Cook of the Kam River
To be sure, homegrown defenseman Jack Cook has been an impact player for the Kam River Fighting Walleye in his first season in the Superior International Jr. Hockey League.
The 19-year old Cook, who was acquired by Kam River in an off season transaction with the Navan Grads of the Central Canada Hockey League, has been an offensive force for the Fighting Walleye with 18 goals, 25 assists, 43 points in just 36 games. The 5-foot-10, 180 pound Cook has also quarterbacked the power play with seven goals, 12 assists, 19 points for the Fighting Walleye, which is in first place in the SIJHL with a record of 34-8-1.
A graduate of the Thunder Bay Kings AAA program, Cook represents just one of the many shrewd acquisitions that general manager Kevin McCallum has made in quickly establishing Kam River as an SIJHL powerhouse as a franchise that is only in its second full season of existence. As a first-year SIJHL team in 2021-2022, the Fighting Walleye finished in first place during the regular season before losing to the Red Lake Miners in the championship finals.