CBC News Network (formerly CBC Newsworld) is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and Sky News in the United Kingdom. CBC News Network's French language counterpart is Réseau de l'information (RDI), also owned by the CBC.

History[link]

With CNN already being widely available in Canada, during the 1980s both private and public Canadian broadcasters began to apply for a licence for a similar 24-hour news service in Canada. In 1987 the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) awarded a licence to the CBC, and on July 31, 1989, CBC News Network (then known as CBC Newsworld) began broadcasting.

CBC News Network originally broadcast from studios in Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary. However, budget cuts over the years eventually forced the network to centralize most of its operations in Toronto and Calgary.

It is funded by cable subscriber fees and commercial advertising. Unlike the CBC's main television network, the channel cannot directly receive operational funds from the corporation's public funding allotment — although it does benefit from synergies with other CBC services, such as the ability to share reporters and programs with the main network.^[1]

While sometimes thought to be a mandatory basic cable channel, there are in fact a number of Persona cable systems that do not carry CBC News Network at all. The channel was dropped by these systems in 2000, due to a fee dispute between Persona (then known as Regional Cablesystems) and the CBC.^[2] The channel has since returned to some, but not all, of the company's cable systems.

Newsworld International[link]

Some of CBC News Network's programming also aired on the now-defunct Newsworld International, an American cable news network co-owned by the CBC and the Power Corporation of Canada. However, it also produced some programming for Newsworld International, and scheduled programming from other news networks, which did not air on the Canadian channel. Newsworld International was sold to Vivendi Universal in 2000, and sold again to Al Gore and Joel Hyatt in 2004. Newsworld continued to provide the network's programming until Gore and Hyatt launched their own network, Current TV, on August 1, 2005. Newsworld International also carried some news and lifestyle programming from BBC World.

2009 re-launch[link]

On October 21, 2009, it was announced that CBC Newsworld would be re-branded as CBC News Network on October 26 as part of a larger re-launch of the CBC News division. The re-launch also brought a new lineup of programs to the network, with a greater focus towards live news coverage. New programs include CBC News Now, the channel's rolling news coverage, Power & Politics, The Lang and O'Leary Exchange, a business news program hosted by Amanda Lang and investor Kevin O'Leary, and Connect with Mark Kelley.^[3]

CBC News Network HD[link]

In January 2009, the CBC launched an HD simulcast of CBC News Network (then known as CBC Newsworld) originally called CBC Newsworld HD. The channel was renamed CBC News Network HD on October 26, 2009 to coincide with the rebranding of CBC Newsworld to CBC News Network.

It is currently available through all major TV providers except for Shaw Direct and Shaw Cable.

Programming[link]

CBC News Network originally aired a number of magazine-style programs, along with hourly news updates. In recent years, the network has moved from that style of programming to focusing solely on live news programs and documentary programs, including The Passionate Eye and Rough Cuts, both formerly hosted by Michaëlle Jean, and Politics, a political affairs program which was hosted by Don Newman and aired twice daily. The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos was launched in 2005 in an attempt to attract younger viewers; similar news-oriented talk shows, such as Pamela Wallin Live, CounterSpin, Face Off and Benmergui Live, also aired on the network in the 1990s.

The network's daytime schedule consists of conventional newscasts titled CBC News Now, which air from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Instead of producing a separate noon-hour news program, stations owned and operated by CBC Television simulcast CBC News Now from 12 to 1 p.m. local time, hosted by Carole MacNeil.

Power & Politics with Evan Solomon airs from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a business news program The Lang and O'Leary Exchange, hosted by Amanda Lang and Kevin O'Leary, from 7 to 8 p.m. Connect with Mark Kelley airs from 8 to 9 p.m., and a simulcast of the Atlantic Canadian edition of The National airs from 9 to 10 p.m.

After 10 p.m., the network airs a mix of documentary features, repeat airings of earlier programs, and other CBC news programming such as the fifth estate, until the following broadcast day begins.

Anchors[link]

Current[link]

• Danielle Bochove
• Kim Brunhuber
• Harry Forestell
• Heather Hiscox
• Colleen Jones
• Mark Kelley^[4]
• Nil Köksal
• Fred Langan
• Carole MacNeil^[4]
• Suhana Meharchand
• Reshmi Nair^[5]
• John Northcott
• Evan Solomon^[4]
• Nancy Wilson

Past[link]

• Dave Brindle
• Bill Cameron - deceased (2005)
• Dawna Friesen
• Michaëlle Jean - now former Governor General of Canada
• Anne-Marie Mediwake (fall 2009)^[5]
• Jordi Morgan - current Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia metro organiser
• Don Newman - retired
• Anne Petrie
• Kathleen Petty - current Ottawa Morning host on CBC Radio Ottawa
• Lorne Saxberg - died in snorkeling accident in Thailand
• Alison Smith - current co-anchor with Bernie McNamee of CBC Radio One's The World at Six
• George Stroumboulopoulos - current the host of George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight on CBC Television
• Sheldon Turcott - deceased (2000)
• Paul Lethbridge - current owner WBGY FM Marco Island, Everglades City, Florida

References[link]

External links[link]

• CBC News Network schedule
• Newsworld on MBC

Ali F. Mustafa (born Ali Faisal Mostafa Bin Abdullatif on 25 September 1981) is a British-Emirati filmmaker, director and producer who is credited as the director of the first Emirati feature-film City of Life. Born in 1981, Mustafa received wide acclaim for his debut in filmmaking; he has been branded as "Best Emirati Filmmaker" in the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF)^[1] and won the 'Young Filmmaker of the Year' award at the Digital Studio Awards 2010.

According to Mustafa, the inspiration for producing City of Life came because “I was tired of people comparing Dubai to a Disneyland. Most of them take one look at the glitzy buildings and assume it’s an artificial place. My film has none of that. It has real people with real problems. Like any other city in the world, my film shows both the positives and the negatives."^[1] Mustafa faced initial controversy when a couple cinemas refused to showcase his movie who they claimed portrayed Dubai in a negative light. He however squashed the rumours, saying that with his film, he hoped to change the global perception of his hometown and put it on par with cities such as London and New York which also face "real problems."^[1][2] According to data produced by Italia Film International the movie ranked second in the local box office and successfully made over 500,000 dirhams in its first weekend; there were reports that makers were deciding to show the film at the Cannes Film Festival later in the year of 2010.^[3]

Mustafa has also directed a number of short movies; his 2005 film "Under the Sun" was screened at the DIFF and won the Emirates Film Competition in 2006. It was also screened at the Rome, Rhode Island and San Francisco International Film Festivals.^[4]

Personal life[link]

Mustafa's father is Emirati while his mother is British; he was born in London, England. He was interested in filming since childhood and experimented making his own short films and mock TV ads. Upon completion of education, Ali established a division from an existing company focusing on set and interior design. He then pursued his goal in 2003 when he enrolled at the London Film School to obtain an M.A. for practical training in film technique. He has worked on short films and TV commercials in various areas of production, although his focus remains on directing.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ali F. Mostafa at the Internet Movie Database
• Emirati film maker at DIFF: Gulf News
• Our film festivals thrive - but our filmmakers struggle: The National (Abu Dhabi)
• Khaleejesque

Manny Malhotra
Malhotra with the Canucks in 2012
Born	(1980-05-18) May 18, 1980 (age 32) Mississauga, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Vancouver Canucks NHL New York Rangers Dallas Stars Columbus Blue Jackets San Jose Sharks AHL Hartford Wolf Pack SEL HV71 SloL HDD Olimpija Ljubljana
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	7th overall, 1998 New York Rangers
Playing career	1998–present

Emmanuel Noveen Malhotra (born, May 18, 1980) is a Indo-Canadian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has additionally played in the NHL for the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. Malhotra is known as a two-way forward and for his faceoff proficiency.^[1][2][3]

Malhotra was drafted in the first round as the seventh overall pick of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. He joined the NHL after a two-year career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Guelph Storm, with whom he served as captain in his final year. Winning a J. Ross Robertson Cup championship and subsequently appearing in the 1998 Memorial Cup with the Storm, Malhotra also earned a Bobby Smith Trophy, George Parsons Trophy and Memorial Cup All-Star honours as a junior.

He played with the Rangers from 1998 to 2002. During this time he was assigned on numerous occasions to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, with whom he won a Calder Cup championship in 2000. At the 2001–02 trade deadline, he was dealt to the Stars and spent parts of three seasons with the club. Beginning in 2003–04, Malhotra began to see increased offensive production, marked by his acquisition off waivers by the Blue Jackets. After four seasons in Columbus, he signed a one-year contract with the Sharks in September 2009. He recorded a career-high in goals with San Jose, before joining the Canucks on a three-year deal.

Internationally, Malhotra has represented Canada in under-18 competition, two World Junior Championships and one World Championship. Serving as team captain at the 2000 World Junior Championships, Malhotra led Canada to a bronze medal.

Playing career[link]

Guelph Storm[link]

After playing minor hockey with the Mississauga Reps of the Metro Toronto Hockey League (MTHL),^[4] After being selected in the 1st round (17th overall) of the 1996 OHL Priority Selection, Malhotra played two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Guelph Storm, beginning in 1996–97. He scored 16 goals and 44 points over 61 games in his rookie season. In the 1997 playoffs, he added 14 points in 18 games as Guelph lost in the semifinals to the Ottawa 67's.^[5] The following season, he improved to 16 goals and 51 points over 57 games. He served as team captain while being assigned the primary role of shutting down opposing team's top forwards.^[6][7] Guelph advanced to the OHL Finals, where they defeated Ottawa in five games to capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup.^[8] Malhotra had 13 points in 12 games in the championship-winning playoff season. Earning a berth into the 1998 Memorial Cup, Guelph made it to the final, where they lost to the Portland Winter Hawks 4–3 in overtime.^[9] Malhotra ranked third in tournament scoring with a goal and seven points over five games.^[10] He was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team and was awarded the George Parsons Trophy as the tournament's most sportsmanlike player.^[11]

New York Rangers[link]

In the off-season, Malhotra was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round, seventh overall, of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers scouted him as a strong, physical player with good hockey sense and character, comparing him to Adam Graves.^[7][12] He was surprised to have been selected by the Rangers, as they were one of the only teams to have not interviewed or met with him prior to the draft.^[13] He anticipated being drafted by the Calgary Flames at sixth overall, as the team's general manager had previously drafted him into the OHL as general manager of the Storm.^[13]

With the 1998–99 approaching, Malhotra had not yet signed an NHL contract with the Rangers by October. League rules stipulated that if he did not sign by October 8, 1998, he would be required to return to junior for the entire campaign.^[14] The night before the deadline, Malhotra and the Rangers agreed to a three-year deal worth the rookie-maximum of $975,000 with performance-based incentives that could have increased his salary to $2 million.^[14] Making the immediate jump from junior to the NHL at the age of 18, he became the second player of Indian heritage to play in the NHL, after Robin Bawa.^[15] Malhotra recorded eight goals and 16 points over 73 games as a rookie.

During the season, the Rangers were interested in acquiring Vancouver Canucks forward Pavel Bure.^[16] It was reported that Canucks general manager Brian Burke had requested Malhotra to be involved in a trade that would have sent him along with Niklas Sundstrom, Dan Cloutier and the Rangers' first-round pick in the 1999 draft in exchange for Bure.^[16] However, Rangers general manager Neil Smith refused to include Malhotra and the deal never materialized.^[16]

The following season, he struggled to earn a regular spot on the Rangers' roster and was often a healthy scratch.^[17] Rangers head coach John Muckler publicly declared before the beginning of the Malhotra's second NHL campaign that he would be nothing more than a career third-liner.^[18] Malhotra's potential was often at the centre of an ongoing dispute between Muckler and Smith.^[19]

Malhotra suffered an ankle injury in November that sidelined him for four games.^[20] Upon his recovery, his play was judged by team management to have suffered and he began to be benched.^[20] Meanwhile, the Canadian national junior team wanted the Rangers to loan him to them for the 2000 World Junior Championships.^[20] On December 12, 1999, general manager Neil Smith obliged and assigned Malhotra for the international tournament.^[20] He was then sent for a two-week conditioning assignment with the Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.^[17] On March 14, 2000, he was sent back down to the OHL on March 14, 2000, in order to retain his eligibility for later AHL assignment in the season.^[21][22] Malhotra had dressed for only four games in the two months between his return from the World Junior Championships in early-January and his junior re-assignment.^[20] He was pointless in the 27 games total he played with the Rangers that season.

Returning to Guelph, he played in five regular season and six playoff games. Upon his junior club's first-round playoff elimination, he was re-assigned to the Wolf Pack where he recorded a goal and six points over 12 games to finish the regular season.^[21] He then added three points in 23 post-season contests, helping the Wolf Pack to the franchise's first Calder Cup championship.

Malhotra returned to the Wolf Pack the following season after failing to make the Rangers' roster out of training camp.^[19] With New York deep at the centre position, his AHL assignment was predicated on him learning to play wing.^[19] He received numerous call-ups to New York and finished the 2000–01 campaign with 11 points over 28 games in the AHL and 12 points over 50 games in the NHL. The season also marked a management change as Glen Sather took over as general manager, marking the departure of Smith, who had drafted Malhotra and regarded him as untradeable during his tenure.^[18]

Fifty-six games into his 2001–02 season with the Rangers, Sather dealt Malhotra to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline, along with winger Barrett Heisten, in exchange for forwards Martin Rucinsky and Roman Lyashenko.^[18] Although he had established himself as an effective forechecker and defensive forward, Malhotra did not materialize into the offensive player the Rangers hoped he would be.^[23]

Post-New York[link]

Malhotra welcomed the trade to Dallas as an opportunity for more playing time, as he was sparsely used with the Rangers.^[18] However, he saw limited success with the Stars. Following his trade, he recorded one point, a goal, in 16 games to finish the 2001–02 season. He was re-signed by Dallas to a two-year contract on June 27, 2002.^[11] In 2002–03, he recorded 10 points over 59 games. He appeared in his first Stanley Cup playoffs as the Stars qualified for the 2003 post-season as the top seed in the Western Conference.^[24] They were eliminated in the second round by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.^[24]

Malhotra during his tenure with San Jose

After going pointless in nine games early the following season, the Stars waived Malhotra on November 19, 2003.^[11] Two days later, he was picked up by the Columbus Blue Jackets.^[11] Malhotra improved with the Blue Jackets, notching 12 goals and 25 points over 56 games following the trade. He missed the final six games of the regular season with a bruised ankle.^[11] His ice time rose from an average of nine minutes a game with Dallas the previous season to 14 minutes in Columbus.^[25][26]

Due to the NHL lockout, Malhotra spent the 2004–05 season overseas in Europe. He initially signed with HDD Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia on October 8, 2004, and recorded 27 points over 26 games (including both Slovenian league and inter-league play).^[11] On December 12, he signed with HV71 Jönköping of the Swedish Elite League.^[11] He notched seven points in 20 games with the club.

Returning to Columbus as NHL resumed play the following season, Malhotra spent 2005–06 centering Columbus' third line. Despite missing 24 games due to injury with back spasms in November and a shoulder injury in January,^[11] he improved his points total for the second straight NHL season with 10 goals and 21 assists. The Blue Jackets re-signed him in the off-season to a three-year contract on June 20, 2006.^[11] In the first year of his new contract, he tallied nine goals and 25 points over a full 82-game season.

Malhotra missed 11 games with a recurring knee injury in December 2007.^[11] Late in the 2007–08 season, on March 17, 2008, he recorded a career-high three points in one game (two goals and an assist) in a 4–3 win against the Detroit Red Wings.^[27] He finished the campaign with 11 goals and 29 points. Early in the 2008–09 season, Malhotra missed five games with a lower-body injury.^[11] He recorded a career-high 24 assists and 35 points over 77 games during the campaign. As Columbus was plagued with numerous injuries over the course of the season, Malhotra was used on various lines while also in a shutdown role, playing against top opposing forwards.^[3]

His contract was not renewed by the Blue Jackets in the 2009 off-season and he became an unrestricted free agent. After failing to sign with an NHL team, Malhotra accepted an invitation to the San Jose Sharks' training camp on September 17, 2009.^[11] Five days later, he signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with the team.^[2][11] He went on to record a career-high 14 goals and plus-17 rating, along with 19 assists for 33 points, in his only season with the Sharks. He centred the team's third line and earned time playing wing on the powerplay.^[2] The Sharks did not re-sign him, however, and he became an unrestricted free agent for the second consecutive summer on July 1, 2010.^[2] Looking back on his time in San Jose, Malhotra called it the "most enjoyable season [he's] had as a pro," being able to play for a winning team and have a long playoff run for the first time in his NHL career.^[2]

Vancouver Canucks[link]

Malhotra during the 2011–12 season

On his first day of free agency on July 1, 2010, Malhotra signed a three-year, $7.5 million deal with the Vancouver Canucks that included a no-trade clause.^[28] Malhotra was named an alternate captain during away games for the Canucks before the season began.^[29] He scored his first goal as a Canuck on October 17, during a 5–1 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.^[30] Malhotra settled into to the Canucks' lineup as the team's third-line centre, often playing with wingers Raffi Torres and Jannik Hansen, while playing significant time on the penalty kill and matching up against opposing team's best forwards. His success as a defensive specialist earned him early consideration for the Selke Trophy as the league's best two-way forward. On the NHL's website, he was chosen as the front-runner for the award at the mid-way point of the campaign. He was also credited with allowing the team to use Ryan Kesler in a more offensive role (Kesler was the team's previous shutdown centre); as a result, the second-line centre recorded career-highs in goals and points.^[31]

Near the end of the season, Malhotra was struck in the eye by a puck during a game against the Colorado Avalanche on March 16, 2011. He immediately left the ice and underwent eye surgery the following day.^[32] It was announced on March 21, 2011 that Malhotra would not be returning to the lineup for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs, without further comment on Malhotra's condition.^[33] Eight days later, he underwent a second successful surgery on his eye.^[34] Limited to 72 games, Malhotra recorded his third consecutive 30-point season with 11 goals and 19 assists, while playing on the Canucks' third line with Raffi Torres and Jannik Hansen.^[35] His 61.7% faceoff percentage ranked second in the league behind David Steckel.^[36] Malhotra made an appearance during a pre-game ceremony at Rogers Arena, co-accepting the Presidents' Trophy with captain Henrik Sedin on behalf of the Canucks team for recording the best regular season record for the 2010–11 season.^[37] Despite original statements from the team that he would not return for the playoffs, Malhotra began working his way up from light practices with the team in May 2011.^[38] By the end of the month, he was cleared by doctors to play in the Stanley Cup Finals.^[39] Though he remained out of the lineup for Game 1, he returned for the following contest and played the rest of the series as the team's fourth-line centre (late-season acquisition Maxim Lapierre filled in for Malhotra on the third line). Playing against the Boston Bruins, the Finals went to a seventh game, which the Canucks lost. Malhotra's regular season performance earned him six first-place votes out of 125 for the Selke Trophy.^{[notes 1]} He ranked fifth in balloting, as teammate Ryan Kesler won the distinction at the year-end Awards Ceremony.^[40]

Having lost a significant amount of his vision in his left eye, Malhotra struggled in his first full season since the injury in 2011–12. He was supplanted as the Canucks' third-line centre by rookie Cody Hodgson and later Samuel Pahlsson.^{[notes 2]} Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault assessed Malhotra during the season as "not the same physical player he was before,"^[41] adding that "He's still contributing but not maybe to the degree that he was before he got injured."^[42] Playing left wing on the fourth line, he remained an integral part of the team by playing on the penalty kill and taking important defensive zone faceoffs. Near the end of the campaign, Malhotra was chosen as the Canucks' nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, an annual NHL award for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.^[42] With a diminished offensive role, Malhotra finished his second season in Vancouver with 7 goals and 18 points over 78 games. His plus-minus also dropped by 19 points to -10.

International career[link]

Medal record
Ice hockey
Competitor for  Canada
World Junior Championship
Bronze	2000 Sweden

In the summer of 1997, Malhotra captained Canada's under-18 team to a championship at the 3 Nations Cup in the Czech Republic.^[43][44] Canada finished as tournament champions, going undefeated over six games against the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the three-country competition.^[44]

The following year, Malhotra was named to the Canadian national under-20 team for the 1998 World Junior Championships, held in Finland. He was the second-youngest player on the team, behind Vincent Lecavalier.^[45] Malhotra was pointless in seven games as Canada was defeated in the quarterfinal by Russia 2–1.^[46] The following year, he was not available for the tournament as he was playing in the NHL with the Rangers. In 2000, however, he was loaned to Team Canada by the Rangers' organization, as he was still eligible as a junior.^[20] Serving as team captain,^[47] he notched two assists over seven games in the tournament, held in Sweden. Canada earned the bronze medal, defeating the United States 4–3 in a shootout.^[48]

Malhotra debuted with Canada's men's team at the 2002 World Championships in Sweden. He recorded no points in seven games as Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinal by Slovakia.^[49]

Personal life[link]

Malhotra was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario.^[50] His father, Shadi,^[7] was born in Lahore, pre-Partition India, and worked as a research chemist for Xerox.^[13][51] He holds over 110 patents and is now retired. His mother, Lise,^[7] is a French-Canadian and was a stay-at-home mom.^[13][50] His parents both hold doctorate degrees from the Université Laval in Quebec City – his father's in polymer chemistry and his mother's in biochemistry – and prioritized education for Malhotra.^[43][51] Due to his mother's French background, he spoke both French and English at home.^[50] Malhotra has three siblings, two brothers and a sister.^[13]

Malhotra started playing organized hockey at the age of seven.^[13] He attended John Fraser Secondary School in Mississauga before graduating from Our Lady of Lourdes in Guelph, Ontario.^[52] Malhotra moved to Guelph to begin his OHL career with the Guelph Storm, during which time he was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL's scholastic player of the year in 1998.^[51] He has referred to it as the award he is most proud of in his hockey career.^[13] In 2009, he received the National Leadership Award in a ceremony at his former high school in Guelph.^[52]

In his initial years with the Rangers, the organization arranged for him to live with former player Doug Sulliman and his family.^[13] In September 2007, Malhotra married Joann Nash, sister of National Basketball Association (NBA) star Steve Nash and former Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Martin Nash.^[13] Malhotra and Joann had their first child in the summer of 2008, a boy named Caleb.^[3]

Career statistics[link]

Regular season and playoffs[link]

International[link]

Awards[link]

Notes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Manny Malhotra's NHL player profile
• Manny Malhotra's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Manny Malhotra's TSN Profile
• Manny Malhotra's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Matt Cooke
Cooke with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010.
Born	(1978-09-07) September 7, 1978 (age 33) Belleville, ON, CAN
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Pittsburgh Penguins Vancouver Canucks Washington Capitals
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	144th overall, 1997 Vancouver Canucks[1]
Playing career	1998–present

Matthew David Cooke (born September 7, 1978) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Cooke won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh during the 2008–09 NHL season. Cooke was member of the Team Canada at the 2004 World Championships which won the gold medal. He has also played in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals.

Cooke's playing style of intentionally attempting to aggravate opponents has earned him the reputation of one of the NHL's "pests". During his NHL career Cooke has been suspended for several much criticized hits, some involving head-shots that injured opposing players, most notably Marc Savard in 2010. Cooke was an important factor influencing NHL rule changes intended to deter such conduct. After his longest suspension in 2011, Cooke has pledged to change is style of play. Although he is no longer a member of the Vancouver Canucks' organization, he is still active in the Vancouver community with his wife as they run The Cooke Family Foundation of Hope.^[2]

Playing career[link]

Cooke played major junior in the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons predominantly with the Windsor Spitfires prior to playing professionally. Recording an impressive 95-point (10th overall in the league), 146-penalty-minute campaign in his second OHL season, he was drafted 144th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft^[1]. Returning to the OHL for a third season after being drafted, he was traded from Windsor to Kingston on December 17, 1997, in exchange for Brent L'Heureux. Cooke would finish the season and his OHL career with Kingston.

Cooke with the Vancouver Canucks in 2007.

Splitting the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 seasons between the Canucks and their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, Cooke would play for the Canucks full-time in 2000-01.

Typically playing in the role of a checking winger, Cooke recorded a career-high 42 points in 2002–03 and earned the Fred J. Hume Award as the team's unsung hero.^[3] Continuing to show offensive capabilities, after returning from an injury in 2003–04, he was promoted to the Canucks' top line towards the end of the season. On account of Todd Bertuzzi's infamous suspension, Cooke joined Markus Naslund and Brendan Morrison on the Canucks' top line for the final thirteen games of the season and the playoffs.^[4]

Perhaps Cooke's most memorable moment with the Canucks occurred during this stint on the first line as the Canucks entered the 2004 playoffs against the Calgary Flames. With the Canucks down by a goal in the final minute of the series-deciding seventh game, Cooke drove the net on a Markus Naslund rush and dramatically tied the score with 5 seconds to go in regulation – it was also Cooke's second goal of the game. However, as the Canucks were short-handed at the time, Calgary began the overtime period on the powerplay and clinched the series.^[5]

After a year of inactivity on account of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Cooke would play two more full seasons with the Canucks, scoring at a similar pace. However, with Cooke's contract set to expire at the end of the 2007–08 season, he was sent to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Matt Pettinger at the trade deadline. The trade ended Cooke's tenure with the Canucks in his ninth season with the club. At the time of the trade, he was 12th all-time in games played as a Canuck with 556.^[6]

Cooke with the Capitals, March 2008.

Finishing the 2007–08 season, Cooke would play 17 games with the Capitals, scoring 7 points. In the off-season, on July 5, 2008, Cooke signed a two-year, $2.4-million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[7] He injured his ribs in his first season with the Penguins in October, missing four games, but was able to return by the end of the month.^[8] On December 2, 2008, he was named to the rotating position of alternate captain for the Penguins for the month of December.^{[citation needed]} The next month, Cooke was suspended for two games on January 27, 2009, for a headshot that he delivered to Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker seven days earlier. He was assessed a minor penalty for interference on the play.^[9] He earned a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009.

Cooke set a new career high during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs by scoring four postseason goals, two of those coming in the decisive Game 6 against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place.^[10] On June 22, 2010, Cooke signed a three-year contract to stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a deal worth $1.8 million per season.^[11]

Suspensions[link]

During his career Cooke has been criticized by the media, league and team executives and other players for his hitting in ways more likely to cause injury such as hits to the head.^[12][13] In the 2008–09 season, Cooke was suspended on two different occasions. In November, he received a two game suspension for a check to the head of New York Rangers' Artem Anisimov. In January 2009, he received another two game suspension for a hit to the head of Scott Walker, at the time with the Carolina Hurricanes.^[14]

On March 7, 2010, in a game against the Boston Bruins Cooke delivered a blow to the head of Boston's Marc Savard, causing a concussion and Savard to miss almost two months. Cooke said he was not intending to hurt Savard;^[15] however, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli characterized the hit as "a very surgical hit to the head."^[16] Fellow Penguin teammate Bill Guerin also analyzed Cooke's hit on Savard to Pittsburgh reporters.^[16] "If a guy gets hurt like that with a shot to the head, there's got to be something," said Guerin, adding that he expected Cooke to be suspended. "I understand he (Cooke) is on my team but, hey, he's in a tough spot."^[17] In a ruling, which has received wide criticism,^[16][18] Cooke was not given a suspension for the hit on Savard.^[19] NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman commented on a radio talk show regarding the Cooke hit on Savard. "I was very unhappy and upset with that hit," said Bettman. "I was more upset there was nothing (in the League rules) to do to punish it."^[12] On March 24, 2010, the league implemented a new rule aimed at prohibiting hits to the head. In announcing the rule, Bettman said, "The elimination of these types of hits should significantly reduce the number of injuries, including concussions, without adversely affecting the level of physicality in the game."^[13][20]

Rangers Ryan McDonagh is slow to get up after the elbow delivered by Cooke.

On February 9, 2011, Cooke was given a four-game suspension for a hit from behind on Columbus Blue Jackets' defenseman Fedor Tyutin.^[21] On March 21, Cooke was suspended for the final ten games of the Penguins regular season schedule as well as the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs stemming from an elbow to the head of New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh.^[22] The suspension was the longest of Cooke's career and was supported by the Pittsburgh Penguin management. Speaking to two Pittsburgh newspapers the day after, Cooke apologized for the hit. "I realize and understand, more so now than ever, that I need to change," Cooke said.^[23]

Changing his game[link]

With the suspension and then Pittsburgh's early elimination from the playoffs, Cooke had considerable amount of free time. He spent much of the time with Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma reviewing each of his hits to learn how to change his game to hit within the rules. Cooke said, "The way I played before was to get the biggest hit possible every time no matter what." and that now "Certain situations, I just approach differently. I try to get the puck more than I did before." Well into the 2011-12 season teammate Craig Adams said of Cooke's play, "I've noticed over the last month or so, he's been feeling more comfortable being physical again, obviously, within the rules. That was a big part of his game."^[24]

International play[link]

Medal record
Competitor for  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold	2004 Czech Republic

Cooke made his first international appearance, playing for the Canadian national junior team at the 1998 World Junior Championships. He scored 2 points in 6 games, but could not help Canada win a medal, losing to Russia in the quarter-finals. He then competed for Team Canada at the 2004 World Championships. Named to the team with Vancouver Canucks teammate Brendan Morrison, Cooke helped Canada clinch gold, tallying 4 points in 9 games.

Personal[link]

Cooke and his wife Michelle, whom he married in 2001, have 3 children;^[25] a daughter named Reece Lynn Cooke and a son named Jackson Cooke. Michelle has another daughter, Gabby, whom she had in a previous relationship. Cooke and Michelle run a foundation called The Cooke Family Foundation of Hope,^[2] based out of Vancouver.

Awards[link]