Tigers’ Baker looks to build in first full season with team

By Ryan McCracken on September 7, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Daniel Baker may not have a wealth of experience in the Western Hockey League, but the 17-year-old Edmonton product has made the most of his limited exposure.

Injuries and illness forced the Tigers to call on Baker in February of last season for a stint that stretched into the playoffs. Hat head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston says he was truly impressed with the young blueliner’s poise through a tough situation, and expects Baker will use that late-season experience to impressive effect this year.

“Daniel was real good for us last year at the end of the season when we got injured and needed him to come in and play for us,” said Clouston. “He’s got some experience at a real important time of the season toward the end and then in the playoffs. He appears ready to step in and contribute this year.”

The 2016 second-round bantam draft pick logged an assist in 11 regular season games while finishing with a minus-1 rating through a pair of playoff contests in Medicine Hat’s six-game Eastern Conference quarter-final loss to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Baker also managed to stick around for two of the first four games last season before returning to the Canadian School Sport Hockey League’s Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep —where he registered nine goals and 17 assists in 26 games, then got the call back to the Gas City.

Entering this year’s training camp with some prized experience under his belt and a new level of familiarity with the team, the 6-foot-3, 199-pound blueliner says he’s ready to stick around for even longer this time around.

“I’m really excited. There’s a lot of opportunity so I’ve just got to take advantage of it,” said Baker. “I was able to learn how they play, and their systems and lot of that stuff. It’s really helpful coming into this year. I know what to expect.”

Baker spent Saturday’s 6-3 pre-season win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes in Taber on a line with Cole Clayton, and both found the scoreboard with an assist apiece. While he expects pairings to continue shuffling through exhibition play and into the early weeks of the season, Baker says he hopes to spend more time on the ice next to Clayton.

“I really like playing will Cole. He’s a great player and I think we compliment each other nicely so hopefully we can keep playing together,” said Baker, adding he expects the team’s younger defencemen to play an important role this season. “We haven’t really talked about it too much, but I think all of us young guys and the old guys know that we need to step up this year and make a difference.”

The Tigers visit Moose Jaw tonight for an exhibition game. They’ll host the Warriors in Irvine Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in what will be the team’s second-last game before the regular season begins Sept. 21.

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