Hoon Digs Viper Den:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Hoon digs Viper den

By Kevin Mitchell - Vernon Morning Star
Published: October 29, 2009

A self-described utility player who “wasn’t very good” in his minor hockey days, Gord Cochran still managed to make the B.C. Hockey League as a young teenager in Williams Lake.

Cochran and his twin brother, Cam, used to earn spending money as linesmen at the Cariboo Memorial Arena, home of the Timberwolves.

When he wasn’t tackling treacherous winter roads to reach Quesnel and Prince George for games, Gord worked in a sporting goods store. The two experiences helped him understand the culture of a junior A hockey team.

He later spent one season as a trainer with the T-Wolves, who suspended operations three years ago before re-joining the BCHL this year. Cochran, nicknamed, for some unknown reason, Hoon, by his twin, is loving life as trainer with the Vernon Vipers.

“It’s nice here because everyone’s pretty chill about everything,” said the 23-year-old. “In the past, we’ve had some guys that would whine about everything if they didn’t like it. Here, everyone’s really good and everyone’s well-mannered. If someone needs something, they’ll come talk to you, they’re not going to start screaming at you. They’re a really good group of kids.”

Game day means getting to Wesbild Centre at 11 a.m. for laundry and skate sharpening duties before the morning skate. In the evening, he gets towels and ice ready for the visiting team, while doing more skates and getting the stick room ready for the Vipers.

During the game, he has to follow the action like a scout, quickly grabbing a stick if somebody shatters one of the expensive one-piece shafts. He’s also first on the scene if a player comes to the bench with an injury.

Cochran, an avid snowboarder, is impressed with the make-up of the Vipers. He doesn’t have to enforce a no-shoes rule in the comfy and spacious dressing room.

“It just goes to show you what kind of respect they have for the Viper history and what it means to be a Viper. It’s just kind of one of those things that the whole team does it, and if one guy goes in and wears his shoes, everybody is on his case about it, and it only happens once.

“The leadership in this organization, right down from the owner to the players is phenomenal. They set a really good example for the boys and it shows. We’ve been doing really good this year and it just goes to show you it starts at the top and trickles all the way down.”

Recommended by outgoing captain Chris Crowell, a Williams Lake product, and assistant coach Jason Williamson, also a Lake City man, Cochran was interviewed by Viper head coach/GM Mark Ferner during last year’s playoffs.

“I don’t think I’d ever been so nervous in my life. I knew nothing about Mark, but I talked to a couple of guys and they said he was really easy going. It went really good and I got a phone call a little while later and he said, ‘yah, come on down.’”

Viper veteran Rob Short is high on Cochran.

“He’s a good guy, he’s willing to do whatever for the team,” said Short. “He’s got a good attitude. He came to the team through Crowell, and he came to our games last year so a lot of guys know him.”

Cochran, who has received big-time help from longtime Viper trainer Lon (Duster) Fraser, loves the challenge of being prepared and “taking care of the boys.”

Asked who the funniest Viper is, he quickly replied: “(Braden) Pimm. No matter what you say to him. You ask him the same question three times and he’ll give you three different answers. He’s really funny. Ferns is pretty funny. He gets some good one-liners in there too.”

Cochran used to hang out in ‘The Puddle’ with Carey Price so follows the Montreal Canadiens.

“My favourite player is Ryan Smyth. He’s not the most flashy guy, but he always gets the job done. He’s been really consistent and always been a real leader.”