From playing all over the world, to taking some time off to coach back at home, KelownaB次元官网网址檚 Abby Cook couldnB次元官网网址檛 be happier to be playing in the newest, and ever-growing womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey league.
The newest league in the North America, the Professional WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League (PWHL) launched in August 2023 and Cook is stoked to have a professional league in action again, let alone the chance to play in it.
B次元官网网址淚 was really excited, for it to all come together finally and for this opportunity for young girls to look up to us now,B次元官网网址� said Cook. B次元官网网址淸ItB次元官网网址檚] the best of the best that get to place in this one league, itB次元官网网址檚 amazing to think about.B次元官网网址�
Cook, who was born in Yellowknife, moved to Kelowna with her family when she was seven and followed in her brotherB次元官网网址檚 footsteps by lacing up the skates to play hockey.
B次元官网网址淚 have an older brother and he played hockey so I donB次元官网网址檛 want to say that I didnB次元官网网址檛 have a choice butB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� Cook said with a laugh. B次元官网网址淚 was put into it at a very young age and I fell in love with it and I just wanted to be like him eventually so I stuck with it.B次元官网网址�
Both Cooks played hockey at the Pursuit of Excellence (POE) program in Kelowna.
B次元官网网址淲hen I was in eighth grade, my dad saw a newspaper ad for a female showcase they were having at POE,B次元官网网址� explained Cook. B次元官网网址淗e didnB次元官网网址檛 tell me much about it but I went and did pretty well and the owner of the academy at the time, David Roy asked me to come and be a practice player. We decided I should take the opportunity.B次元官网网址�
Cook made the right choice as within two months, she was on the main womenB次元官网网址檚 team at POE.
Her four years there earned a full-ride scholarship to Boston University (BU). Cook said she got letters from other schools but BU just felt right, except for when she landed in Boston the first time.
B次元官网网址淲e landed and I was like B次元官网网址楧ad, I canB次元官网网址檛 go to school here, thereB次元官网网址檚 too much snow,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Cook, who landed during a snowstorm in early 2015.
But after a campus tour and meeting the head coach, Cook felt like it was the right place to be B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚 ended up committing on the spot that day.B次元官网网址�
Cook played at BU for four years, graduating as a Health Sciences major in the spring of 2020.
After her time at university, Cook got the chance to go play overseas in Sweden, suiting up for the Djurg氓rdens IF in the Swedish WomenB次元官网网址檚 Hockey League (SDHL).
B次元官网网址淚 knew I wanted to keep playing competitively so it was a pretty easy decision for me,B次元官网网址� said Cook.
After playing in Sweden for the 2020-21 season, Cook came back to Kelowna for the offseason and started to coach at RINK Hockey Academy. Later that year, she had the chance to play in the Premier Hockey Federation, which was the womenB次元官网网址檚 league in North American before the PWHL. She played just six games for the Boston Pride.
After the experience with the Pride, Cook took some time off. She came back home, coached with RINK some more, and then took a step back for a few months.
B次元官网网址淚 completely stepped away honestly,B次元官网网址� said Cook. B次元官网网址淚 was always taking it day-by-day, not looking too far into the future.B次元官网网址�
Cook said during that time, she wasnB次元官网网址檛 actively looking for somewhere to play.
B次元官网网址淚 was waiting for something to come up and thatB次元官网网址檚 when Switzerland reached out to me.B次元官网网址�
She went and played 18 games for Ladies Team Lugano in Switzerland in the 2022-23 season.
In August 2023, the PWHL was announced and Cook was happy just to have a new professional womenB次元官网网址檚 league in North America. It was announced the league would consist of six teams in its inaugural season - Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York, and Minnesota.
The draft for the league took place in late September and after the draft, the Minnesota team reached out and asked Cook her to attend their training camp, which was slated to start in November.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 even have to think about it,B次元官网网址� said Cook.
Camp started on Nov. 14 and lasted three weeks. On Dec. 20, Cook got the call that she made the team and signed a one-year contract.
B次元官网网址淲hen they called me and said B次元官网网址榶ouB次元官网网址檙e hereB次元官网网址�, I was just overjoyed, I never smiled so big before,B次元官网网址� said Cook, who added she had tears of joy and relief in the moment.
Cook came back to Kelowna to celebrate with her family for Christmas for a quick four days before the season opened for Minnesota on Jan. 3.
B次元官网网址淭he crowds, the excitement, I still havenB次元官网网址檛 gotten used to it,B次元官网网址� said Cook, who noted Minnesota had more than 13,000 fans at their home opener a few days later.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very physical, very fast, every game is a battle and the teams are almost so even,B次元官网网址� said Cook. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 super exciting, I canB次元官网网址檛 even describe it.B次元官网网址�
On Jan. 28, Cook, in her eighth career game, scored her first career PWHL goal.
B次元官网网址淚t was crazy, I had so much time and space and in my head I was like B次元官网网址榯his is taking me forever to the shoot the puckB次元官网网址� but nobody was coming for me so I took my time and shot it and lucky enough, it went in,B次元官网网址� Cook described.
Cook has played all around the world, yet is still just 25-years-old and knows sheB次元官网网址檚 playing against some womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey legends that she admired watching when growing up.
B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 get starstruck, you have to understand that theyB次元官网网址檙e out there and know theyB次元官网网址檙e very talented,B次元官网网址� said Cook. B次元官网网址淚 remind myself, IB次元官网网址檓 also in the same league as them and thereB次元官网网址檚 a reason why were all here.B次元官网网址�
After nine games in Minnesota purple, Cook became part of PWHL history on Sunday, Feb. 11, as she was part of leagueB次元官网网址檚 first trade deal.
TRADE: PWHL Boston has acquired forward Susanna Tapani and defender Abby Cook from PWHL Minnesota in exchange for defender Sophie Jaques.
B次元官网网址� PWHL (@thepwhlofficial)
馃摪
Her and Susanna Tapani were traded to BostonB次元官网网址檚 PWHL team for Sophie Jaques.
Cook, wearing #18 for Boston, is expected to make her debut with the team on Feb. 14 against Toronto.
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