POTSDAM, N.Y.-SUNY Potsdam Women’s Head Ice Hockey Coach, Greg Haney, has announced that Olivia Cook will serve as his assistant for the 2022-23 season.
Cook, a Salmon River graduate from Akwesasne, played 89 games for Division 1 Cornell University. The forward helped the Big Red to three Ivy League Titles, two ECAC Championships, two Frozen Four appearances and multiple top-5 rankings. The forward brings her high level of collegiate experience and coaching experience to bolster Haney’s staff and is excited to do it close to home.
Cook was the Head Coach of the Salmon River Girls Varsity Hockey team for four seasons. She guided the Shamrocks to the New York State Finals during the 2017-18 season. Cook has also helped many teams in the Cornwall Girls Minor Hockey Association over the last decade. Last winter, Cook served as the Lead Instructor for ActivNation in Waswanipi, Quebec, where she worked to establish healthy routines, healthy communication and pro social relationships with youth to encourage sport, fitness and wellness for Cree youth. Cook also has worked as an Instructor/Consultant for First Assist, an Indigenous charity working with Indigenous youth in communities across the country. Cook is passionate about growing the game of hockey for female athletes and Indigenous youth.
Off the ice Cook has extensive experience in positions related to healthy lifestyle education. She served as a community Activity Coordinator for the Algonquins of Barriere Lake. She was a Mindfulness Leader for Holistic Life Foundation. Cook was also the Prevention Education Supervisor for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Alcoholism/Chemical Dependency Prevention Program. For nearly 10 years, she has been a member of the Akwesasne Coalition for Community Empowerment, whose goal is to work together to offer drug and alcohol-free events that promote healthy choices for Akwesasne’s community members. Cook has also been a Lead Auntie of Oherokon, a ceremony that promotes a positive understanding of Onkwehonwe identity and promotes healing and resilience as well as healthy relationships, behaviors and communication. She is currently a member of SUNY Potsdam’s Native American Student Alliance, which aims to provide support for and increase visibility for Indigenous students on campus.
Cook is currently completing her bachelor’s in exercise science at SUNY Potsdam.
