Port Alberni, BC – The Alberni Valley Bulldogs are very sad to announce that 1994-born veteran forward Scott Cooke has retired from the game of hockey due to medical reasons.
Cooke joined the Bulldogs in October after having played three full seasons in the WHL split between the Vancouver Giants and the Moose Jaw Warriors.
In the first game with the Bulldogs, Cooke suffered a concussion and has experienced reoccurring symptoms ever since. Cooke remained with the team hoping to get back on the ice but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
“It’s with great sadness that my hockey career is over,” said Cooke in a statement. “I have played hockey since I was three years old. Although my time with the Bulldogs was brief, I loved playing here and will miss the players, organization, fans, and especially the game,” added Cooke.
Cooke signed off with one final message to his teammates by saying, “Bring home a championship.”
Cooke’s jersey will be hung in the Bulldogs dressing room for the remainder of the season as he begins the next phase of his life by attending school in Kelowna in the New Year.
The Alberni Valley Bulldogs would like to thank Scott for wanting to be a part of our family in the last year of his junior career and wish him all the success in the world in a healthy transition to life after junior hockey. His character and cheerful personality will be missed around the rink.
In another move this week, the Bulldogs have reassigned 1997-born defenseman Josh Harvey to the Oceanside Generals of the VIJHL. Harvey, from Port Alberni, BC, was with the team since opening day as the team wanted to provide him with every opportunity to close the skill gap en route to becoming a full-time BCHL player. Harvey will continue to be in the Bulldogs plans and will continue to practice with the team. With the acquisition of two veteran defensemen this past week, it became harder to get Harvey in the line up and he needs to play in order to continue his development.
In Harvey’s first game with the Oceanside Generals on Thursday, he factored in on all the Generals’ goals (one goal, one assist) in a 8-2 loss to the Nanaimo Buccaneers.
