Huskies netminder Cooke earns WHL Grad of the Month

Evan Daum, Canada West Communications

Second-year University of Saskatchewan Huskies goalie Jordon Cooke is the WHL Grad of the Month for March, as announced Thursday by Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA).

Cooke posted a 2-0 Canada West record in March, as the Huskies swept the Alberta Golden Bears in the Canada West Final March 4-5. The Leduc, Alta. product also went 1-2 at the University Cup in Halifax, with Saskatchewan’s win at the tournament coming in the quarter-finals against the Carleton Ravens.

The Huskies 3-2 overtime victory over the Ravens was the longest game in tournament history, as the pair played to four overtimes, with the game running a total of 116:11.

Cooke was stellar for Saskatchewan all season long, as the former Kelowna Rocket and 2013-14 Del Wilson Trophy award winner for top WHL goaltender posted a Huskies program record 19 regular season wins to go along with a sparkling .921 save percentage.

An Arts and Science student, Cooke became the first Canada West goalie since Lethbridge’s Trevor Kruger in 1993-94 to win the conference’s outstanding player award. Cooke also earned the CIS top goaltender award.

The other nominee for the WHL Grad of the Month award was Alberta’s Jordan Rowley, who wrapped up his five-year Canada West career in March. Rowley, who played a combined 327 career WHL games between 2005 and 2011 with the Kamloops Blazers and Prince Albert Raiders, is currently playing with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL after signing an ATO with the club following the University Cup.