Jason Baird
Born: September 16, 1980 (Cayuga, Ontario)
Died: January 17, 2014 (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Jason Baird, a burly forward, spent seven seasons in the minor pros in the United States. His career ended after a lawnmower on which he was riding exploded, burning two-thirds of his body.
He died in hospital five years later of complications from pancreatitis, possibly brought on by medication to treat his burns and many subsequent surgeries.
He was working as a landscaper in Youngstown, Ohio, in the summer of 2008 when he suffered his injuries. He fought for his life in a burn unit at a hospital in Akron, and needed extensive grafts to his chest, back and arms. As he recovered, fund raisers were held for him in Ontario, where he was born, as well as in Texas, where he lived and spent four seasons as a player.
The 6-foot, 205-pound left winger played four seasons of junior hockey with the Erie (Pa.) Otters before turning pro with the Cincinnati Cyclones for the 2001-02 season.
He skated for the Indianapolis Ice for two seasons and was in his fourth season with the Corpus Christ (Texas) Rayz when traded to the Youngstown Steelhounds early in the 2007-08 season.
An agitator with enough skill to average better than a point a game, Baird was also a fan favourite, the kind of player beloved by teammates and disliked by opponents. In 375 pro games, he scored 132 goals with 239 assists. He served 1,018 penalty minutes.
Baird leaves his wife, two sons and a daughter. He was 33.
Benched 