NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Daniel Baker scans his options up ice in the first period of the Tigers 5-2 loss against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Feb. 5.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
When Daniel Baker looks back on his junior hockey career, the defenceman said he’s learned a lot over his five seasons in a Medicine Hat Tigers jersey.
The biggest lesson, Baker said, was not to focus on results.
“Focusing on getting better every day and not always focusing on the results,” Baker said. “The main thing is just coming here and getting better every day.”
The Edmonton product suited up for 213 WHL games, all with the Tigers, and had 20 goals and 89 points. Baker’s game total would’ve likely been 19 games higher if the d-man had not suffered a season-ending injury on Feb. 26.
He said having his final season end suddenly like it did is tough, but he’s spent as much time as he could around the team.
“(It’s) not the way I wanted it to end but just here supporting my teammates doing whatever I can,” Baker said. “…There’s only a month left so it’s just being around my friends and brothers.”
One of those teammates, Carter Chorney, is someone Baker played hockey with a long time before he joined the Tigers this year. Baker said it was great to have him around for his final season and called him a great character guy.
The 20-year-old Baker has been a character guy himself in the Tigers locker room and it was showcased when he earned the Captain’s C halfway through his final season. He said getting to wear that honour, even if it was for half the year, was something he is proud to be able to do.
“Every time I got to wear that jersey and the C, it was an honour and I’m super proud to have been able to do that,” Baker said.
Throughout his five seasons in the orange and black, Baker had many different defence partners. He said the one partner that he learned the most from was Cole ‘Cowboy’ Clayton and he described him as a great leader and role model.
That is how Baker said he hopes his teammates remember playing alongside him as well.
“That I left it out there every night and I played to win every night and that I would do anything I could for my teammates,” Baker said.
Baker said he’s not sure what is next but it’s an exciting time figuring out what’s on the horizon. He said even though it’s always windy, he will miss Medicine Hat and will come back for a visit to the only WHL city he’s called home, something he’s proud of.
(Playing for one team), it’s something I’ll definitely be proud of for my whole life,” Baker said. “I’ve loved every second of playing for the Tigers, and I’m gonna miss it. But I’ve learned a lot and I’ve had a lot of great experiences and a lot of memories.”
He said he’s grateful to the two coaches he had in his career, Shaun Clouston and Willie Desjardins, and is extremely thankful for every single one of his teammates.
“We’ve shared everything, there’s always lots of ups and downs but when you have good friends in the locker room it always helps,” Baker said.
When asked if 14-year-old Daniel Baker would be happy with how his WHL career went, Baker quickly said he definitely has no regrets.
“The friendships I’ve made and the relationships I’ve made, will last forever and I’ll miss this place a lot.”
