Faceoff Factor

Nailers Ink another player

Paige Gagne | Minor Leagues (ECHL, AHL, etc)

Jul 31, 05:41 PM | Hype this story!

The Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL announced today that they have signed forward Brandon Cook for the upcoming season.

During the 2006-2007 season the 24-year-old played for three different teams in the ECHL. The first 10 games Cook played were in Pensacola with the Ice Pilots gaining five points (2+3) and 15 penalty minutes. Cook was then off to Utah playing 40 games for the Grizzles where he had 20 points (9+11) and 19 penalty minutes, before ending the final 12 games in Columbia with the Inferno with seven points (5+2) and seven penalty minutes.

Cook said that the year was difficult for himself, but that it was a good experience to learn from. “.I definitely feel like I had a chance to deal with some adversity and I think that I will be a better player because of it.”

Last year was only his second professional season and Cook ended it with 32 points (16+16). His rookie year with the Ice Pilots was a great one. Cook managed 42 points (20+22).
Cook is looking forward to this upcoming season with the Nailers, and hopes to be a big contributor, meaning more wins and making the playoffs.

Wheeling ended up acquiring Cook last year at the end of the season from the Inferno, in order to complete a three-way deal which sent goalie Danny Taylor to the Texas Wildcatters in March.

According to Head Coach Glenn Patrick, “Brendan is definitely someone we had an eye on when we made that trade. He is a goal-scorer and will provide a nice compliment to our offense.”

Cook hails from Reston, Manitoba and played college hockey at Bemidji State University from 2001-2005. Cook had some impressive highlights coming out of BSU. He raised the schools Division I-era single-season scoring mark to 40 points, while scoring 20 goals and 20 asists his senior year. The young forward also completed his collegiate career with 102 points (55+47) to rank second amid BSU’s Division I-era scorers. He also set the teams’ career Division I-era power-play goal record scoring 22 goals.