Cooke Ready For Season
For the past two Western Hockey League seasons, Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jordon Cooke has spent a lot of time on the bench.
As backup to Adam Brown – the Rockets career leader in wins, Cooke has quietly gone about his business, providing the Rockets with solid netminding when Brown needed a rest.
But with Brown departed, Cooke will have his chance to carry the work-load this season for the Rockets.
And he’s looking forward to it.
“I’m very excited. It’s been a long two years,” said Cooke. “I played under the best goalie Kelowna has ever had and I’ve learned a lot from him. He taught me so much. Just being consistent. Every game he played hard.”
During those two seasons, Cooke did his best to push the veteran Brown, putting up a winning record (9-7-2-3 in 25 games last season) and teaming with Brown as one of the top one-two punches in net in the WHL. In 44 career games Cooke has posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.89 goals against average.
This off season the Leduc, Alberta native spent a lot of time working out in preparation for a much heavier workload.
“I spent a lot of hours in the gym this year preparing to play 60-some games,” said Cooke, 19. “I’m not a guy that likes to sit around. I like to play. I’m a competitive guy and I want to win as many games as I can.”
With a battle behind him in Rockets training camp between several young goalies, including Cameron Barnes, who played last season in the AJHL, Cooke figures to be the next in line to get the majority of the starts for the Rockets this season.
He’s happy about that and happy with the team that he will have in front of him when the WHL season gets going this weekend with exhibition games.
“I think we will be a great team this year,” he said. “I believe that we have the depth at defense and at forward and we’re looking forward to getting off to a good start.”
The Rockets main training camp continues through Thursday before the team opens WHL exhibition play this weekend with a home and home set with the Vancouver Giants. The Rockets and Giants play Friday night in Vancouver and then Saturday night at Prospera Place in Kelowna. Tickets are available for Saturday’s game at www.selectyourtickets.com or by calling 250-762-5050.
