When Rob Cook first stepped in net for the Ladner Pioneers some of his current teammates weren't even born.
The 45-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down and has the Pioneers within two games of winning their first provincial senior "B" lacrosse championship in six years. Cook not only turned back the clock and the Tri-City Bandits, he even scored into an empty net as Ladner opened the best-offive series with a 10-4 win at Sungod Arena. Game two is slated for tonight in Port Coquitlam before the teams return to Sungod on Thursday at 8 p.m. "That was the third goal of my career," smiled Cook.
The fact he can remember every game is a feat in itself.
The North Delta native joined the Pioneers in 1990 after playing junior "A" for the Richmond Outlaws and quickly established himself as the team's top stopper. Cook would go on to having a leading role in Ladner being a perennial powerhouse, highlighted by a pair of national championships.
He did step away from the game two years ago but came out of retirement last season and it didn't take long for him to reclaim his number one spot. Now there's a good bet he will be back in 2014 for his 24th season when the President's Cup is being held in the Lower Mainland. That's as long as he can skip training camp.
"I don't like practicing anymore," he laughed. "I just like playing the games and coming out with the guys, as long as my wife keeps letting me, "I think the game has slowed down a bit for me even though I have too. I just don't get so excited anymore or torn upside when I do allow goals. I try to be calm, cool and collective and teach these young guys as much as I can."
Cook doesn't have to be reminded the Bandits are the five-time defending champions or their long rivalry with the Pioneers.
In fact, he has faced the franchise when it was located in two other cities - Burnaby and Abbotsford - before shifting a few years ago to Port Coquitlam.
"That's a team we have lost to a lot," he chuckled. "I'm definitely only seeing the name and crest on the front of their jerseys because I don't recognize many of those guys anymore."
Cook has played in 10 President's Cups but there won't be an 11th appearance regardless of the series outcome with the club opting not to represent B.C. in Quebec.
"Sure you want to go but you have to be realistic about it too," he said. "It's lot of money and a week's worth of holidays. As I have found out over the years, teams back east are pretty stacked and it would have been a tough go.
"Both teams coming into this series knew what the situation is. You just come out and play to win."
That's what Cook has been doing for the last 23 years.
