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Bill Baker
William (Bill) Baker, born November 29, 1956 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a
retired NHL hockey player. Bill played in 143 games in the NHL for the Montreal
Canadiens, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers between
1980 and 1983. 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.
Baker will forever be remembered for scoring the tying goal as the extra skater
with Jim Craig being pulled from the game forcing a 2-2 tie with Sweden in the
opening game. This tie allowed the team to eventually advance to the medal
round, and the rest is history.
Prior to the 1980 Olympics, Bakers high school team-- the Grand Rapids Indians--
captured the state championship in his senior year. Following Bills graduation
from Grand Rapids Bill attended the University of Minnesota, where he played
for the Maroon and Gold between 1975-1979. During his Gophers tenure, he captured a NCAA National Championship in 1979 under Herb Brooks leadership. Bill was named a first team All-American in 1978-79, and as a WCHA first team All-Star with the Golden Gophers. Baker's photo will forever be on the All-American Wall at Mariucci arena. In 1976 Bill selected 54th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL draft. Over the next 3 season he had short stays with 3 different teams, Firstly, Bill joined the Canadiens after the 1980 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 another Golden Gopher, and former teammate of Bakers, Joe Micheletti, and Dick Lamby. Bakers final season came in 1982-83 with the New York Rangers before retiring from pro hockey to return to school for Dentistry. Baker was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003 as member of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team and into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983 as member of 1980 Olympic team as well. Baker was named one of the 50 greatest players in University of Minnesota hockey history as part of "Legends on Ice" tribute in 2001. Bill and his family currently live in Brainerd, Minnesota where he works as an oral surgeon and maxillofacial specialist.
Regular Season PlayoffsSeason Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1975-76 U. of Minnesota NCAA 44 8 15 23 28
U. of Minnesota NCAA 44 8 15 23 28 1977-78 U. of Minnesota NCAA 38 10 23 33 34
U. of Minnesota NCAA 38 10 23 33 34 1978-79 U. of Minnesota NCAA 44 12 42 54 38
U. of Minnesota NCAA 44 12 42 54 38 1979-80 U.S. Olympic Team Olym 60 5 25 30 74
U.S. Olympic Team Olym 60 5 25 30 74 1979-80 Nova-Scotia Voyageurs AHL 12 4 8 12 5 1 0 1 1 0
Nova-Scotia Voyageurs AHL 12 4 8 12 5 1 0 1 1 0 1980-81 Nova-Scotia Voyageurs AHL 18 5 12 17 42
Nova-Scotia Voyageurs AHL 18 5 12 17 421980-81 Montreal Canadiens NHL 11 0 0 0 32
Montreal Canadiens NHL 11 0 0 0 32 1980-81 Colorado Rockies NHL 13 0 3 3 12
Colorado Rockies NHL 13 0 3 3 12 1981-82 Fort Worth Texans CHL 10 3 12 15 20
Fort Worth Texans CHL 10 3 12 15 20 1981-82 Colorado Rockies NHL 14 0 3 3 17
Colorado Rockies NHL 14 0 3 3 17 1981-82 St. Louis Blues NHL 35 3 5 8 50 4 0 0 0 0
St. Louis Blues NHL 35 3 5 8 50 4 0 0 0 0 1982-83 New York Rangers NHL 70 4 14 18 64 2 0 0 0 0
New York Rangers NHL 70 4 14 18 64 2 0 0 0 0 1983-84 Tulsa Oilers CHL 59 11 22 33 47
Tulsa Oilers CHL 59 11 22 33 47 NHL Totals 143 7 25 32 175 6 0 0 0 0 
