NEWS

(pictured - Milton Icehawks 19-year old veteran Jake Baird is the club's captain this season and looks to return them to the playoffs once again - photo credit:  Kevin Sousa/OJHL Images)

After a playoff run last year led by veteran players like Kane Elliot, Shane Bennet, Shane Gottzman and Daniel Poutsoungas, this year’s Milton program has a much younger team. That is the cyclical nature of junior hockey. Luckily for the Milton Icehawks is the fact that they have a veteran 19-year old in Jake Baird to wear the 'C' this season.

Jake Baird is entering his third season with the Milton Icehawks after playing his midget year with the Burlington Eagles and is a veteran of 101 OJHL regular season games heading into this season. After two seasons of being one of the younger guys and deferring to the older players Jake has stepped up this season and has been an obvious choice for Coach Dan Currie. In Jakes words, “This year I’m the older guy, so I have got to try and pick things up.”

When asked what kind of leader he is Jake replied, “A little of both, vocal and I lead by example.”  Anyone who has followed the West Division the last few years will know one of Jake’s greatest qualities is his work ethic. With such a young squad he feels it is imperative that he plays what he feels is the right way and helps show the new kids what it takes to succeed at this level, but also to further their playing dreams.

“We have a lot of young guys on the team who haven’t played in this league, so I am just trying to help then along the way.”  He added further, how much responsibility he feels as some of these players are committed to OHL teams, while others have NCAA aspirations.

When asked what former captains had an impact on him or whose style he tries to use as an example he brought up a pair from last year’s team. The first was Kane Elliot who was more of a lead by example captain in his words. Another was Jeremy Gottzmann who, “Really showed me how to get on the guys and get everybody going.”

What stood out the most to me about Jake Baird was how much he cared about the younger players on his team and how much responsibility he felt as a leader.

“I feel like it is a lot of pressure because there are so many young guys and there is so much to learn in this league. I remember my first year I was so lost compared to where I am now.”

Has this pressure had any effect on his on-ice production? Well, in my opinion, it has been nothing but a positive. Jake currently has 20 points in 17 games played, which is three off of his single season career-high point total, and he has already passed his season high in goals with 11 thus far. Not only has he shown an ability to help lead the next generation of Icehawk stars, but he has been able to do it while seemingly making the biggest jump in his on-ice production.

It will be a treat for Icehawk fans to watch him this year and with the potential to return next year he could lead a special team, with this young Milton team that will surely grow as those who follow the league closely have already seen in the first few months this year.

Peter Kneulman covers the OJHL West Division for In The O... and more articles by the author can be found at intheoradio.com. In The O...goes beyond conventional coverage of junior hockey providing unprecedented coverage of Minor Midget, OJHL, CCHL and the OHL.