For Graham Baird, hockey has always been a central part of his life, a constant presence that shaped not only his athletic career, but also his character.

“I’ve been playing hockey since I was four years old,” Baird said, reflecting on his early introduction to the game.

Over the years, he’s played for several teams across various leagues, including the NJ Stars (NJYHL), Mercer Chiefs (AYHL), Philadelphia Revolution (AAA Independent), NJ Rockets (THF) and now, the University of Georgia Ice Dawgs.

Baird’s journey to UGA was motivated by more than just academic opportunities.

“I was tired of the cold weather in New Jersey,” Baird said.

His decision was also influenced by family, as his older brother is currently attending Clemson University, which is just an hour and a half from Athens.

The proximity “was definitely a bonus” when weighing his options.

Since arriving in Athens, the defenseman has made an immediate impact on the Ice Dawgs’ roster. Thus far in his freshman year, he has played 22 out of 23 games and notched six total points.

For Baird, continuing his hockey career at the collegiate level was about more than just competing—he was looking for a community of like-minded individuals who shared his passion for the sport.

“I wanted to play with a group of guys who were very similar to me, and the Ice Dawgs seemed like the best place to find that,” he said. “It turned out to be a lot more than that for me. A lot of my great college experiences have come from the team.”

Growing up in Cranbury, New Jersey, he was a dual sport athlete, playing both lacrosse and hockey. However, he decided to continue on with hockey as his primary sport.

He said, “I was never a fan of running and I liked how in hockey, I could just glide around the ice.”

Hockey has also brought him a unique sense of peace and escape from everyday life.

Baird said, “I’ve never found hockey to be stressful. It feels like a break from whatever else is going on in my life.”

One of his favorite parts about playing hockey growing up was getting to spend quality time with his parents in the car on the way to and from practices or games.

When it comes to having role models in his life, his dad, as well as both his grandfathers, are three of them.

“They’re the most hardworking people I know, they give a lot to their families, and I want to be more like them as I get older,” Baird said.

Outside of hockey, Baird has a variety of hobbies that keep him active and engaged.

He enjoys traveling, skiing, shopping and taking his dogs to the park.

One of his favorite travel experiences was a memorable vacation with friends to an all-you-can-eat steakhouse.

“It was one of my favorite meals of all time and a great experience with my closest friends,” he recalls.

As a finance major at UGA, Baird is focused on setting himself up for success in the business world, though he’s unsure whether that will be his long-term career path.

“I’m doing what I can to do well in the field. I’m not sure if that’s what I want to do yet, but I want to give myself the option in case it is,” he said.

However, one thing he is certain he wants to do before he dies? Own a cattle farm.

“When we traveled with the team to Austin, we got to drive by a lot of cattle farms and it was very inspiring.”

As Baird continues his freshman year at UGA, he’s excited for the future, both on and off the ice.

One experience he’s particularly looking forward to is the possibility of meeting UGA’s beloved mascot, Uga, at the upcoming Savannah Hockey Classic.

“I’ve seen pictures of the team with Uga at the Savannah tournament, and if that happens again, I’d be very excited to meet him.”