The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
No. 87 on the scoresheet puts name with his game
Gilmour junior Bauman, a late callup, takes unlikely route to postseason hero
Postseason heroes don’t wear capes — or in Colin Bauman’s case, an identifiable number. At least initially.
The Gilmour junior forward was such a late callup from the Lancers’ 16-and-under squad for the Kent District final March 6 against Mentor, there was in-game curiosity as to who No. 87 was.
By the time Gilmour’s first frozen four berth since 2011 was earned, though, and Bauman played an unexpectedly pivotal role, it was easy to identify an admirable narrative as the Lancers embark for Columbus.
Bauman scored a thirdperiod goal, assisted by his cousin Matt Bauman, that essentially sealed a 4-1 victory over the formidable Cardinals.
“I mean, it’s crazy,” Bauman said. “This is the first year I’ve
been on the team, and ... I don’t know. It’s just kind of a surreal experience, I guess. I’ve never had anything happen to me like that.
“I was coming in very nervous, with the pregame jitters and stuff. I think I did pretty well for a late callup.”
Bauman’s laudable humility might be underselling his circumstances, though.
He played for the Lancers’ 16-and-under squad for much of this campaign and didn’t dress for Varsity A until a 10-0 Kent District quarterfinal win Feb. 26 over Baron Cup III champion Orange, during which he logged an assist.
Bauman found out he was getting the call for the district final the prior day, March 5.
He was given No. 87 in the Lancers’ recently unveiled third jerseys with a vibrant floral pattern in trademark blue and gray.
The callup was unexpected to the extent Bauman wasn’t listed on any roster except for the one written on the scoresheet at Kent.
So when a No. 87 was in pregame skate, the wonder began — and the player in that jersey wondered how he would handle nerves of a big-stage, big-ice encounter.
“You can’t really do much about it,” Bauman said. “You’ve just got to play it out. Once I got into the flow of things, I think I got the jitters out. You just play through it.”
Bauman logged solid shifts, but none more important than early in the third period. With Gilmour protecting a 3-1 advantage and Mentor displaying improved offensive-zone energy trying to find a way back, Matt Bauman skated in on an odd-man rush.
The freshman found his cousin, crashing, on a crossice feed, and Bauman made no mistake with a wrister at 7:31 to put the Lancers well on their way.
In his second varsity game, Bauman scored a third-period goal in a district final, assisted by his cousin. A good day for Gilmour — and for the Baumans.
“So I see my cousin Matthew. He breaks free with the puck,” Bauman said. “There’s one defender. So I just start hauling down the ice, trying to get to the back door. He fed it over beautifully, and I got the puck in.
“My grandma was probably going crazy in the stands. My family, we’ve got a special bond. We work well together.”
A signature moment from — circumstantially — an unexpected source was not lost on his teammates or coach.
“Yeah, that was awesome,” said Lancers junior forward Frankie Valenti, who had two goals and an assist in the district final.
“He just got called up yesterday. He’s been practicing with us for a while now. He finally got his time, and he put one in.
“I’ve known Colin for a good amount of my years. I’ve played against him. He’s a really good, athletic player. And he’s always a worker. He’s a hard worker. He grinds, forechecks — and I’m glad it paid off for him.”
Particularly in recent memory, Gilmour has enjoyed good fortune with late Varsity A callups.
Charlie Tuggey, the Lancers’ junior forward who was outstanding on a line with Valenti and Joe Roddy in the Kent District final, came into the Lancers’ Varsity A fold late as a freshman and scored key goals down the stretch. He lit the lamp in a key 1-0 road win over Holy Name in league play, then delivered the game-winner in overtime as Gilmour topped University in the 2018 Cleveland Cup final.
Bauman’s cousin Matt was a late callup himself this season, netting a tally as the Lancers topped St. Edward in the Cleveland Cup final.
And at Kent, it was Bauman’s turn.
“One of the things is we would like to play players where they are best suited, and they’re going to develop,” Gilmour coach John Malloy said. “When you bring up guys too soon, they can’t do certain things. And by the end of the year, we get to see who emerges.
“And that’s what happened with these guys, and we have others. There’s guys that are sitting there wondering, ‘Why didn’t I get called up?’ So we’ve got a lot to be blessed about, a lot of talent in the program. And it showed itself when we needed it.”
Bauman conceded March 6 he was unsure whether he would also get the call for the frozen four.
Whether he does or not, though, he’s got a moment as a postseason hero that will make No. 87 more identifiable next time around.
“I would have said, ‘You’re absolutely crazy,’” Bauman said. “I did not expect this at all. I’m just really blessed to be here.
“Rest of my life, man. It’s crazy. I’ll keep it in my memories forever.”