Matt Cooke takes over Vernon Vipers

Stirling native Matt Cooke is the new coach and general manager of the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL. 

 

Cooke returns to British Columbia where he spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the  Canucks.  

He went on to play 1046 NHL games withVancouver, Pittsburgh, Washington and Minnesota winning the Stanley Cup in 2009 while with the Penguins.

He retired following the 2014-15 season.

 

The 46-year-old Cooke, a member of the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame, recently coached the now defunct Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL. Â