By: Riley Pollock – 21.11.24
Tanner Cook has a Golden glow following an exciting summer.
The Riggers forward won a gold medal at the 2024 World Lacrosse Box Championships with Team Canada, putting up nine points in his first appearance with the national team.
He said playing at that level is a big help when you come to training camp.
“I think any time you can put your stick in your hand in the offseason at a high caliber like that it definitely enhances your game,” he explaind. “Playing with the best players in the world and against the best players in the world definitely lifted the game as a whole.
“Winning, especially, and getting a taste of that is helpful as well in the long run. In the end, the experience – as a whole – was good.”
Now, following two weeks of camp with the Roughnecks, Cook said he feels good about the group so far after an offseason of change.
“I think that the team as a whole has been looking solid,” he explained. “There were a lot of changes so that is a positive after two weeks. Personally, I’ve just been working on building that chemistry and strengthening those relationships with the new guys. It’s been going well so far.”
Cook will play on the same side as fellow lefties Dane Dobbie, Mathieu Gautier and Brayden Mayea, all of whom weren’t on the roster last season.
“It’s going to be a continuous work in progress throughout the year,” said Cook. “We had a lot of good bonds that we lost but I think there are some grounds to shake out new bonds and I think we’re kind of off to the races with that. The dressing room, too, seems to be pretty strong already.”
Following two preseason scrimmages in Ontario a couple of weeks ago, head coach Josh Sanderson challenged his group to have faster and more engaged starts.
“I think from a mental standpoint it’s about being ready to go right from the first whistle,” Cook explained. “Physically, you can make it hard right out of the gate then it’s obviously going to get you in the game a lot faster. You make a big play you’re feeling into it a little quicker so I think it’s a little bit of both there.
“Mentally, we have to shape up our minds a little bit at shoot around or wherever it may be but making a big hit or a big play early in the game helps out a lot, too.”
The Riggers forward is heading into his fourth year with the team and says he’s pumped for the season-opener Dec. 7 in Halifax.
“Any time you get to strap on that Roughnecks jersey it’s a special day,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that as always and producing our best effort for the fans and for our friends and family watching.”
The Riggers are on the road for two games to start the season, Dec. 7 in Halifax and Dec. 14 in Albany, before returning home for the Home Opener Dec. 28 against Vancouver. Single-game tickets go on sale Dec. 2.
