Prince George's Jon Cooper heads Team Canada in a new generation's Summit Series
Plus, skiing down Mount Robson
If you haven’t been following hockey news, it’s Canada vs. USA in the final of the Four Nations Cup tonight and, given the politically-charged atmosphere between the two countries, the game is drawing comparisons to the Canada vs. USSR Summit Series of the 1970s. Here’s the Hockey News:
When the 4 Nations Face-Off was first announced, it represented a chance for best-on-best hockey for the first time in years.
But as global politics have evolved – particularly American presidential aggression against Canada – so, too, has the meaning of the tournament.
The U.S. anthem has been booed, the Americans started three fights in one minute and then the general manager of Team USA went on Fox News and said he hoped Trump would show up to the final game, as his constant talk of making Canada the 51st state is apparently a good motivating factor to score more goals.
And leading the Team Canada lineup is Jon Cooper, coach of back-to-back Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay and former Prince George minor hockey player. Here he is, profiled in the Athletic ahead of tonight’s game:
Cooper’s mother was from San Francisco, but he’s a native of Prince George, B.C., and has lived in the U.S. since attending Hofstra University. He also was part of the coaching staff for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, which in many ways was fitting.
But eventually he had to fall into an international lane, and picking the country he was born in made the most sense. He’s a proud Canadian through and through.
He actually only lived in the city until grade nine but his family - in particular his parents - stayed in the city, cheering him on as he moved into the coaching position in the NHL. Here’s a 2013 piece in the Prince George Citizen:
"I wasn't going to go back, but he said you'd better get back, it's the first game," said [father] Bob, who established R.J. Cooper Construction in Prince George the year Jon was born, nearly 46 years ago. "What I like about it is wherever he goes he says he's from Prince George, British Columbia."
Jon is Prince George's first-ever NHL head coach and Christine says her son is proud of his birthplace and is always quick to dispel some of the misconceptions attached to his hometown.
"Prince George is looked upon as such a Mickey Mouse, stupid place -- people from the Lower Mainland think we're idiots for living here," she said. "Jon has certainly never hidden the fact he's from here."
Mind you, he’s not thinking of things too politically - he just wants to win a hockey game.
Cooper said Canadian players and coaches know what Thursday represents. That chatter also hasn't entered the country's locker room.
The task at hand is too great to worry about anything else — at least for now.
"If we pull this off," Cooper said, "we'll know what this will have meant for everybody at home.
"We're very cognizant of that."
News roundup:
For the first time ever, two people have skied the south face of Mount Robson.
Shoresy star Keilani Rose coming home for Northern FanCon in May. Great writeup on her career and trajectory.
UNBC professor is helping paint a picture of global glacier loss.
Mayor pitches beautification of vacant Prince George properties, at least one of which is his.
Local group to provide update on displaced Ukrainians in the north on Sunday.
Regional district's 2025 budget means 7.2 per cent tax increase for average Prince George home.
UNBC's First Nations Centre receives gift of drums from PGRCC cultural program.
NDP warns high-speed rail from Toronto to Quebec could kill passenger trains in rest of Canada. I just want high-speed rail to Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Fort Nelson, sheesh.
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Send feedback by emailing northerncapitalnews@gmail.com. Find me online at akurjata.ca.
This is nowhere near the Summit Series. This is a contrived NHL corporate money maker designed to Make America feel Great about Hockey