Years of battling in the political arena of New Westminster may have prepared Casey Cook for his newest volunteer position with the Western Lacrosse Association.
The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame member prefers to see it as his years of fencing in the backroom of the WLA was what prepared him for politics.
Cook accepted the role of WLA commissioner Tuesday, replacing Ernie Truant, who stepped down over the weekend due to health reasons.
"I was drafted," Cook said of the appointment. "Lacrosse has always been near and dear to my heart and at this juncture, there was a need from the league, with the commissioner having to step down due to health reasons, and an availability for me timewise."
A current member of the New Westminster school board and former city councillor, Cook said his long involvement with the New Westminster Salmonbellies helped prepare him for politics.
"In my previous incarnation with the WLA, it was an absolute and beneficial proving ground for my arrival into politics."
Cook admits that his previous involvement as coach, general manager and president with the Salmonbellies from 1980 to 2003 will likely cause some governors to question his ability to remain unbiased. But he said the commissioner's role is to look at what's beneficial for the league and not individual teams.
"Look, everyone in lacrosse's administration comes from somewhere, but what the commissioner needs to do is to look at the larger picture."
Although Cook wouldn't comment on any specific issue currently on the commissioner's plate, he admitted that he wasn't being eased into the role.
"I can't get into specifics, but let's just say there are two quick items that demand attention."
- Dan Olson is sports edior for the Coquitlam NOW.
