What’s next for Jordan Baxter, who was honored for her back-to-back gold medals with photo ops, autographs and even federal recognition?
What if…the Tri-Cities didn’t have their own women’s ice hockey association?
Who knows if Jordan Baxter would have been able to achieve everything he has up to this point in his young career.
Would there be two gold medals with the Canada U-18 women’s team? A captaincy with a top-tier girls’ high school program? A scholarship to play NCAA hockey this fall?
It’s the catalyst the 17-year-old Coquitlam product is grateful for every day, and he had the chance to speak about it at his official “homecoming” event on Tuesday night (January 24).
Dozens of family, friends and supporters had the opportunity to meet Baxter at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, see/use her world champion hardware and ask questions about her successes.
Many of the attendees included young girls wearing the same Tri-Cities Predators colors that she wore when she first started playing hockey.
“Growing up with girls and being on the girls’ show for all my years really helped me connect, make better friends and find that love for my game,” Baxter said in an interview with The Tri City News.
“I would give him credit [my success] especially the friendships and connections I made.”
Baxter was able to put smiles on the faces of these young athletes by answering questions about gaining the skills to be successful on and off the ice. She also took photos and signed autographs.
She even received a federal “certificate of congratulations” from Port Moody: Coquitlam Representative Bonita Zarrillo for her inspiring example to the community.
That “one of a kind” feeling on top of the world was even sweeter this year when Baxter helped Canada win back-to-back women’s under-18 world titles in Sweden, beating the host country by one score. from 10-0.
However, seven months earlier, the center/winger said there was no greater feeling than lifting her first international trophy after defeating the USA in a close 3-2 game in Wisconsin.
This will open many more doors for Baxter as he continues to pursue his dream of wearing the maple leaf at the Olympics.
But between now and then, there may not be many international opportunities unless she breaks the national list of senior women.
Their current youngest players are 21 years old; Baxter will also be that age when the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics take place in Italy.
She believes now is the time for officials to organize a women’s equivalent of the under-20 youth hockey world championship to showcase emerging talent in Canada and around the world.
“I think, considering that the men’s junior world is probably the biggest tournament that [the IIHF] have, it would be a really good idea for women to do that,” Baxter explained.
“There’s an under-22 team, but they can’t go to a world championship. They have a camp in the summer and they play an exhibition game against the Olympic team, but that’s it. So yeah, I think pushing to get [a tournament] for that age group it would be really useful for women’s hockey.”
Regardless of what happens at the international level, Baxter said he looks forward to growing his game at the highest level of North American college sports.
She is set to skate with Ohio State University this fall in the NCAA Division. I women’s hockey, which just so happens to be the reigning national champions and includes Tri-Cities producer Jenna Buglioni (Port Moody).
Baxter said her experience with Canada will play a big role in her transition to university.
“Just coming together as a team with people from all over the country, obviously, great talent, prepares me for Ohio next year because I’m going into school with a lot of different players that I haven’t played before.” “
As of this posting (January 25), Baxter has recorded 18 goals and 31 points in 18 games as captain of the Delta Hockey Academy Girls Under-18 Preparatory team in the Canadian Sport School League (CSSHL).
Between his first two international stints with Canada, he scored four points in 11 games alongside the country’s best.
She is also set to represent BC on the women’s provincial hockey team at the 2023 Canada Winter Games from February 18 to March 5.
Baxter’s welcome event on Tuesday was organized by the Gamar Foundation and its Let Her Lead initiative, which features women in “positions of power and influence,” as well as the Tri-Cities Predators and Coquitlam Express.
