Squamish's Corey Koop is set to experience his first Manitoba winter but the 19-year-old seems to have brought a little B.C. warmth with him.
Koop has been backstopping the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's (MJHL) Winkler Flyers and while the winter hasn't quite come, he said he's getting ready for the deep freeze.
"We got a light dusting yesterday and everyone's been saying they're shocked it hasn't been snowing yet," Koop told The Chief over the phone. "I'll be in for a bit of surprise when it reaches -30 or -40 and I'm kind of preparing myself for that."
The cold also hasn't reached his play yet as he helped led the Flyers to a first overall ranking in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) standings last month after the team won its first 11 games of the season. Koop said it's been a fun ride so far on the team.
"I think we've got a really good team out here," he said. "Everyone said this was supposed to be a rebuilding year but we've gelled really quickly and have a tight-knit group of players. We've had a couple of slip-ups since the good start but I think we're starting to get back on track again."
The Flyers sit in second place in the Addison Division with a record of 18 wins and five losses. Koop is off to a great start personally, sporting a record of 12 wins and three losses. He is leading the league lead in wins and ranks in the top 10 for save percentage, boasting a .910 mark. However, he's also had to compete for playing time with fellow goalie Tyler Oswald, a situation that Koop says helps both young netminders.
"I was originally going to be the starter with Oswald pushing me, but we've both been playing so well that it's tough to pick one or the other," he said. "Right now it's whoever is the hotter goalie at the moment and the team couldn't ask for a better situation because it pushes both of us to play well every night."
Koop spent last season with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League's (VIJHL) Victoria Cougars and said the jump from Junior A to Junior B is noticeable.
"The players are a little bit smarter and a little bit quicker and it's really that next level," he said.
It was through Flyers head coach Ken Pearson that Koop found his way to Winkler, after his goalie coach recommended he get in touch with Pearson about a potential goalie opening on Pearson's team in North Battleford of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. However, Winkler, which also needed netminders, scooped up Pearson and Koop was a natural fit.
Koop said another nice thing about Winkler is the fact that his grandparents reside in nearby Steinbach.
"It's really nice to have them close by," he said. "They've always been watching my hockey wherever I've been, so it's a treat to have them so close."
He added that he misses his family and friends back in 麻豆社国产but Winkler was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. Ultimately, Koop is still looking for a scholarship to continue his hockey career and get a university education. He noted that two schools have approached him about potentially signing on and said it's nice to have that type of interest this early into the year.
For more info on Koop and the Flyers, visit www.winklerflyers.com.
