RallyNorth.net

Baker glad to be back in Beverly

Wednesday, December, 19 By Phil Stacey
Sports editor

There was no giant metamorphosis that took place or light that went off in Alex Baker's head, telling him it was time to go back.

The talented 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenseman simply decided to forgo his plans to play junior hockey exclusively and join the team he had skated with for the last three winters at Beverly High School.

"I didn't tell anyone. I just called Coach (Bob Gilligan) one day and told him I wanted to come back," said Baker.

A two-time All-Northeastern Conference selection on the Panthers' blueline, Baker had decided to forgo his senior year at BHS and play junior hockey with the Tyngsboro Huskies, a junior 'B' team in the Empire Junior Hockey League. The Huskies play a 44-game regular season schedule, plus tournaments, and play games in both Tyngsboro and Fitchburg.

Baker skated in 21 games for the Huskies, recording one goal (a game-winner) and five assists to go along with 16 penalty minutes.

His decision to come back to Beverly High, Baker stressed, was not about being unhappy with the Huskies.

"I had been with them since late August, and the competition was great," said Baker. "But for me, it was a long, long day. It was 45 minutes up to practice, and usually longer on the ride back because I'd hit traffic. I'd be up at 6 a.m., go to school all day, practice (with the Huskies), then take an SAT course with the team before I came home late. I was wicked tired."

It suddenly came to him, said Baker, that he decided he wanted to come back to the Panthers for his senior year. "I asked myself, 'Why not? It's my senior year, it's going to be fun and we have a great team'," said Baker. "I'm totally happy with the decision I made. It's been great."

Baker had to sit out the Panthers' first game, but played last Saturday on his 18th birthday in their 4-1 victory over Marblehead, skating a regular shift on D with Connor Walsh. He said it was good to be back on the ice at Salem State, playing with his friends, confirming to himself what he already knew: he made the right choice.

"Having Alex back gives us another leader on defense. He's what we were missing," said Beverly senior center Jack Leathersich.

"He'll help get the puck out of our zone and create offensive, and at the same time will take a lot of pressure off (the forwards) in the defensive zone. With him, Walshie, (junior) Ryan Karp and (talented freshman) Mitch Hamor, we've got four really good defensemen, as good as any in the league."

A strong skater and stickhandler who can provide plenty of offensive upside, Baker had 6 goals and 11 assists a year ago as the Panthers finished 11-5-5. He feels that he and his teammates have even bigger things in them, and hope this is the year they can put it all together and make something big happen.

"Hey, this conference is wide open. Peabody is strong, Gloucester is always Gloucester ... but we're right there," said Baker. "There's no way better team, the way I see. We'll be right there the whole way."

Baker, who has 8-24-32 career totals, already knows which route he wants to take next season; he's applying at prep schools such as Deerfield Academy, Westminster and Phillips Andover in an effort to not only hone his hockey skills, but also sharpen his academic standing before he begins college.