Bob Cook

Robert Arthur Cook (January 6, 1946 – March 29, 1978) was a Canadian ice hockey player. Cook played professional ice hockey from 1966 to 1975, including 72 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with four teams. Cook finished his career with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 1974–75 season.

Playing career Cook began in junior hockey with the London Nationals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 1963. He was looked at as a role player that could finish chances when they were given. He continued to develop with the Nationals until midway through his 1965–66 season, when he was traded to the Kitchener Rangers. In only 31 games, Cook put up 72 penalty minutes to go with his 17 points. He also threw in 14 points and 51 penalty minutes in the Rangers 19-game playoff run in which they lost to the Oshawa Generals, featuring a young Bobby Orr.

In 1966, Cook turned professional with the Vancouver Canucks, then of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Cook appeared in 55 games for the Canucks, registering 7 goals and 14 points, but was ultimately moved to the Rochester Americans for the 1967–68 season. Playing for the Americans, Cook put up the highest point totals of his career. Excluding a brief stint with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League (CHL), Cook played almost four full seasons with Rochester. He netted 133 points during that span including 44 during the 1969–70 season. However the 1970–71 season would finally see Cook reaching his goal.

In 1970, the Vancouver Canucks, who owned the Rochester Americans, were granted an NHL expansion franchise and Cook's rights were transferred to Vancouver. Cook played two games for the Vancouver Canucks, now of the NHL, before the end of the season. After allowing Cook a short reconditioning stint with the Seattle Totems of the WHL, his rights were traded to the Detroit Red Wings for cash on November 21, 1971.

Post-hockey life After retiring from hockey, Cook returned to London, Ontario, where he died on March 29, 1978, at 32 years of age. He is buried in Cowal-McBrides Cemetery in Elgin County, Ontario.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs