On Tuesday October 20th, the South Carolina Stingrays announced the re-signing of Canadian right-winger Mark Cooper. The two sides agreed to terms on a standard player contract for the upcoming season.
Cooper returns to the Stingrays after putting up 17 goals along with 29 which made for 46 points. He did so in 55 games. The forward’s goal totals were good for third-most on the hockey club while his assist and point totals were good for fifth-best among Stingrays this past season.
In a statement from Ryan Blair on Tuesday, head coach of the Stingrays hockey club, he said of the team’s latest signing, “We’re extremely excited to have Mark back in a Stingrays jersey. He was an extremely big piece of our group last year and we look forward to his continued success as a Stingray this coming year. Mark can play in all situations, provides great leadership and is a steady competitor.”
Prior to joining the Stingrays, Cooper spent 2018-19 between the Kansas City Mavericks and San Antonio Rampage. During his time in San Antonio, Cooper collected seven points, having tallied two goals along with five assists. He did so in 25 games.
During his stint with the Mavericks, the forward recorded 13 goals along with 24 assists which made for 37 points. He amassed these totals in 30 regular season games.
Overall, Cooper has taken the ice with the Rapid City Rush, Kansas City Mavericks, and most recently, the South Carolina Stingrays. Doing so, he’s scored 69 goals along with 103 assists for 172 points. He’s amassed these numbers in 207 career games.
In addition to his ECHL career, Cooper has seen stints in the AHL, playing with Chicago, Charlotte, Tucson and San Antonio. Between the four organizations, the forward has recorded four goals along with nine assists in 45 career games. As such, he’s compiled 13 points.
Prior to making the jump pro, Cooper spanned four years playing with the Bowling Green Falcons in the NCAA. There, he recorded 45 goals along with 46 assists which made for 91 points. He did so in 157 games.
Upon signing his contract on Tuesday, Cooper said about returning to the lowcountry, “I just can’t wait to get things going for Stingrays fans who I know are probably dying to see us play. Everyone knows that Charleston is an unbelievable city. With the way the organization is run from top to bottom, it was quite an easy decision to come back, and I’m excited to get to work and have some fun this year.”
The Stingrays hope that the righty can continue to be an offensive threat come December. The hockey club begins their season on December 11th against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Puck drop at the North Charleston Coliseum is scheduled to fall at 7:05pmET.