NEW WESTMINSTER – University of Alberta Golden Bears forward Jamie Crooks is the Canada West WHL Grad of the Month for October, after racking up 11 points over the first month of the season to lead the conference scoring race.

Crooks, who played over 300 career Western Hockey League games between 2009 and 2013, tallied seven goals and four assists to lead the Golden Bears to a 4-2-0 record – good for second in Canada West.

The Physical Education and Recreation student from Vermillion, Alta. is in his fourth season with Alberta, and is riding a six-game scoring streak to start the season.

Crooks enjoyed his biggest night of the young season back on October 14 against the defending conference champion Saskatchewan Huskies. The veteran tied the game at 2-2 with just 8.9 seconds remaining in the third period, before netting the overtime winner in the second overtime frame.

Originally selected in the ninth round of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft by the Saskatoon Blades, Crooks played a total of 293 WHL regular season games, along with 21 post-season appearances during his four full seasons in the WHL.

Crooks, who played 14 career games with the Blades before being traded to the Chilliwack Bruins early in the 2009-10 season, enjoyed his best WHL season back in 2011-12. The 5’10 forward posted 37 goals and 30 assists that season for the Victoria Royals.

Since joining Alberta, Crooks has won a pair of University Cups and Canada West titles (2014 and 2015), while registering a total of 72 points in 86 career Canada West regular season games.

The other nominees for the WHL Grad of the Month award were: current Calgary Dino netminder and former Blade Steven Stanford, Manitoba Bisons forward and ex-Everett Silvertip Remi Laurencelle, Mount Royal rookie and longtime Lethbridge Hurricane Jamal Watson, along with Saskatchewan Huskie and former Kamloops Blazer Logan McVeigh.

You can watch every Canada West men’s hockey game all season long by tuning into CanadaWest.tv. Season passes are available for $30 CAD.

About Canada West:

Canada West is the premier athletic conference in the country and is home to champion student-athletes that excel on the field, in the classroom and in their communities. Canada West and its 17 member institutions commit to a student-athlete experience where competitive excellence, scholarship and sportsmanship contribute equally towards moulding outstanding graduates and community leaders.

Canada West – Training leaders, building champions.