BY SCOTT HADDOW
Sudbury Wolves forward Kevin Baker is oozing
confidence right now and it has pushed the slick centre to a
whole other level of play.
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Since January, Kevin Baker has been
on fire, tearing up the league and setting new career
highs in goals, assists and points. |
Baker has been on a romp since the new year
arrived. In his first 36 games of the season, Baker recorded 29
points. Over the last two months, in 27 games, the crafty
player has produced 31 points.
Baker is feeling proud of himself for his
career year and points to this new-found confidence, and his
skillful teammates, as the reasons why he's tearing up the
OHL.
"I have more confidence now and not afraid to
take chances," said the Brampton native. "I am also getting the
bounces to go my way. A lot of credit goes to my teammates,
especially Ben Pouliot. Playing with him has really helped me
and we have good chemistry together. We just seem to be
generating a lot of opportunities on
five-on-five, short-handed and on the power play."
Prior to last night's contest against Barrie,
Baker was third in team scoring and first on the team with 14
power play goals and seven short-handed goals.
The big year means plenty to Baker's
future.
"Putting up big numbers is a big thing for
me," said the five-foot-eleven forward. "I would like to go to
another NHL training camp in the fall. (Baker went to the
Carolina Hurricanes camp last year). I figure the more points I
put up, the more opportunities I will get from the NHL. I've
been playing strong and if I keep it up, maybe I will get more
chances. I've been successful on specialty teams and I want it
to carry on."
Baker is a slick speed demon when it comes to
creating chances as opposed to a big, burly player that would
attack the net like a rogue elephant in a peanut shop.
"Kevin may not be the biggest or hardest
hitter out there, but he makes up for it by working hard," said
Wolves head coach and GM Mike Foligno. "His two biggest weapons
are his speed and shot. When he utilizes them...He can turn on
a dime and find ways to score even from bad angles. Kevin has
really worked hard in practice and off the ice and it's paid
dividends for him."
Foligno almost sees a new player in Baker
right now.
"He's playing with that new sense of
confidence and it's taken his game to another level," said the
bench boss. "When he competes and plays hard, he's a difficult
player to stop. We will need him to really step it up in the
playoffs. I think a lot of scouts overlooked him last year, but
they're looking at him now. I am sure he will get a look with
another NHL team."
Baker has excelled slowly but surely since
arriving from Owen Sound last season in exchange for defender
Kyle Lamb. Baker manufactured 15 points in 26 games with the
Wolves last season before ripping up five goals and nine points
in the playoffs.
Being with Sudbury from day one of the
2005-06 season has also benefitted Baker.
"I was here from day one this year and it's
much different when you're here the whole time," said Baker.
"There's no adjustment period. I learned along with the rest of
the guys to play as a team from the start."
The new rules have also been a boon to
Baker's game, which is based on speed, speed and more
speed.
"Yes they have helped," said the centre.
"With no more clutching and grabbing, there's more room out
there and I can use my speed more. My teammates and I are
taking advantage of the new rules. My shooting is really
working for me. I am getting some good bounces. I seem to be
finding holes in the goalies and my goal total has gone way up.
A lot of it comes from just putting the puck on the net, which
is never a bad play because you never know what will
happen."
Baker knows he's only as good as his last
shift and wouldn't mind taking his game to another level for
the playoffs.
"There's always things you can improve on,"
said the skater. "I would like to keep the pace up in the
playoffs. Last year, I had some success in the
playoffs and I want to build on that this
year. Hopefully, we can go further than we did last
year."