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Bill Cook
William Osser Xavier Cook (October 8, 1895 – May 5, 1986) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who was a right winger for the Saskatoon Crescents of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). A prolific scorer, Cook led the WCHL in goals twice and the NHL three times. He was named an all-star seven times between the two leagues. Known as "The Original Ranger", Cook was the first captain of the New York Rangers, scored the first goal in franchise history and led the team to two Stanley Cup championships.
Turning to coaching following his playing career, Cook led the Cleveland Barons to two Calder Cup championships and the Minneapolis Millers to a United States Hockey League championship. He coached the New York Rangers during the 1951–52 NHL season until his retirement in 1953. Cook was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1952 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Cook was born on October 8, 1895, in Brantford, Ontario. He was a middle child of a large family, and the eldest of three sons, preceding his brothers Frederick ("Bun") and Alexander ("Bud"). The family moved to Kingston, Ontario, where he learned to skate on the Rideau Canal. He joined the Kingston Frontenacs' junior hockey team in 1913 and played for two seasons before his career was interrupted by the First World War.
He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in December 1915, and served with the 50th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery for nearly two years in France and another year at the Belgian front. Arriving in England in April 1916, Cook was initially promoted to acting Bombardier, but reverted to Gunner so he could serve on the front earlier, and was sent there in July 1916. Cook participated in several engagements, including at Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge and Hill 70. With the end of the First World War Cook was sent to Archangel in northern Russia, part of the allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. He would spend 8 months in Russia, and was awarded the Military Medal for his services in April 1919. He returned to Canada in July 1919 and was discharged shortly after.
Upon his return from the war, Cook rejoined the Frontenacs for one season before joining the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1920. He led the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) in both goals, 12, and points, 19, while the Greyhounds won the NOHA championship. He won the scoring title again in 1921–22 with 20 goals and 28 points.
Spurning offers from National Hockey League (NHL) teams to turn professional in the eastern league, Cook moved to Saskatchewan, where he had been granted land for his service in the war. The Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) attempted to recruit him for the 1922–23 season but failed to sign him. Instead, he joined the Saskatoon Crescents. He recorded 25 points in 30 games in his first professional season.
Returning to Saskatoon in 1923–24, Cook led the WCHL with 26 goals and 40 points. He was named the all-star right wing for the first of three consecutive seasons. He scored 22 goals in 1924–25. The WCHL rebranded itself the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Crescents became the Sheiks in 1925–26. Cook again led in both goals and points with 31 and 44 respectively, and had become known as the best right wing in hockey.
The WHL had run into financial difficulty in its final seasons, and after 1926, ceased operations. The Montreal Maroons intended to sign both Cook and his brother Bun to join their team for the 1926–27 NHL season. While the team's manager waited in Montreal to meet the brothers, Conn Smythe, manager of the newly formed New York Rangers, travelled to Winnipeg to reach the pair first. Smythe signed both Cook brothers for $12,000. Bill Cook was officially the first player signed by the Rangers, and was named the team's first captain. The Cook brothers joined Frank Boucher to form the "Bread Line", one of the early NHL's most prolific scoring lines.
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Bill Cook
William Osser Xavier Cook (October 8, 1895 – May 5, 1986) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who was a right winger for the Saskatoon Crescents of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). A prolific scorer, Cook led the WCHL in goals twice and the NHL three times. He was named an all-star seven times between the two leagues. Known as "The Original Ranger", Cook was the first captain of the New York Rangers, scored the first goal in franchise history and led the team to two Stanley Cup championships.
Turning to coaching following his playing career, Cook led the Cleveland Barons to two Calder Cup championships and the Minneapolis Millers to a United States Hockey League championship. He coached the New York Rangers during the 1951–52 NHL season until his retirement in 1953. Cook was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1952 and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Cook was born on October 8, 1895, in Brantford, Ontario. He was a middle child of a large family, and the eldest of three sons, preceding his brothers Frederick ("Bun") and Alexander ("Bud"). The family moved to Kingston, Ontario, where he learned to skate on the Rideau Canal. He joined the Kingston Frontenacs' junior hockey team in 1913 and played for two seasons before his career was interrupted by the First World War.
He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in December 1915, and served with the 50th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery for nearly two years in France and another year at the Belgian front. Arriving in England in April 1916, Cook was initially promoted to acting Bombardier, but reverted to Gunner so he could serve on the front earlier, and was sent there in July 1916. Cook participated in several engagements, including at Ypres, the Somme, Vimy Ridge and Hill 70. With the end of the First World War Cook was sent to Archangel in northern Russia, part of the allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. He would spend 8 months in Russia, and was awarded the Military Medal for his services in April 1919. He returned to Canada in July 1919 and was discharged shortly after.
Upon his return from the war, Cook rejoined the Frontenacs for one season before joining the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1920. He led the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) in both goals, 12, and points, 19, while the Greyhounds won the NOHA championship. He won the scoring title again in 1921–22 with 20 goals and 28 points.
Spurning offers from National Hockey League (NHL) teams to turn professional in the eastern league, Cook moved to Saskatchewan, where he had been granted land for his service in the war. The Calgary Tigers of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) attempted to recruit him for the 1922–23 season but failed to sign him. Instead, he joined the Saskatoon Crescents. He recorded 25 points in 30 games in his first professional season.
Returning to Saskatoon in 1923–24, Cook led the WCHL with 26 goals and 40 points. He was named the all-star right wing for the first of three consecutive seasons. He scored 22 goals in 1924–25. The WCHL rebranded itself the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Crescents became the Sheiks in 1925–26. Cook again led in both goals and points with 31 and 44 respectively, and had become known as the best right wing in hockey.
The WHL had run into financial difficulty in its final seasons, and after 1926, ceased operations. The Montreal Maroons intended to sign both Cook and his brother Bun to join their team for the 1926–27 NHL season. While the team's manager waited in Montreal to meet the brothers, Conn Smythe, manager of the newly formed New York Rangers, travelled to Winnipeg to reach the pair first. Smythe signed both Cook brothers for $12,000. Bill Cook was officially the first player signed by the Rangers, and was named the team's first captain. The Cook brothers joined Frank Boucher to form the "Bread Line", one of the early NHL's most prolific scoring lines.
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