia in May.
"It will be pretty special this year, traveling to Argentina, Finland (with the DI men's hockey team in January), and if we qualify, to go to Colombia," Barker said. "It will be a crazy year for myself. I am super excited for that Finland trip."
He said fast-pitch men's softball is a huge sport in Argentina and Canada, as well as in Venezuela, Czech Republic, and other countries around the world.
"It used to be an Olympic sport, and they are trying to get it back into the Olympics for the 2032 (Summer Games in Australia), which I do hope to play in," said Barker, who hopes to continue training by making the roster of an International Softball Congress (ISC) team in Canada featuring players from around the world.
For now, he primarily plays the sport to stay in condition for hockey over the summer months.
"It is great cross-training, and keeps me strong in muscles we don't train (for hockey), protecting muscles most hockey players don't use," Barker said.
He expects to graduate from Liberty in 2028 with a B.S. in Business Administration — Entrepreneurship and a minor in Strength & Conditioning, and wants to pursue a career in coaching hockey.
Barker was one of 10 players from Ontario selected to Team Canada's 16-man U23 team after first being among a pool of 50 players from all over Canada that was cut to 25 before a five-day tryout in Kamloops, British Columbia.
"We had a training camp, practices, and then we were put into an ISC tournament to play against a professional softball league team," he said. "I pitched, hit, and played first base in that tournament, and I played well in every scenario."
He then flew back to his home in Goodwood, Ontario, and played with his Toronto Batmen U23 team in its elimination rounds and qualifiers for nationals.
"I ended up winning MVP for Ontario, my province, and the Toronto Batmen team I was playing with won that eight-team tournament, going 4-0," Barker said, noting he pitched in two of those games, including the final, when he tossed a two-hit shutout and delivered the game-winning RBI in a 2-0 triumph.
As a freshman at Liberty, besides playing for the DI men's hockey team, Barker worked as a manager and bullpen pitcher for Liberty's NCAA Division I softball team.
"I learned a lot from Head Coach Dot Richardson and other coaches, including pitching coach Emily (Kirby) Nagle," Barker said of the wife of former Flames DI defenseman Tom Nagle. "I kept pitching throughout the year, three times per week. That allowed me to keep in shape, and when I came back home to Canada, I was throwing a lot faster than I normally do, and I was in great shape so I could throw more innings. It was awesome."
He also became a better hitter because Richardson allowed him to use the softball team's batting cage facilities after practices.
"I would go in and hit on my own time, using their machines," Barker said. "Their entire facilities are insane."
While pitching batting practice to the Lady Flames, a line-drive comebacker broke Barker's cheekbone the week before the Flames Hockey home opener. He was able to play through the injury and contributed to the team's success throughout the regular season, scoring four goals and distributing five assists.
"I was super blessed to be able to help out with the Liberty Softball team this year," Barker said, noting he went to all the Lady Flames' home games, helped with practice on occasion, and spent most of his time with the team in the bullpen or filming games. "It was an awesome experience, and I can't wait to do it again this year. It was super fun to learn from (DI men's hockey Head) Coach Kirk (Handy) and Coach Dot on how to have a winning program in both sports. They have also modeled for me how to be an athlete of character and use my strengths and weaknesses to honor the Lord through the platform God has given me in sports."
While softball has taken much of his time and energy over the summer, Barker is fully focused on returning to the Flames at the top of his game in August to help them contend for an even deeper run at the ACHA National Championships, after Liberty advanced to its third Final Four in five seasons in March near St. Louis.
"I am really excited for next year after having a year under my belt along with the other freshmen," Barker said. "I believe in our guys, and I am hoping we can take last season's experience and win the entire thing this year."
He has cross-trained on the diamond and in the rink over the summer months.
"I have been working hard this offseason in the gym with guys who have played high levels of hockey, guys who play professionally," Barker said. "I plan to take back what I've worked hard for this summer and take it into the season and have a great season with the guys."
Additionally, he and his best friend, Ryder McIntyre who played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, co-own and operate Precision Hockey, a hockey school in Stouffville, Canada, five minutes from his hometown.
"We started the school two years ago, training players of all ages, and just finished our first week of camp for minor and junior hockey players," Barker said. "I had a lot of high-level training growing up, working with trainers who train NHL guys, and I want to take my expertise and give back to kids in our town."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
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