Jordon Cooke enjoyed four successful seasons with the Kelowna Rockets between 2010-2014.
Following his WHL career, the goaltender moved on to the University of Saskatchewan where he currently plays for the Huskies.
In the midst of an incredible season this year, Cooke was named to Team Canada's Spengler Cup team in December and even though he didn't see any game time, Cooke and the Canadians won gold at the tournament for the second year in a row.
Now back at school, KelownaNow caught up with Cooke to talk about his time with the Rockets, his transition to university hockey and of course his Spengler Cup experience.
Rewinding a little bit, now that you've had a couple of years to reflect on your time here, how do you look back on your time with the Rockets?
It's unbelievable still. The memories you gain through the four years there, they were just incredible. I have life long friends from that whole experience. They're friends that I see now still, like Tyson Baillie for one, I played with him for a few years in Kelowna and I'll always remember him and always be able to talk to him. Not just Tyson, there's a lot of other guys, but my experience in Kelowna was just incredible. The organization is probably one of the best in Junior hockey and in all of Canada, the fans, the whole city itself is so supportive. I really loved the team there and really there's not a whole lot of negative things to say about the whole city and team itself.
Specifically looking back at your last year, the 2013-2014 season, what sticks out about that run?
I wish we would have won. That season was pretty amazing. I know the year before we broke our team record by one or two wins and going into that next season I don't think we were thinking we'd even come close to hitting that record again, but we actually blew it out of the water so I think just the group of guys there really made the whole year special. We didn't have the best team, don't get me wrong we had a lot of good players, but when you look at other rosters around the league there were a lot of star guys that did some damage. We just played as one, used our depth to our advantage and in the long run I think we might have needed a couple more players through trade to progress and win the Western Hockey League, but the whole year was just incredible.
You covered it a little bit already, but what players from those Rockets' teams do you still keep in contact with?
Myles Bell for sure, we were pretty close. I knew him prior to his time in Kelowna, we traded for him from Regina, but I grew up playing against him and with him at multiple camps throughout our careers. We developed a brotherhood type of thing we were really close. Cole Martin a pretty big guy there, Carter Rigby as well, a lot of guys generally around my age. MacKenzie Johnston as well, we're actually roommates here in Saskatoon. He transferred over from Mount Royal to U of S this year so he has to redshirt, but he's a big reason I do so well here in Saskatoon cause I get to live with a guy that I've known for years. He's a guy I actually lived with in Kelowna for I think three years so it's been a nice experience. Jessey Astles as well, he played a few years in Kelowna and then was traded away, but he's a guy I've kept in touch with over the years too. You make a lot of friends and I know I might be forgetting a couple of names here, but I know if I ever run into them again it's an easy conversation to have.
Do you still follow the current Rockets' team and how they're doing?
I try to, here and there. I don't really keep in touch a whole lot with how Kelowna is doing, but through the social media sites you always see the odd thing that happens with the Rockets.
You're into your third year with the University of Saskatchewan, how's the hockey different than in the dub?
The hockey isn't a lot different, there's a lot of good players out here. It's definitely an upgrade. I know a lot of people don't see the Canada West league as an upgrade from the Western League but it is. Players are older, stronger and they even get smarter so the hockey is a lot different here, but what it comes down to is school. You have to find a good balance between the school life and the hockey life and I think that was the biggest transition from the Western Hockey League to Canada West and university sports in general.
There's a lot more ex-major junior players in the league than people think, correct?
Oh ya, at U of S we have a lot more Junior A players than other teams do, but when you look at U of A's roster I think they're all Western League guys and guys that did some damage in the league, so when you look at them, UBC and U of C, they're really stocked with Western League guys.
Your stats are improving every year and your numbers this year are a little insane with a GAA under 2.00, how fun has the ride and progression been with the Huskies?
It's been unbelievable. We have a great group of guys here and we take pride in playing with depth and playing for one another, so my stats don't really show how well our team has been playing and I don't think I'd be where I am today or in the last two years without the guys that I have in front of me. I know it's nice to see where my stats are now, but I can't take all the credit, they deserve more than people know.
Now let's talk Spengler Cup, how did you find out you made the team and what was that feeling like?
I was in Montreal at the time for the U Sports vs World Junior, I guess classic now, and I was pulled aside by Scott Salmond, Brodan Salmond's dad. He kind of brought up the whole Spengler Cup and that they needed a goalie and were interested in bringing me, so that's how it all kind of came down. I was actually pretty in shock, I didn't think it was possible for university students to go play over there, but it was an unbelievable experience for sure. A nice little Christmas treat.
#SpenglerCup champions! 🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/CdjPbGSCfS
— Team Canada Men (@HC_Men) December 31, 2016
It was a short tournament and you didn't see the ice, but it still must have been an incredible time, just tell me a little bit about the experience overseas there.
Oh it's amazing, definitely a place I'd like to go play down the road, whether it's in Davos, Switzerland or really anywhere over there, they take their hockey very seriously and they show a lot of pride at sames. The atmosphere there is a lot different than what we have here. Between whistles it's music and then once the game starts there are bands playing, they're chanting, the atmosphere there is absolutely crazy.
Do you still get a Team Canada jersey with your name on it that your mom can hang up in the basement?
Yea I have two actually, so I think I'm going to have to put them in one of those glass frames and hang it on the wall. You have to!
All set for @spenglercupEN 2016 action starting tomorrow! @TSN_Sports @HC_Men 🇨🇦#Goalies #HockeyCanada #TSN pic.twitter.com/Pu9dPLxVfl
— Michael Lawrence (@wizardML) December 25, 2016
So what's next for Jordon Cooke after university, you've got a year left?
A year or two, depending on if I want to stick around a little longer and win a national title or defend one. After I'd like to go pursue a pro career, that's always been a dream of mine. Coming out of junior I wanted to take the smart route cause no one is really knocking down my door to get to me. I knew a degree was a smarter route in the long run and when you're looking back when you're 40 or 50, that's something you need. Definitely after I get my degree I'd like to go pursue a pro career though.
You mentioned a pro career in Europe, do you talk to a guy like Jackson Whistle about his experience playing overseas?
No I haven't actually gotten in touch with Jackson for a while. He's a guy I actually do keep in touch with, but I just haven't been able to in a while, different time zones makes it a little difficult. When I was over in Switzerland I was able to talk with him a couple of times, but from what I've heard from Tyson Baillie and Cole Linaker is that he's still dealing with injuries but the whole experience itself has been really good for him.
Well thanks so much for taking the time Jordon. Congrats on the Spengler Cup, best of luck for the rest of the season and hopefully we'll catch up again soon!
Yea for sure, thank you very much.
KelownaNow will be catching up with various ex-Rockets over the next few months, stay tuned for those Q&As!
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