On Tuesday July 21st, the Kansas City Mavericks announced the signing of rookie defensemen Ryan Cook. The 6’3″, 220 pound defensemen spent his senior year with Niagara University after spending his first three with Merrimack College. As a senior, Cook scored three goals and two assists for a five point total. Across his NCAA career, Cook managed to post six goals and seven assists for 13 points. Along with penalty minutes, he racked up these numbers in 99 games.
Coach Tad O’Had describes Ryan Cook as “a rugged, tough and talented d-man with excellent size. He can hit like a truck, as soft hands, a hard shot, and is willing to change and make opponents’ lives very difficult in the defensive zone.” It’s a cliche, but you really cannot teach size and strength and these are Cook’s best attributes. He has all the makings to be a tough stay-at-home defensemen who can take away chances from opposing offences.
This signing marks the fifth defensemen signed for the 2020-2021 season as Coach O’Had and GM Brent Thiessen continue to prove that they are focused on the blue line for next season. I would expect to see a few more signings on the defensive end until training camp as the Mavericks have traditionally kept eight or more defensemen on the active roster. Kansas City has often rotated a few of them in and out of the lineup through the course of the season.