Barry Ardern was a product of the highly successful Ottawa Sooners junior football program. Ardern moved up to the Rough Riders in 1968 and played five seasons for the Riders from 1968 to 1972. In those five seasons, Ardern collect 14 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries, taking two intereptions for toudhdowns and one fumble return. Ardern moved to BC in 1973 and played four years for he Lions, with 14 more interceptions to finish with a career total of 28. Ardern's single season highs were 5 in both 1974 and 1975. Ardern played one more season after leaving BC, splitting the 1977 season with Saskatchewan and Montreal. Ardern won the Grey Cup in his first two years (1968 and 1969) with Ottawa and got his third with Montreal in his final season.
| Year | Team | GP | Int | Yds | Avg | TDInt | Long | FR | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | OTT | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1969 | OTT | 14 | 4 | 236 | 59 | 1 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1970 | OTT | 14 | 3 | 76 | 25.3 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1971 | OTT | 14 | 4 | 38 | 9.5 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1972 | OTT | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0.3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 29 | 1 |
29 | |
| 1973 | BC | 16 | 1 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 41 | 1 | -2 | -2 | 0 | -2 | |
| 1974 | BC | 16 | 5 | 47 | 9.4 | 0 | 26 | 1 | -6 | -6 | 0 | -6 | |
| 1975 | BC | 16 | 5 | 136 | 27.2 | 0 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1976 | BC | 16 | 3 | 42 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1977 | SASK | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1977 | MON | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
