Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Bears Beckon Black Hawks Cooper

Press Release

With more than two full months remaining during the 2013/14 United States Hockey League regular season, the Waterloo Black Hawks equaled the number of college commitments received by last year’s squad on Tuesday, with the announcement that defensemen Dane Cooper will attend Brown University.

Cooper is the 17th Black Hawk to come to terms with an NCAA Division I program.  With his commitment, all seven defensemen currently on the Waterloo roster have chosen a school for the 2014/15 or 2015/16 season.

“If you meet Dane, you’re not likely to forget him.  He is outgoing and easy for fans of all ages to talk to,” said Black Hawks Head Coach P.K. O’Handley.  “Having the opportunity to attend an Ivy League school is a testament to his efforts on and off the ice.”

Cooper is in his second campaign with the Black Hawks and third year in the USHL after beginning his career with the Sioux City Musketeers.  The Chicago native has played in 126 regular season games, plus five playoff contests.  He is +23 during his time in Waterloo, and his ten assists this season in 27 appearances already equal his total from 59 games in 2012/13. Last spring, Cooper was recognized as the Hawks’ Slumberland Furniture Fan’s Choice Player of the Year.

Black Hawks Captain Tim Lappin is also committed to Brown.  Waterloo alumni Mark Naclerio and Aleksi Rossi are already skating for the Bears.  Cooper’s current Black Hawks teammates Jake Horton and Alec McCrea will attend Ivy League rival Harvard.

 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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