Dan Falloon
A couple of phone calls can change things in a hurry.
Brendan Baumgartner woke up Dec. 3 as a member of the MJHL’s Dauphin Kings and an assured participant in the RBC Cup—the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s championship tournament.
But on Dec. 4, the former Fort Frances Jr. Sabre found himself wearing the colours of the league-rival Selkirk Steelers and was in the process of recording a three-point night as the Steelers jammed the Steinbach Pistons 7-4.
He’d record four points in the week’s two remaining games to capture the MJHL’s Player-of-the-Week honours.
It was as good of an adjustment as could be expected for the 20-year-old, who admittedly was caught off-guard when he found out about the deal.
“I had no idea. I went into the coach’s office and he said, ‘Yeah, you’ve been traded to Selkirk,’ and it took me by surprise,” said Baumgartner, who had 17 goals and 29 points in 37 games as of Friday (Dec. 11).
The trade actually was the 5’9” centre’s second in less than a year as the Jr. Sabres shipped him to Dauphin in May.
Baumgartner said he enjoyed his time in Fort Frances, but was looking to either get closer to Edmonton or have a shot at the RBC Cup.
He got a bit of both when he went west to Dauphin.
“I liked it in Fort. I had a great time playing there,” he remarked. “I just thought it benefited me if I went to Dauphin with the RBC and what-not.
“It’s kind of hard to leave where you started, but in the long run, you’ve got to do what’s best,” he reasoned.
Baumgartner said that with Dauphin hosting the RBC Cup in 2010, there was an added excitement around the community as the team earned its berth as soon as it landed the event.
The Kings have a good chance to make it in the old-fashioned way, though, as they’re towering atop the MJHL with a 32-5-1 record and sitting third in the CJHL’s cross-Canada rankings.
The Steelers are no pushovers, either, sitting just two points out of first place in the Addison Division with games in hand on both Winkler and the Winnipeg Saints as of Friday.
“Now I just gotta earn it [a trip to the RBC],” said Baumgartner, a hint of determination in his voice.
Baumgartner said he’s found some quick chemistry with ex-WHL player Josh Schappert, formerly of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Schappert must have been thrilled to see Baumgartner lining up with him as he’s netted thee goals and two assists since the trade.
“He’s on my line and it’s been pretty tic-tac-toe so far, so we’re clicking, I guess,” noted Baumgartner.
Steelers’ coach Ryan Smith said Baumgartner is filling his role admirably given the Steelers made the trade to take the pressure off of their top line.
“He’s been outstanding for us,” enthused Smith. “As far as play-wise, character, in the dressing room, he’s fit in real well and we’re real happy with him.
“We’ve had most of our goals coming from our top line, and we needed some more secondary scoring,” he explained. “We thought he [Baumgartner] would fit the bill for that.
“We really liked the couple times we played against him his year what he had done, so we were looking for that, and some veteran leadership, as well.”
Baumgartner had lit up the Steelers for three goals and an assist in two games before the trade.
And Smith said if his latest acquisition was disappointed with the trade, it hasn’t been obvious.
“I’m sure there’s a slight disappointment, but in a trade, it’s always nice to go to somewhere where they want you,” reasoned Smith, pointing to Baumgartner’s stats since joining Selkirk.
“He’s been very quiet, he leads by example, and he hasn’t been a problem.”
For those who get the opportunity to catch Baumgartner in action this season, they should expect to see the same “Baumer” who won fans over in his two seasons in Fort Frances.
“I just keep playing the same way. I finish my checks and if I get the puck in the slot, I usually bury it,” said Baumgartner, whose 35 goals was good for second in the SIJHL last season.
Baumgartner said he hasn’t noticed a whole lot of difference in switching leagues, noting teams’ top two lines in the MJHL and SIJHL are comparable.
It’s sliding down the depth chart to the third- and fourth-liners where there’s a noticeable difference, he said.
“[In the SIJHL], the third and fourth lines were usually guys who grinded it out and fought a lot,” Baumgartner explained. “[In the MJHL], usually there’s more depth along the third line or fourth line for scoring as well as fighting.”
As a 20-year-old, this season is the Edmonton native’s last of junior eligibility, and said he’s keeping his options open for next season.
“I might go to St. Scholastica with my teammate, Chris Sinclair, from last year, or Newman College in Philadelphia,” Baumgartner said.
“I talked to a German elite scout about playing Division II in Germany next year.
“I’ve just got a couple options there, I guess,” he remarked.
