NIPIGON -- The Nipigon Elks of the Lakehead Junior Hockey League (LJHL) are experiencing some growing pains.
With just two wins in 15 games to date, one of the younger squad in the five-team circuit is getting a good look at what it’s like to play junior hockey.
Forward Cooper Cocks, who is in his third season with his hometown Elks, feels that the team has grown despite the results not being there.
“We can't get down on ourselves or argue with each other once the game gets away from us. We have to play as a team, which we've been doing a lot better as of late,” Cocks said after Nipigon’s 9-0 loss to the Current River Storm on Jan 13.
“At the beginning of the year you could tell we were a younger team, but we've definitely grown a lot since then.”
Cocks joins fellow forward Zac Mahoney and defenceman Chase Wrigley on the team as guys from Nipigon, and said it’s awesome to be able to play close to home.
“When I was a kid, I watched Junior B hockey and I was like ‘oh, I can't wait to play there’. Watching a playoff series and now being a part of it, it’s pretty cool,” Cocks mentioned.
“Lots of the high school kids come to all our games as well as the parents. It's tougher when the Thunder Bay guys have to drive up here because their parents don't really want to come that far. But we get good fan support. It's what people do on Friday nights.”
When asked about Junior A camps, Cocks said: “When I was midget age (Under 18) I was thinking about coming to Thunder Bay to try out for the Kings. I got invited to come, but I didn't really want to make the move so I stayed in Nipigon. I was going to go to a few camps last year, but I was hurt, so perhaps I’ll go out next off season.”
Cocks is attending Confederation College and is enrolled in the two-year police foundations: investigations and community services course.
