Chances are at least one—if not all three—former Kelowna Rockets will have a significant bearing on the outcome of next week’s Canadian men’s university hockey championship.
Tyson Baillie and Cole Linaker will suit up for the University of Alberta Golden Bears, while goaltender Jordon Cooke will backstop the Saskatchewan Huskies at the University Cup, March 16 to 19 in Fredricton, NB.
The Golden Bears and Huskies each qualfied for a spot at nationals after going head-to-head in the Canada West final last weekend in Saskatoon.
Alberta took the best of three championship series two games to one to earn the Bears’ fourth conference title in the last five seasons and 15th in 17 years.
Linaker, an Edmonton native, said being part of the storied and successful program at the U of A has a similar feeling to that of his four seasons in Kelowna.
Between the hockey and his first year of post-secondary education, Linaker says all of his expectations—and more—have been met.
“It’s been great,” said Linaker, 21, who like all WHL players is granted one year of tuition and books for each season played in the league. “The University of Alberta has always had an extensive history of winning championships. It’s a lot like playing in Kelowna where excellence is the norm.
“It’s been a learning curve, balancing the hockey and school work, but the guys have all been very helpful and have made it easier. The whole ride has been really enjoyable.”
Like Linaker, Tyson Baillie has been a good fit for university hockey. So much so, that the Fort Saskatchewan, AB native was named the Canada West rookie of the year, scoring 13 goals and 26 points in 28 games.
Teammates with the Rockets for four years, Linaker said he and Baillie are happy to be reunited at the U of A.
“Tyson’s been great, we’re together pretty much every day going through the experience and I think it’s been good for both of us,” Linaker said. “He’s had a great year, we’ve been able to win a championship together already, and hopefully there’s one more this season.”
While Linaker and Baillie will both be looking for their first University Cup title, so will old teammate and friend, Saskatchewan goalie Jordon Cooke.
Already well-established as one of the top players in the country at the university level, Cooke has won the Canada West goalie of the year awards two seasons running.
“He’s a great goalie and can really influence how a whole series goes, he’s that good,” Linaker said of Cooke. “(Jordon) and I talk after games, we stay in touch on social media, and it’s good see him doing so well.
“We kind of took pokes at each other before the final,” said Linaker. “Obviously I wish him luck, but only when’s playing someone else.”
Herringer goalie of week…
While the Kelowna Rockets have been putting up some decent numbers offensively, Michael Herringer is upholding his duties at other end of the rink.
Thanks to some solid work of his own, the 21-year-old Herringer has been named the Western Hockey League’s goaltender of the week.
The 21-year-old Herringer went 3-0-0-0 with a 1.10 goals-against average, .961 save percentage and 74 saves this past week, helping the Rockets continue their climb up the B.C. Division standings.
The Rockets, who have six games remaining in the regular season, will return to action Friday when they host the Vancouver Giants. The Victoria Royals will visit Prospera Place on Saturday.