Rangers hopeful
Ex-Spitfires goalie trying to make good on free-agent invite
KITCHENER — Brock Baier is hoping to make the most of his second chance.
The 19-year-old goalie saw a future in Windsor after the Spitfires drafted him in the 10th round of the 2016 Ontario Hockey League draft.
But the native of Wallace — a town just outside Listowel — got lost in the shuffle in the border city.
Windsor already owns one of the best backstoppers in Vancouver Canucks prospect Michael DiPietro, who is in the running to captain the crease for Canada at this year’s world junior hockey championship.
And when the team drafted Finnish netminder Kari Piiroinen in the Canadian Hockey League import draft in June, the writing was on the wall.
So, Baier asked if he could move on.
“I wish Windsor nothing but the best,” he said. “I just want an opportunity to play.”
Training camp invitations rolled in for the veteran goalie but Kitchener was his first choice.
Tuesday, he made his debut for the club in a scrimmage at the Aud. And the six-foot-four, 190 pounder showed well by leading Team White to a 5-2 victory against Team Blue. His sole blemishes were breakaway goals scored by Kobe Desmond and Reid Valade.
“He has good size and moves well for a big goalie,” said Rangers goaltending coach Kain Tisi. “He really invested in himself physically in the summer to get in better shape.”
Fourth-year goalie Luke Richardson has the starting job locked down for the Rangers, but Baier is battling Kitchener draft picks Lucas Pfeil and Dalton McBride for the backup gig.
“I feel very privileged to be in this camp right now and I’m just going to try earn a spot on the team,” said Baier. “They have some great coaches here and they know their stuff. I’m just going to try and soak it in.”
Baier’s name might sound familiar. That’s because he went 24-6-1 with four shutouts, a 2.03 goals against average and .933 save percentage for the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Listowel Cyclones two years back.
Things didn’t go as smoothly during his 10-game stint with the Spits last season (1-7-1-0, 5.07 goals against average) but the rebuilding club was one of the youngest outfits in the OHL.
“It was a big step,” said Baier of the leap to the major junior ranks.
“There are a lot of talented players in this league and they’re a lot smarter with the puck. They have quicker shots.”
Kitchener has a history of resurrecting the careers of goalies that have been overlooked. Franky Palazzese, Dawson Carty and Mario Culina all improved after joining the club in recent years. Baier is hoping to be the next name on that list.
“I have more to prove,” he said. “I’ve been given a chance and I’m going to run with it.”
The Rangers’ training camp continues Wednesday with a scrimmage at 10 a.m. at the Aud.