Windsor Spitsfires acquire Mike Baird from Battalion

General Manager Warren Rychel has made his first trade of the off-season, picking up 1997-born left winger Mike Baird from the North Bay Battalion in exchange for Windsor’s 4th Round selection in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection.

A 2nd round pick (#30 overall) back in 2013, Baird, 19, appeared in 132 regular season games over parts of three seasons with the Battalion, scoring 10 times while adding 15 assists with 196 penalty minutes. He also appeared in 15 playoff games, during 2014-15 and 2015-16.

“We felt like we needed to get older on the wing while boosting our team speed and toughness,” Rychel said. “I’ve seen year after year in the OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup; you need big wingers to make a run. I like what Mike brings to our lineup with his physical edge.”

A 6’3, 185-pound native of Cayuga, Baird says he’s thrilled to join the Spits. “My agent called me. I was kind of surprised,” Baird said. “After the shock wore off, I was pretty pumped, knowing the kind of team Windsor is going to have this year and with the city hosting the Memorial Cup.” Baird says he expects to be in Windsor during the month of August, to skate and train.