A former Ravens hockey player has been signed to a contract with a noted American Hockey League (AHL) team.
Shane Bakker, former Raven’s hockey player, signed a tryout contract with the Hamilton Bulldogs. This means he is signed to them for 21 games before signing a more long-term contract. The Bulldogs are affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens.
Bakker, who spent five years at Carleton and graduated with a degree in psychology, got his start in hockey early on.
“Being in Canada, I think every family is kind of a hockey family, and my family was one of them. My dad played growing up, my grandfather coached them,” Bakker said. “I was just born into a hockey family, and by the time I was three or four, I started skating, and I’ve been playing hockey ever since.”
When university rolled around, Bakker said he knew Carleton had a varsity hockey team and that he wanted to keep playing.
“I just showed up at open tryout and tried to work really hard and get noticed, and luckily I had a good game,” he said. “They offered me a spot on the team and I ended up playing five years there. I guess it was a good decision for me to show up at that open tryout.”
Since leaving Carleton, Bakker has played for the Orlando Solar Bears and the West Virginia Wheeling Nailers of the Eastern Coast Hockey League.
He was named the captain of the Wheeling Nailers, before being called up to play for the Bulldogs.
Despite loving the community in West Virginia, Bakker said he’s happy to be back in Canada.
“I was really happy in Wheeling—I love it there . . . but there’s just something about playing in Canada and being a little closer to home that I really enjoy. That’s been a positive for sure,” he said.
Bakker said Carleton’s hockey program is the main reason he became the player he is now.
“Playing for Carleton was probably the best years of playing hockey of my life,” he said. “I really enjoyed how it connected me to the school and being part of that program.”
Bakker said Carleton’s program pushed him to be a better player, and that it is part of his current success.
“Just how Carleton ran their program was very professional . . . they did a lot for me and helped me and if I didn’t have that I wouldn’t be playing hockey today. So I’m pretty thankful.”
Although there are more stops ahead, Bakker said he’s just happy to be playing in the AHL for the moment.
“Playing with Hamilton I didn’t really expect to be honest so it’s just kind of been a dream come true in itself,” he said. “It’s been a humbling experience being called up to this level so I’m just trying to enjoy this . . . right now.”
