Michigan Tech has received a second portal commitment in former Michigan State forward Owen Baker. This commitment continues the strong pipeline between the two programs, as Baker joins Isaac Gordon and Viktor Hurtig in making the transition to Houghton from East Lansing (Gordon as a commitment flip, Hurtig via the transfer portal). This likely owes to the strong relationship between Huskies head coach Joe Shawhan and Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale, as Shawhan coached Nightingale in junior. Baker also hails from the Michigan Tech hockey mecca of Howell, Michigan and played AAA with Chase Pietila.
Baker was a 40 point scorer in his final year of USHL play, but played sparingly for a top ranked Michigan State team as a freshman and chose to enter the transfer portal. He will come to Michigan Tech in search of more opportunities. Given the statistical profile and natural offensive talent, Baker will likely be given a chance to immediately seize a role in the Huskies top 6. With 3 years of eligibility remaining, Baker could become a long-term foundational piece on Michigan Tech’s roster.
Nathan is currently a student at Michigan Tech, studying Engineering Management. He cultivated his love for the game over a 10 year youth hockey career and is excited to bring his passion to Tech Hockey Guide and Michigan Tech hockey. While not at school, Nathan resides in the Chicagoland area
