Minot Goaltender Cooke makes NCAA DI Commitment

The Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce that goaltender Brian Cooke has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for College of the Holy Cross in the Atlantic.

Hailing from the “Show Me State” and showing off his moves between the pipes, Cooke has committed to play for the Crusaders in Massachusetts. The ‘08 netminder has hit the ice in three contests so far this season for the Tauros. He made his NAHL debut at the NAHL Showcase in a battle against the Anchorage Wolverines. His first showing had him recording his first and his team’s first win of the season. The 6-foot-2 netminder turned aside 26 out of 29 shots, helping Minot produce a 7-3 victory. His second performance of the year turned heads when the St. Louis, Missouri native set an organization record with 73 saves in one game.

Cooke explains how it feels to secure this Division I commitment.

“It definitely feels good. It’s a validation of a lot of hard work, a lot of time, a lot of sacrifices from other people, and a lot of hard work from other people, teammates, and coaches.”

College of the Holy Cross is a family affair for the Cooke family. The rookie goaltender went into more detail about the decision to commit to the program.

“My twin sister is actually applying early decision there as well. I visited during the end of the summer and absolutely loved the campus. My sister loves it, my mom loves it, and my dad loves it. It’s a Jesuit school, and I went to a Jesuit high school, and my faith is an important part of my life, and a university that upholds those same values is pretty important.”

Head coach of the Minot Minotauros, Tyler Ebner, shares more on Cooke’s work ethic and dedication to development.

“We are proud of Cooke and his commitment to Holy Cross. His dedication to getting better every single day is a testament to his character and work ethic. He is a first to the rink and last to leave type of player, who has earned his teammates' trust through his preparation and competitiveness. We are excited to continue working with Brian on his development, and could not be happier for him and his family.

Cooke is one of three members of the Minot Minotauros to make a Division I hockey college commitment.

Click here for an updated NAHL to NCAA commitment list