Virden Oil Capitals forward Colin Cook enjoys giving back to the community.
“Playing for a team with a community as welcoming and as supportive as Virden is, it’s always nice when we get the opportunity to go out and volunteer and help out our community in every way we can,” said the second-year Oil Cap who turned 20 in January.
For his outstanding citizenship, sportsmanship and volunteering, the Brandon product was chosen to the Manitoba Junior Hockey League Community Ambassador Team. One player from each MJHL squad is picked. They are all finalists for the RBC Community Award, which includes a donation to a local community group from RBC.
“Colin is a very hard working and community oriented young man,” Virden head coach Tyson Ramsey said. “He understands the need for our hockey club to be visible in our community and he is a great role model to young people. He is always willing to have a friendly conversation with fans and he is the one of the first to put his hand up to volunteer. We are proud of Colin and we are happy for him to have received this recognition.”
One of his favourite community activities is going to schools in Virden and Elkhorn for I Love to Read Month.
“Its always nice going into those schools and reading and answering questions with our number one fans,” he said.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, some of these kinds of activities moved online. For example, Cook read to a Goulter School class via Zoom. Cook had three assists in four games before the MJHL season was paused and eventually cancelled.
The Westman area was well-represented on the 12-member MJHL Community Ambassador Team. Former Southwest Cougars Grady Hobbs of Deloraine and Killarney’s Ben Hilhorst were named the ambassadors for the Dauphin Kings and OCN Blizzard, respectively. Ex-Yellowhead Chiefs Mackenzie Belinski (Vista, Waywayseecappo Wolverines) and Brandt Young (Neepawa, Winnipeg Freeze) were also recognized.
