Lacrosse player accepts dual role for now

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Faced with the prospect of losing his team because there was no head coach, Brian Baker stepped into the role of bench boss with the North Shore Thunder in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA).

All the while, he's maintained a regular shift on the floor.

Now in his third year with the Thunder, the first for the club in North Vancouver since its relocation from Kelowna after two seasons, Baker, 38, accepted the double-duty position after an earlier coach was dismissed before the season started.

Baker recognizes what he's doing is different, as he doesn't recollect during his career at the province's senior level that a coach has remained an active player. Although he'll admit that by filling in as a coach, both roles have been affected.

"That's where it's difficult because you try to manage, but at the same time, I still have to concentrate on my play," Baker said, adding there aren't many adjustments that will occur once the game begins.

His coaching resume includes two seasons with the Senior B North Shore Indians and that's what made him the most likely candidate on such short notice. But it has been Baker's 12-year playing career in the WLA, spanning back to 1986, that he draws most of his experience from.

A member of the 1986 Mann Cup champions, the New Westminster Salmonbellies, when he amassed 114 points in 41 games, Baker has continued to climb the all-time scoring lists in the WLA. In the top-20 among goal scoring and points takers, Baker was eighth in assists, with 313 entering this season's play.

It certainly wouldn't be known his play is suffering this season looking at his numbers. Twelfth in league scoring this campaign with 43 points, Baker is averaging more than three points per game with the Thunder, the highest total in his career.

"I don't know why I am scoring more (21 goals) this year. Usually I'll get a lot of assists but maybe it's because we have fewer veterans on the team so I'll have to shoot," Baker said. He plays at the top position, responsible for directing the team's offence.

The Thunder mark the return of the WLA to North Vancouver after a two-year absence. While the club was in the Okanagan, Baker had to drive to Kelowna instead of taking the team bus, thus energy spent in the car was energy not available on the floor.

Thunder general manager Scottie Marshall, who's also in his third season with the team, has noticed how much better Baker is now that he is playing in the Lower Mainland.

Before "he'd drive the five hours. By sleeping at home, it doesn't surprise me what he's doing on the floor (this season)," Marshall said.

Marshall also respects the effort Baker is providing as a leader on and off the floor. The general manager pointed out there were six losses this season in the games' closing minutes that would be attributed to collective inexperience rather than flaws in coaching, a trend Baker was able to personally correct during a win on July 10.

In stopping a three-game losing streak, North Shore did keep its slim playoff chances alive when it defeated the Maple Ridge Burrards 15-13. The coach and captain provided both an offensive spark to change the flow of the match and a defensive presence to preserve the win.

With the Thunder trailing 6-4 after the opening period, on Baker's first three shifts in the middle frame, North Shore scored on each occasion, changing the deficit to an 8-6 lead. Recording two assists in the contest, Baker then rotated by taking a spot in his own crease in the final minutes for two full shifts. The club managed its third victory, against 11 losses and a tie.

"If I put myself out there in a crucial position, the young guys can accept that because I have been there before," Baker said about giving himself any shifts down the stretch.

After managing only 10 wins in the two years in Kelowna, the club decided to rebuild this season. Three-quarters of the squad is under 25 and that has been a factor why North Shore is in last-plce in the six-team league.

One of the bright spots for the team was the draft choice of Shaun Cable, who suited up for three games with the Calgary Roughnecks of the National Lacrosse League in 2001/02. Even though the Thunder has struggled again this season, Cable sees a brighter future and appreciates the club's strength with Baker leading the charge.

"He can lead by example, so if he says something, he can go out and do it," Cable said, who is second in the WLA with 60 points. "He has leadership and experience because he's won championships and knows what it takes to win."

Baker sees North Shore's rejuvenation taking place locally. A member of the Squamish band, he believes it will be players and fans from the reserve who will eventually contribute significantly to the Thunder's success.

"There is a lot of young native talent here and it's important to keep this team going, especially because of the pro league (the Vancouver Ravens)," the coach said.