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George Commo's Blog - Friday 2-3-12

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Created on Friday, 03 February 2012 13:13

Written by George Commo

When Shawn Baker came to Norwich University four years ago it was with a rep ... a rep you don't usually see for an incoming college player. He was a reputed tough guy ... an enforcer famed in his junior league as the guy who would drop his gloves at the drop of a hat and knew what to do when he did so.

When he got to Norwich he had to adjust ... and that he did. His physicality had to be redirected ... and it was ... as he evolved into one of the hardest ... and cleanest hitters in Division Three. He also became a leader in the locker room ... he is the Cadets captain ... AND in the Northfield community.

Baker became a member of the Northfield volunteer fire department, and as such landed right in the middle of Tropical Storm Irene, working with his brother firefighters as flood waters inundated parts of the town. For his work as a firefighter he has been named a finalist for the Hockey Humanitarian Award ... one of the most pretigious awards in the game.

It is a great story!

So too is this ... Norwich alum Keith Aucoin is going to get another shot at the NHL. Aucoin is 33 and he has appeared in 75 NHL games over the years, but it looked like he had settled into that "great AHL player, not quite good enough for the NHL" mold. But he will get another shot after being recalled by the Washington Capitals yesterday. Aucoin is leading the AHL in scoring ... 11 goals and 59 assists for 70 points in 43 games. He is Norwich's all time leading scorer and here's hoping he sticks for a while. No one has labored in the vineyard longer and deserves a shot more.