Baird named Team USA head captain for World Cup of University Hockey, starting Friday
4/12/2023 5:03:56 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
After serving as head captain for his last two seasons on Liberty University’s ACHA Division I men’s hockey team, senior defenseman Colin Baird will wear the same “C” on his jersey for Team USA when it opens play in the 2023 World Cup of University Hockey set for this Friday through Wednesday at the Felcsíki Ice Skating Rink in Câr?a, Romania.
“What an honor,” Baird said from Carta after the team finished its first practice there on Wednesday night. “I am super excited about that. There are a ton of guys who have been in leadership positions. Getting that honor was a huge privilege and I’m excited to lead the boys.”
Baird, who has two more years of eligibility as a fourth-year senior, will be graduating with his MBA over Commencement weekend on May 11-13 after finishing his undergraduate degree through the School of Business. He will be getting married this summer and move to Denver to launch his career at an accounting firm.
The team gathered in Albany, N.Y., on Sunday and practiced twice there this week before flying to Romania on Wednesday and arriving in Karcfalta, Romania, after a “cool bus ride through the mountains,” Baird said.
“We’ve had a really long travel day today, but we’ve had three really good practices so far and tons of travel time together, so we have been getting to know one another and how we play,” he said. “It’s been great to get guys from other (ACHA) teams around the country together. What a privilege to get to be playing with these guys. Practices have been super fun, and we’ve got a great team looking forward to making some noise out here.”
Adrian College Head Coach Gary Astalos, who is serving in the same role with Team USA, selected Baird as head captain. He is one of five Flames on the team along with senior forward Matt Bartel, who was designated Baird’s successor as head captain at Liberty next season, junior forwards Jacob Kalandyk and Jason Foltz, and freshman defenseman Laz Kaebel.
Additionally, senior goalie Hunter Virostek, who is from Alberta, is representing Team Canada.
“Gary (Astalos) has been running a good practice, with a lot of flow and chemistry, and the guys are excited to get playing here on Friday, when we open against Sweden at 4:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. EST),” Baird said.
Team USA will also play Hungary and Slovakia in its pool on Saturday and Sunday while Canada competes against teams from Czech Republic, Poland, and host Romania. All but Teams USA and Canada, which feature players from the ACHA, are made up entirely of European University Hockey Association (EUHA) players.
“We are in a pretty sweet dorm situation and will be playing in a first-class facility,” Baird said, noting that it has an Olympic-sized rink. “The ice is a little bigger, but we’ll be prepared. International play is always very different with a lot of good puck movement. The people out here love hockey and it will be fun to experience.”
All games in the tournament will be streamed live on the World Cup of University Hockey’s pay-per-view site.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer