Local resident returns with Union hockey team
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Matt Cook’s ice hockey career began at Baker Rink on Princeton University’s campus.
”I played my first hockey game at Baker as a Tiger mini mite,” said the Belle Mead resident.
Cook returns to Princeton as a senior forward with the Union College men’s ice hockey team, Princeton’s quarterfinals opponent in the best-of-three series that begins tonight and could continue until Sunday.
”I definitely don’t want it to end there,” Cook said. “Our mission is to get to Albany.”
Cook scored the final goal for Union as it finished off Clarkson last weekend with a two-game sweep. Then the quarterfinal seedings were announced, and Union was headed back to Cook’s hometown to take on a Princeton team that his grandfather, father and uncle all played for.
”Obviously with a lot of my Princeton history, that came to mind,” Cook said. “That was my initial feeling. My second thought was, they’re a very good team. It’s a big challenge for our team. We’re very, very excited for our team.”
Cook’s parents, residents of Belle Mead, are thrilled that they won’t have to drive hours to see him play at St. Lawrence, which was another potential quarterfinal opponent.
Friends from Princeton Day School, where Cook skated as a freshman before finishing high school at Tabor Academy, and former club team coaches are equally excited. They weren’t sure they would get another chance to see him play in college, though he has come home every June to see them and skate with them at Ice Land.
The Princeton hockey team, it’s not as excited to see Cook again. Last time, the area native burned them for the game-winning power play goal in a 3-2 Union win Jan. 9.
”Coming away with a series win would top that for sure,” Cook said. “This series is far bigger than any individual stuff. I can’t wait to get down there and give our team a chance to showcase what we’re all about right now.”
It’s safe to say that the Tigers could use Cook, who has scored 33 career goals and has 41 career assists. He is looking into playing professionally after graduation. He recently was named a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award for outstanding athletics, academics and community service.
Cook, though, points out that the Tigers have done fine without him. Princeton coach Guy Gadowsky lauds the Union leadership. Cook is in his second year as a captain.
”I wish I got the job a year earlier,” Gadowsky said.
Cook isn’t holding a grudge, even if he buried the Tigers once this season with an earlier game-winner. He notes that Princeton has been the top ECAC team over the past two seasons.
”It worked out well for them too,” Cook said. “I think both sides are happy. I’m not worried about going down there and lighting the world on fire and changing my game. If we get this series, this would be the biggest moment for our school.”
Last weekend, Union took a big step by winning its first postseason series ever. Cook hopes it’s just a starting point.
”This is a senior class that wanted to get that monkey off our program’s back,” said Cook, who was also on the Union team that last year reached the elite eight. “Now that it’s over, it kind of lifted a weight off our shoulders. We’re playing a lot looser. We feel a lot more confident going into this series with our playoff abilities.
”But when we started out this season, this is the point in the season where we expected to be. Ever since Cornell knocked us out in the same round last year, we’ve been hungry to get back to the last spot.”
Cook’s local ties should bring some extra support to Baker for Union, except that so many of his supporters went to Princeton themselves. Cook isn’t sure if they’ll root for him or the Tigers.
”It depends on who’s winning,” he said.
Cook is hoping it’s Union. It would continue a satisfying trend that has seen the program climb since he arrived from Belle Mead, first into an ECAC playoff qualifier and then into a postseason winner. Reaching the final four at Albany is the next step.
”Obviously the program is going in the right direction,” Cook said. “We’re making tangible strides. As far as reflecting on that, I’ll focus on that at end of the year.”
Matt Cook hopes he won’t have the chance to do so anytime soon after his final games at Baker Rink this weekend.

