Kukla's Korner Hockey
Jon Cooper Both Canadian And American
by Paul on 09/12/16 at 10:36 AM ET
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from Frank Seravalli of TSN,
Cooper’s own marriage spans both sides of the border. He was born and raised in Prince George, but his wife, Jessie, is from Michigan.
The Tampa Bay Lightning coach’s three children are American, born on different stops during his rise through the coaching ranks in St. Louis and Green Bay.
Cooper became a United States citizen in the mid-90s. He has been living in the U.S. exclusively since 1990, nearly 30 years now, when he got a job in New York after graduating from Hofstra University on Long Island.
So, does Cooper - who is serving as an assistant to Todd McLellan - see himself more as a Canadian or an American?
He wouldn’t bite.
“This is so difficult for me,” Cooper said. “I think growing up in Canada, where the whole country lives and dies on hockey, the sport is bred in you. My passion and love for the game were born in Canada.
“But then I think about my time in the United States - my education and coaching education was fostered there. I’ve had the chance to work with a lot of amazing people who taught me well. I think both places fed into my growth, helped me get where I am today.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Tampa Bay Lightning, Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: jon+cooper
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