Bill Baker

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.

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. He played 59 regular season games for Tulsa Oilers, but was not with team during post-season.

Awards and achievements Award Year All-WCHA First Team 1978–79 AHCA West All-American 1978–79

CHL Adams Cup: 1984 (Tulsa Oilers)

International play 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid, New York Ice Hockey World Championships, 1979 and 1981 1981 Canada Cup

In popular culture 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 Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1972–73 Grand Rapids High School High-MN — — — — — — — — — — 1973–74 Grand Rapids High School High-MN — — — — — — — — — — 1975–76 University of Minnesota WCHA 44 8 15 23 28 — — — — — 1976–77 University of Minnesota WCHA 28 0 8 8 42 — — — — — 1977–78 University of Minnesota WCHA 38 10 23 33 24 — — — — — 1978–79 University of Minnesota WCHA 44 12 42 54 38 — — — — — 1979–80 United States Intl. 60 5 25 30 74 — — — — — 1979–80 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 12 4 8 12 5 1 0 1 1 0 1980–81 Montreal Canadiens NHL 11 0 0 0 32 — — — — — 1980–81 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 18 5 12 17 42 — — — — — 1980–81 Colorado Rockies NHL 13 0 3 3 12 — — — — — 1981–82 Colorado Rockies NHL 14 0 3 3 17 — — — — — 1981–82 St. Louis Blues NHL 35 3 5 8 50 4 0 0 0 0 1981–82 Fort Worth Texans CHL 10 3 12 15 20 — — — — — 1982–83 New York Rangers NHL 70 4 14 18 64 2 0 0 0 0 1983–84 Tulsa Oilers CHL 59 11 22 33 47 — — — — — NHL totals 143 7 25 32 175 6 0 0 0 0

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1979 United States WC 7 2 1 3 2 1980 United States OG 7 1 0 1 4 1981 United States WC 7 0 1 1 8 1981 United States CC 1 0 0 0 0 Senior totals 22 3 2 5 14