Player Profile – Tim Cook

ESTERO , FL – Tim Cook is a powerful defenseman on the ice.   Off the ice he reminds me of a college student or a young college professor, dressed in a dark colored sport coat and matching cap with wire-framed glasses. He has that studious, bookish look about him.  
 

Cook has an impressive record both as a hockey player and as a collegiate student.   The 25-year-old Florida defenseman is a slender, but solid, 6 foot 4 inches and 190 pounds.
 
Cook is originally from the northeast, hailing from Montclaire, New Jersey.   His family still resides there.   Cook has an older sister and older brother who did play hockey in high school.   Hockey was always a big part of Cook’s life as he stared on the ice at age four.
 
Cook played for two years with the USHL (United States Hockey League) before spending four years with the University of Michigan Wolverines.
 
During his four years at Michigan he not only graduated with a degree in history, he also tallied an impressive list of awards:
 
Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement Award (2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06)
 
CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association) Scholar – Athlete Team (maintaining a 3.25+ GPA (grade point average)) (2004-05, 2005-06)
 
CCHA Illitch Humanitarian Award (for the leagues top citizen based on contributions both on and off the ice) (2007)
 
“I am a very boring, very quiet person”, Cook says with a shy smile.
 
Cook was drafted in the NHL Entry Draft in 2003 by the Ottawa Senators, 5^th round, 142^nd overall.  
 
He played for current Blades Head Coach, Malcolm Cameron, in 2007-08 with the Texas Wildcatters.   He started this season, 2008-09, in Denmark.  
 
Cook played for the Totempo Hvlk of the premier Danish league, Oddset Ligaen.   The team was located in the town of Hvidovre which is a suburb of Copenhagen.
 
“Playing in Denmark was quite different that in the states.   The ice is bigger and more open, the play is less physical and less defensive.   It’s much more fun to play here”, Cook explains why he is back playing for Cameron again in the ECHL.
 
Cook plays a consistent defensive game.   “I keep the puck out of my end, keep up physical defensive play and move the puck up the ice to the forwards”.
 
Surprisingly, Cook is not a Florida golfer.   “I like to read, watch movies and   play video games”, he says of his hobbies.
 
“I love living in Florida, especially Ft.Myers, because of the great beaches out on Captiva and Sanibel Islands”, he shares that he likes to relax with sun and sand.
 
At this time, Cook lives in Ft. Myers, but has no special lady in his life yet.
 
“I share a place with two of my teammates, A.J. Thelen and Milan Gajic”. He said.
 
Unfortunately Cook had to watch the game last night when his team won the Brabham Cup.   He injured his right hand in a game on March 18^th and is still on the 7-day IR (injured reserve).
 
He was, however, very excited, and quickly went downstairs to join his teammates in celebration.   Tim Cook has played very well for the Blades and deserved to enjoy the moment with his friends.
 
Contact the author at: sharon.weatherhead@prohockeynews.com