Quad City Mallards defenseman Jake Baker has signed a professional tryout agreement with the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, the Mallards announced today.

Baker, a 24-year old rookie, joins Manitoba for the second time in a matter of days and the third time in three weeks. Baker played a pair of games for the Moose last weekend before returning to the Mallards Sunday and has picked up one assist while skating in a total of four games for Manitoba this season. The 6’ 5”, 225-pound Port Moody, British Columbia native has scored two goals and added eight assists to total 10 points in 51 games with the Mallards this year.

Baker originally signed with the Mallards just after completing his college career at Northern Michigan last spring.  He recorded one assist along with a plus/minus rating of +5 in seven regular season games with the Mallards last season. Baker registered another assist while playing seven playoff games last year.
 
Baker, who served as a Northern Michigan co-captain last season, scored five goals and added three assists in 36 games as a Wildcat senior. He notched eight goals, 17 assists and 25 points in 144 games over his four collegiate seasons.

Before heading to Northern Michigan, Baker spent three junior seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League where he skated for the Merritt Centennials, Nanaimo Clippers, Victoria Grizzlies and Trail Smoke Eaters.

The Mallards return to action on the road Friday night against the Fort Wayne Komets. The Mallards next play at home Sunday at 4:05 p.m. against the Indy Fuel. The first 1,000 fans ages 12 and under through the doors for Sunday's game will receive free Mallards youth replica jerseys courtesy of WQAD News 8. Fans can join the Mallards on the ice after the game for Skate with the Mallards presented by B100.

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season home games- including Sunday’s contest- are on sale now at the iWireless Center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $10, $16, $20 and $24.