Sarnia Sting's Steven Stamkos tests Oshawa Generals rookie goalie Shea Cooper early, but Cooper kept him from scoring in a 4-3 Oshawa win on Sunday, Jan. 20. The victory, along with a 5-4 win over the Peterborough Petes on Saturday, marked a stellar OHL debut for South River-based Cooper.
ALMAGUIN – By all accounts, it’s been a super week for Shea Cooper.
The 16-year-old goalie, drafted by the Oshawa Generals almost a year ago, is boasting wins in his two debut games in the OHL, thanks to an unexpected call-up.
With the General’s two main goalies out on injury, Cooper, 16, who said he had no thoughts of playing this season, was called to man the team’s net. Cooper’s father got the call last Monday. He told the Grade 11 Almaguin Highlands Secondary School student to pack his bags, but didn’t say why.
Cooper said his parents didn’t want to tell him until the following morning because they thought he wouldn’t sleep that night. But he had an inkling as to why he was packing his bags, he said. “I figured it out (that I’d been called up) but I didn’t think I’d be in games.”
Cooper dressed and sat on the bench at a game against Belleville last week, which he didn’t play in. Just being at the game was exciting, he said.
The real thrill, however, came on Saturday, when Cooper was told he would start that evening’s game against the Peterborough Petes.
“I knew right off that Brett was on Peterborough,” he said.
Which meant South River-based Cooper would be guarding the net from Sundridge-raised Theberge. Facing Therberge and the Petes in front of a sell-out crowd at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Cooper’s nerves were given a test pre-game, he said. “I was shaking, but I got relaxed and I think it was because I told myself ‘It’s just hockey.’”
During the first period, Cooper said, his team made it easy on him. But in the second, the Generals ran into penalty trouble, he said. That’s when Theberge got two goals in on Cooper, just 21 seconds apart.
“Oh, that made me mad,” he said. “It was the worst feeling of the whole weekend.”
A tie brought the game to a dramatic shoot-out. After letting a goal in, Cooper blocked Theberge’s attempt.
“That was the best feeling of the whole weekend,” he said.
The Generals went on to win the game 5-4.
The following night, with a home game against the Sarnia Sting and national coverage on Rogers Sportsnet, Cooper made his second start.
“I was more calm…It was just about keeping up consistency,” he said, noting that playing in front of a home crowd made him want to do well.
And 32 saves later, the Generals took the game 4-3.
Since his two triumphs, Cooper said he’s been receiving countless congratulatory e-mails, text messages and phone calls. But he’s getting them remotely, because he’s staying with the club through the week. The Generals have a week of road trips, facing the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday, then traveling north to hit the ice with the Sudbury Wolves and Sault Ste. Marie on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Cooper said he’ll dress, but he doesn’t know whether he will play or not. One goalie, who suffered a concussion, was expected to start Wednesday’s game, Cooper said. The other, who is having hamstring problems, is not yet back.
But, as his mom Doris Cooper pointed out, the unexpected call-up brought a great opportunity for her son. It was an opportunity that let Cooper show, even though he’s young, he has what it takes to shine in the OHL.
“It’s pretty crazy,” Cooper said.
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