SHOWING PRIDE: Kelly Cooke heads up the ice in recent action for the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL). Former Princeton University women’s hockey standout Cooke has enjoyed a solid season for the Pride, tallying three points on one goal and two assists in 14 appearances as the team has produced a 10-3-1 start. (Photo Courtesy of NWHL)

After Kelly Cooke wrapped up her career for the Princeton University women’s hockey team in 2013 with a superb senior season that saw her pile up 27 points on 15 goals and 12 assists, it looked like that might be her last hurrah on the ice.

Cooke headed to her native Boston after graduating from college, taking a job as a paralegal with a downtown firm, Rose, Chinitz & Rose.

But that summer, she got the chance to return to the ice, getting chosen by the Boston Blades in the seventh round in the draft of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL)

The 5’3 forward quickly made her presence felt in her debut season with Boston, earning third-star honors in November 2013 when she scored in five of the Blades’ seven games, including a one goal, three assist performance in a 7-2 win over the Brampton Thunder.

Cooke scored 18 points in 45 games over two seasons and helped the Blades win the Clarkson Cup in 2014-15 as Boston edged the Montreal Stars 3-2 in overtime in the league’s championship game.

“It was definitely a great season, I think we were probably the favorites going into it because we had all the U.S. Olympians playing on our team then,” said Cooke, reflecting on Boston’s championship campaign.

“It is harder to win when you are the favorite because there is that pressure of falling short. It was definitely great, we won in overtime. It was one of the most exciting games I have ever been a part of.”

Playing with Olympians has helped Cooke hone her skills. “I think definitely just slowing the game down; it is easy to learn so much from playing with Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker, and Kacey Bellamy,” said Cooke, who tallied 49 points (26 goals, 23 assists) in 122 games during her Princeton career.

“With those guys, it is easy to become a student of the game and pick up little things that they do.

This summer, Cooke signed with the Boston Pride of the newly-formed National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL).

“Pretty much everyone from the Blades switched over to the new league,” said Cooke, noting that players were basically getting free equipment for playing in the CWHL.

“We get paid, the salaries range from $10,000 to $25,000 and we get all the equipment like new skates to sticks customized like back when we were in college, which is really nice. We still practice twice a week. We play one game a weekend on Sunday which is less travel because the teams are a lot closer.”

The Pride players have developed a closeness in their inaugural campaign. “It has definitely been really cool,” said Cooke.

“Just being part of team still and having those 22 really close friends has been something that I love and something that you miss when you are done playing a college sport. Just going to the rink every day is great. You still love it and you love to play. It is something I would miss if I wasn’t doing it.”

The gritty Cooke loves doing the dirty work on the ice, utilizing the speed and tenacity that made her a standout at Princeton.

“I think I am in the position of being a grinder and being on the energy line, which is what I like,” said Cooke, who has a goal and two assists for the Pride in 14 games.

“I like to give the team energy and try to do my part. I am not really a goal scorer; it has never really been my thing anyways.”

Getting the chance to take the ice at Gillette Stadium to play in the Winter Classic on December 31 was something Cooke will never forget.

“It was probably the coolest experience of my whole life, I am looking back at pictures still, thinking how awesome it was,” said Cooke of the contest that matched the Pride against the Montreal Canadiennes of the CWHL.

“Obviously growing up in Boston, getting to play at Gillette, it was a little more special for some of us that are local.”

The special day, however, turned into a troubling experience as Cooke’s Pride and former Princeton teammate, Denna Laing, suffered a severe spinal injury in the game.

“She is one of my best friends and one of the toughest kids that I know,” said Cooke of Laing, a 2014 Princeton alum and former team captain who currently has limited movement of her arms and no feeling in her legs.

“I have been seeing her a lot and seeing her in great spirits makes it a little easier for everybody. Our team is already very, very tight to begin with. We spend a lot of time with each other but having something like that happen makes you realize just how important Denna was to the team and that there are things that are more important than hockey.”

The inspirational manner in which Laing has dealt with the injury has impacted Cooke and the whole hockey community.

“I  can’t even really put it into words,” said Cook reflecting on Laing’s courage which was recently recognized when the Boston Bruins of the NHL held a night in her honor.

“I miss seeing her every day and talking to her every day but I think that it is cool having everybody in the hockey community realize what kind of person she is and how tough and how positive she is. I have always known that and people at Princeton have always known that but now everyone knows it.”

Cooke is hoping for a positive finish in what may be her final pro campaign as she has applied to law school, looking to start this fall.

“I think we are definitely building momentum right now,” said Cooke, who is still working in her paralegal job.

“The goal would be to win the league, which I think we can do. I think it would be really cool and fun to win it.”