Lakers reel in former Greyhound Vern Cooper

The Nipissing Lakers hockey team is pleased to announce that Vern Cooper will be attending Nipissing University beginning this September.

Cooper, a five-foot, nine-inch, 202-pound left wing/centre, played five years of Major Jr. A hockey with the Plymouth Whalers and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

In the 2009-10 season with the Greyhounds, he amassed 65 points in 61 games (25 goals and 40 assists); the next year he totaled 60 points in 56 games (25 goals and 35 assists).

Last year the speedy forward had 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points in 11 games with the Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League.

"I'm very excited to begin my post-secondary education at Nipissing and joining the Lakers hockey team for this coming season," said the Sudbury product.

"My goal is to be successful off the ice as well as on the ice. I am looking to help the team get to the next level, which is to challenge for a championship.”

Cooper is a former 2006 first round pick of the OHL's Plymouth Whalers who selected him 13th overall that year.

McParland is excited about recruiting a quality point-a-game player from the OHL.

“Everybody laid off of him because of a concussion he got playing pro last season," said McParland.

"He was off the radar and he stopped playing before December 31st to be eligible to play university hockey. He will be someone we can count on to score big goals and be involved on the power play. We haven't had an offensive guy like him in our first 3 years."

Golf Tourney

A reminder that spots are still available for the Boston Pizza Golf Tournament in support of Nipissing Lakers Hockey. Registration forms can be picked up at the Registrars office at the school and at Boston Pizza.

Lakers Hockey School

Spots are also filling up quickly for the Lakers hockey school which takes place the weeks of August 20th and 27th.

For more information contact Mike McParland at [email protected]