From playing all over the world, to taking some time off to coach back at home, Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Abby Cook couldn害羞草研究所檛 be happier to be playing in the newest, and ever-growing women害羞草研究所檚 hockey league.

The newest league in the North America, the Professional Women害羞草研究所檚 Hockey League (PWHL) launched in August 2023 and Cook is stoked to have a professional league in action again, let alone the chance to play in it.

害羞草研究所淚 was really excited, for it to all come together finally and for this opportunity for young girls to look up to us now,害羞草研究所� said Cook. 害羞草研究所淸It害羞草研究所檚] the best of the best that get to place in this one league, it害羞草研究所檚 amazing to think about.害羞草研究所�

Cook, who was born in Yellowknife, moved to Kelowna with her family when she was seven and followed in her brother害羞草研究所檚 footsteps by lacing up the skates to play hockey.

害羞草研究所淚 have an older brother and he played hockey so I don害羞草研究所檛 want to say that I didn害羞草研究所檛 have a choice but害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� Cook said with a laugh. 害羞草研究所淚 was put into it at a very young age and I fell in love with it and I just wanted to be like him eventually so I stuck with it.害羞草研究所�

Both Cooks played hockey at the Pursuit of Excellence (POE) program in Kelowna.

害羞草研究所淲hen I was in eighth grade, my dad saw a newspaper ad for a female showcase they were having at POE,害羞草研究所� explained Cook. 害羞草研究所淗e didn害羞草研究所檛 tell me much about it but I went and did pretty well and the owner of the academy at the time, David Roy asked me to come and be a practice player. We decided I should take the opportunity.害羞草研究所�

Cook made the right choice as within two months, she was on the main women害羞草研究所檚 team at POE.

Her four years there earned a full-ride scholarship to Boston University (BU). Cook said she got letters from other schools but BU just felt right, except for when she landed in Boston the first time.

害羞草研究所淲e landed and I was like 害羞草研究所楧ad, I can害羞草研究所檛 go to school here, there害羞草研究所檚 too much snow,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Cook, who landed during a snowstorm in early 2015.

But after a campus tour and meeting the head coach, Cook felt like it was the right place to be 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淚 ended up committing on the spot that day.害羞草研究所�

Cook played at BU for four years, graduating as a Health Sciences major in the spring of 2020.

After her time at university, Cook got the chance to go play overseas in Sweden, suiting up for the Djurg氓rdens IF in the Swedish Women害羞草研究所檚 Hockey League (SDHL).

害羞草研究所淚 knew I wanted to keep playing competitively so it was a pretty easy decision for me,害羞草研究所� said Cook.

After playing in Sweden for the 2020-21 season, Cook came back to Kelowna for the offseason and started to coach at RINK Hockey Academy. Later that year, she had the chance to play in the Premier Hockey Federation, which was the women害羞草研究所檚 league in North American before the PWHL. She played just six games for the Boston Pride.

After the experience with the Pride, Cook took some time off. She came back home, coached with RINK some more, and then took a step back for a few months.

害羞草研究所淚 completely stepped away honestly,害羞草研究所� said Cook. 害羞草研究所淚 was always taking it day-by-day, not looking too far into the future.害羞草研究所�

Cook said during that time, she wasn害羞草研究所檛 actively looking for somewhere to play.

害羞草研究所淚 was waiting for something to come up and that害羞草研究所檚 when Switzerland reached out to me.害羞草研究所�

She went and played 18 games for Ladies Team Lugano in Switzerland in the 2022-23 season.

In August 2023, the PWHL was announced and Cook was happy just to have a new professional women害羞草研究所檚 league in North America. It was announced the league would consist of six teams in its inaugural season - Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York, and Minnesota.

The draft for the league took place in late September and after the draft, the Minnesota team reached out and asked Cook her to attend their training camp, which was slated to start in November.

害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 even have to think about it,害羞草研究所� said Cook.

Camp started on Nov. 14 and lasted three weeks. On Dec. 20, Cook got the call that she made the team and signed a one-year contract.

害羞草研究所淲hen they called me and said 害羞草研究所榶ou害羞草研究所檙e here害羞草研究所�, I was just overjoyed, I never smiled so big before,害羞草研究所� said Cook, who added she had tears of joy and relief in the moment.

Cook came back to Kelowna to celebrate with her family for Christmas for a quick four days before the season opened for Minnesota on Jan. 3.

害羞草研究所淭he crowds, the excitement, I still haven害羞草研究所檛 gotten used to it,害羞草研究所� said Cook, who noted Minnesota had more than 13,000 fans at their home opener a few days later.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very physical, very fast, every game is a battle and the teams are almost so even,害羞草研究所� said Cook. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 super exciting, I can害羞草研究所檛 even describe it.害羞草研究所�

On Jan. 28, Cook, in her eighth career game, scored her first career PWHL goal.

害羞草研究所淚t was crazy, I had so much time and space and in my head I was like 害羞草研究所榯his is taking me forever to the shoot the puck害羞草研究所� but nobody was coming for me so I took my time and shot it and lucky enough, it went in,害羞草研究所� Cook described.

Cook has played all around the world, yet is still just 25-years-old and knows she害羞草研究所檚 playing against some women害羞草研究所檚 hockey legends that she admired watching when growing up.

害羞草研究所淵ou can害羞草研究所檛 get starstruck, you have to understand that they害羞草研究所檙e out there and know they害羞草研究所檙e very talented,害羞草研究所� said Cook. 害羞草研究所淚 remind myself, I害羞草研究所檓 also in the same league as them and there害羞草研究所檚 a reason why were all here.害羞草研究所�

After nine games in Minnesota purple, Cook became part of PWHL history on Sunday, Feb. 11, as she was part of league害羞草研究所檚 first trade deal.

TRADE: PWHL Boston has acquired forward Susanna Tapani and defender Abby Cook from PWHL Minnesota in exchange for defender Sophie Jaques.

馃摪

害羞草研究所� PWHL (@thepwhlofficial)

Her and Susanna Tapani were traded to Boston害羞草研究所檚 PWHL team for Sophie Jaques.

Cook, wearing #18 for Boston, is expected to make her debut with the team on Feb. 14 against Toronto.

READ MORE: Cristall looks for career goal #100 as Kelowna Rockets back in action

READ MORE: Kelowna Home Show set to take over Prospera Place