Potsdam Bears men’s hockey team members Brett Waters, Mike Arnold, Vinny Buttitta, Ken Simon, and Max Fogel present Hunter Cooke with a Bears jersey.

POTSDAM -- The SUNY Potsdam men’s hockey team has drafted a 10-year-old from Hogansburg to be an honorary Bear for the 2012-13 season.

Potsdam has joined with Team IMPACT to welcome Hunter Cooke into its family.

Hunter, who has cystic fibrosis, met Coach Chris Bernard and Bears Brett Waters, Mike Arnold, Vinny Buttitta, Max Fogel and Ken Simon recently at Maxcy Hall. He talked hockey and video games with the players, watched a highlight video, and was interviewed by Voice of the Bears Chris Engel. Like Simon, who is a Massachusetts native, Cooke is a fan of the Boston Bruins.

After the introductions, the newest Bear signed his team contract where he agreed to be a good citizen, a good son and brother, work hard in school and represent his team in a positive way.

The Bears then presented him with his own Potsdam jersey.

Throughout the season, Cooke will attend Potsdam practices and home games and visit the Bears in their locker room.

“We are really excited about the opportunity to develop a relationship with Hunter and his family,” said Bernard. “We want to be there to support them any way they deem necessary or important to continue to help him reach his goals for improved health and improved quality of life in general.”

Team IMPACT's aims to improve the quality of life for children facing adverse issues and events by establishing and expanding team-based support networks.

Hunter dropped the first puck as the Bears opened their season Friday at Massena Arena and beat Saint Michael’s College 4-3.