He returned to action during a December 19 game at Victoria, but was removed after symptoms resulting from the concussion surfaced again. After missing 15 consecutive games, Barrett announced retirement on January 18, in consideration of his long-term health.
Barrett returned to competition on December 19 at Victoria, but was unable to continue due to persistent concussion symptoms. After missing 15 consecutive games, he made the difficult decision to retire in January 1986, weighing the pros and cons of continued participation.