Bill Baker (ice hockey, born 1956)

Last updated
Bill Baker
Born (1956-11-29) November 29, 1956 (age 66)
Grand Rapids, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Colorado Rockies
St. Louis Blues
New York Rangers
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL Draft 54th overall, 1976
Montreal Canadiens
WHA Draft 49th overall, 1973
New England Whalers
Playing career 1979–1984
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1980 Lake Placid Team

William Robert Baker (born November 29, 1956) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 143 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers between 1980 and 1983.

Contents

Playing career

College career

Bill Baker attended the University of Minnesota and was team captain for the 1978-1979 season. He was originally selected 54th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft. Baker is best known for being a member of the Miracle on Ice 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team that won the Gold Medal in Lake Placid, NY. Specifically, he is known for scoring the tying goal as the extra skater in the final minute forcing a 2–2 tie with Sweden in the opening game. This tie allowed the team to eventually advance to the medal round. Baker's jersey from the famed "Miracle On Ice" is on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., U.S. along with a stick autographed by all the members of the team.

Professional career

He joined the Canadiens after the Olympics, and was later traded to the Colorado Rockies in 1981. He also played for Team USA at the 1981 Ice Hockey World Championship and 1981 Canada Cup tournaments. Colorado later traded him to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Joe Micheletti and Dick Lamby. Baker spent the full 1982–83 season with the New York Rangers. He spent the 1983-84 season in the CHL playing for the eventual league championships, the Tulsa Oilers coached by Tom Webster. [1] He played 59 regular season games for Tulsa Oilers, but was not with team during post-season. [2]

Awards and achievements

AwardYear
All-WCHA First Team 1978–79 [3]
AHCA West All-American 1978–79 [4]

International play

In a 1981 TV movie about the gold medal-winning hockey team entitled Miracle on Ice , Baker is played by David Wallace.

In the 2004 Disney film Miracle , he is portrayed by Nick Postle.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1972–73 Grand Rapids High School High-MN ——————————
1973–74Grand Rapids High SchoolHigh-MN——————————
1975–76 University of Minnesota WCHA 448152328—————
1976–77 University of MinnesotaWCHA2808842—————
1977–78 University of MinnesotaWCHA3810233324—————
1978–79 University of MinnesotaWCHA4412425438—————
1979–80 United States Intl.605253074—————
1979–80 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 124812510110
1980–81 Montreal Canadiens NHL 1100032—————
1980–81 Nova Scotia VoyageursAHL185121742—————
1980–81 Colorado Rockies NHL1303312—————
1981–82 Colorado RockiesNHL1403317—————
1981–82 St. Louis Blues NHL353585040000
1981–82 Fort Worth Texans CHL 103121520—————
1982–83 New York Rangers NHL70414186420000
1983–84 Tulsa Oilers CHL5911223347—————
NHL totals1437253217560000

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1979 United States WC 72132
1980 United States OG 71014
1981 United StatesWC70118
1981 United States CC 10000
Senior totals2232514

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References

  1. ↑ "Tulsa Oilers 1983-84 hockey team player statistics". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  2. ↑ "1976 NHL Amateur Draft - Bill Baker". Hockeydraftcentral.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  3. ↑ "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
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