Player Spotlight: Roy Cook '25
Roy Cook, a soon to be Fairfield graduate from Arlington, Massachusetts, has just finished his second and last season on the Men's D-3 Club Hockey Team. Roy majors in mechanical engineering and began to take on the challenge of balancing both club hockey and his classes during his junior year, when it was started. Roy said he enjoyed having something else to focus on rather than just his studies. He enjoyed being involved with something that he and his teammates could build from the ground up.
Roy has always been passionate about playing hockey. His father had played his whole life and put Roy onto the ice at the young age of three. This is when Roy encountered his love of hockey. He continued to play competitively for his high school. Hockey was a big part of his life growing up.
Coming to Fairfield he was yearning for the team culture and a leadership aspect of his experience. It was not until his junior year that this team started. This is where Roy found the team culture he had been looking for at Fairfield. Roy was proud that in their first season as a team at Fairfield, they were able to compete at nationals and earn third place. "I would say that's a pretty impressive honor," says Roy.
Starting his senior year with the team, Roy was chosen as the team captain and found the leadership that he had been looking for at Fairfield. "It was a lot of time and commitment," said Roy, "But it was something that I loved, so it was definitely worth it." The team is lucky to be one of the club sports teams with a coach, Roy mentioned that it is required for the hockey league. But having a coach could sometimes change the dynamic for the players, so Roy encouraged a family-oriented team. As captain, Roy brought the team together and was able to create unforgettable memories with the team. As team captain, Roy felt that he was able to guide the younger players.
"If I were to describe the team in one word, I would definitely say gritty," says Roy, "We may not be the best skilled team out there, but we want it a lot more than those other guys. I think that's what got us so far at nationals last year." Roy is proud of his team for taking on the many competitive battles that they have faced. "We have been through a lot of ups and downs, but it is definitely worth it because we are playing for each other."
After Fairfield, Roy will be working in Boston with HVAC Design. He will be creating heating, central air, or ventilation systems and installing them into commercial buildings. Although his new role doesn't directly relate to hockey, Roy knows that the "grit" he cultivated on the ice will serve him well in his career. "Just like balancing my major with the hockey team, when you're passionate about something, you don't feel like you're missing out on anything else."
