‘Underdog’ wants to mentor young pups
As fifth-last player taken in the 2017 OHL draft, Cook uses his low status as motivation
Niagara IceDogs defenceman A.J. Cook received some homework when the Ontario Hockey League season was cancelled with five games remaining in the team’s regular season.
Athletic therapist Chris Trivieri and strength coach Nick Tamburri gave the 18-year-old an “at-home plan” designed to improve conditioning and increase strength.
“It was a lot of stuff you can do with one or two dumbbells or just your body weight,” said Cook, a St. Catharines native who is looking forward to his second full season in the OHL.
COVID-19 restrictions have closed recreational facilities, including arenas and gyms, but the Ridley College graduate won’t let that completely derail his off-season training. He is committed to being faster and stronger when training camp opens, hopefully in early September.
“I do home workouts and then, for cardio, I’ve been going on runs, stationary bike and I rollerblade around,” Cook said.
“It’s like I’m actually skating still.” Cook, who was selected by Niagara in the 15th round of the 2017 OHL draft with the 296th overall pick, played 50 games with the IceDogs last season after seeing action in eight games the year before.
He is looking forward to being among the veterans on a young team on the second floor of a rebuild. Cook appreciates the responsibility that goes with that role. “I’m ready for next season, and ready to take a leadership position and mentor some of the younger guys coming in,” he said.
There was unfinished business for the IceDogs when the league pulled the plug on the remainder of the regular season and, weeks later, the playoffs.
“We didn’t have the half that we wanted to. We had a couple of injuries and, after the trades, we had a pretty young team,” Cook said.
Niagara dealt three of its top five scorers — Phil Tomasino, Akil Thomas and Kyen Sopa — at the trade deadline in exchange for much-needed prospects.
“I think everyone was just learning. It was the first season for a lot of guys,” he said. “It was a big learning curve for everyone.” The son of Steve and Angelina Cook of St. Catharines began following the IceDogs after the team moved to the region from Mississauga and played home games at Jack Gatecliff Arena. More than most, he appreciates what was at the stake when the streak of not missing the playoffs in franchise history was on the line.
Kingston earned the final playoff berth on a tiebreaker, according to the league, but not according to Cook.
“We didn’t end the streak this year because there wasn’t a streak to end. There weren’t playoffs for anyone,” he said.
Playing in the OHL on his hometown team doesn’t faze Cook.
“I wouldn’t say there’s too much pressure. Once you get there, you don’t notice the crowd as much,” he said. “But I kind of embrace it all.
“I love playing for my hometown and seeing my family at every game,” he said. “It’s an advantage and a privilege.”
He didn’t know what to expect when he was attending his first OHL training camp.
“It was very overwhelming. There were amazing players there,” Cook said. “I knew I wasn’t ready, and I had to develop.”
He chose to transfer to Ridley from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, also in St. Catharines.
“I knew they had a great coach there,” he said.
“I really developed a ton there that year, in Grade 11, my first year after the draft.”
Cook said everyone develops differently and, while junior B may be the right path for many players, it wasn’t for him.
“I think, just for me and my playing style, Ridley was the way to go.
They have amazing facilities there and I was on the ice every day,” he said. “There was always open ice there if I wanted to hop on during a spare or during lunch. I always took advantage of that. I just really thrived in that environment.”
Cook was the fifth-last player taken in the 2017 draft. Instead of looking at that as an uphill battle for a roster spot, Cook has used it as motivation.
“Just from the day I was drafted, I had the mentality I was going to put everything forward and give it my all, leave everything out there every time I touched the ice or in the gym,” he said. “I had to outwork everyone because I was the underdog.
“I think I always play with a chip on my shoulder and try to be the hardest worker everywhere I go,” he said. “Every time I go to work out, practise or train, I’m always thinking that all these teams passed on me and I want to prove everyone wrong.”