2002

78 Ian Cooper

During Ian Cooper's long and distinguished career in British ice hockey he has made significant contributions to the sport, both on and off the ice.

On the ice at right-wing by assisting Durham and Cardiff to five consecutive league and championship doubles, including two grand slams, and 80 appearances for Great Britain including the quickfire climb from Pool D to A. Off the ice with many unpaid hours devoted to duties as Chairman of the Players Association, and representing them on the, now defunct, BIHA Council, and a spell for the BIHA on the competitors section of the British Olympic Committee.

Born on 29 November 1968 at Peterlee, Co Durham, he was so taken, as a seven year old, with the first ice hockey match he watched, that he decided "to have a go with an old stick and pair of skates" on the newly opened Crowtree rink.

Living half way between Sunderland and Durham he skated six days a week, playing across two or three age groups. By the age of 15 Ian topped the scoring in the Northern Section of the English Junior League, with 31+12 from 12 games and netted twice as Durham Mosquitoes won the play-offs.

He was also gaining experience with the older Hornets in the second division of the British League, heading the points scoring in 1984/85 with 70. He first suited up that winter with the Durham Wasps, seeing limited ice time in 30 games whilst scoring three times.

His 'senior' career took off the following campaign with 38 goals and 36 assists, as Durham retained the HBL Premier Division title. Wasps won the British Championship final at Wembley for the next two seasons. They added the Autumn Cup the second year as Ian's points total rose to 139, earning him an All-Star 'A' rating. That spring he was awarded the accolade of ' Young British Player of the Year' with a trip to Calgary Flames training camp as the prize.

Then the ambitious Cardiff Devils, newly promoted to Division One of the HBL offered enough money for Ian to quit the day job, drop a level and become a full time hockey player. His gamble paid off as Devils lifted the division title, won the promotion play-offs and lifted the Autumn Trophy as he again made the All-Star squad.

Back in the top flight Ian's points total increased to 163 as Cardiff duly clinched the Premier title and the British Championship. The double overtime 24 penalty shoot-out victory before a packed Wembley is one of his most enduring memories.

That summer Durham offered full professional wages. With the call of home proving strong Ian's return coincided with Durham's grand slam of HB League, Championship and NU Autumn Cup titles and Ian's points pinnacle of 178. After helping Wasps retain the League and Championship he returned to Cardiff in 1992. During the next six years three league, two championship and an Autumn Cup medal were added to his trophy cabinet.

Two years into his six years as chairman of the Players Association he was presented with the Ahearne Medal for his contributions to the sport by, the then president of the BIHA Frederick Meredith - at an on ice ceremony at the 1996 Wembley finals.

His 50th senior cap for Britain came in an Olympic qualify in Holland the following December. Of his Pool B gold medal in 1993 he said ..."that was something special..." Alex Dampier - his coach at the time added " He displays pride when he plays. He gives it his all". Ian first represented his country at under 18 level from 1985, collecting a gold medal (Pool C) in Spain the next season, with a partly parallel five year stint with the under 20s.

After Cardiff failed to renew his contract in 1998 he nearly joined Phoenix of the USA WCL before moving to London. He captain the Knights in their inaugural campaign, a rare privilege for a Brit in an all import roster. Eighteen months later his Superleague career ended as Knights arranged a move to Guildford Flames of the BNL. By that April, after the last of his 12 consecutive World Championships, his contribution to GB stood at: GP 80 G 30 A 31 Pts 61 PIM 128.

Next winter two games for Basingstoke, and a few weeks at Chelmsford closed out Ian's illustrious playing career, as at the age of 32 he left the ice to move from working part time for a sponsor's agent into a new venture in media management.

Total career statistics: 1984-2001:GP 793 G 760 A 860 Pts 1620 PIM 1591

Compiled by Martin C Harris March 2002