Stephen Cooper Podcast Interview – Part 2
Welcome back to Part Two of the Stephen Cooper interview.
If you haven’t already listened to Part One, go have a listen now, you’ll enjoy this episode that much more.
In that episode, we talked of Stephen’s early career playing for the Durham Wasps and Cardiff Devils.
In this episode we follow his later career playing for the Manchester Storm, Newcastle Riverkings, Nottingham Panthers, Hull Thunder and finally the Coventry Blaze.
Manchester Storm
In the summer of 1997, former Devils coach and then Manchester Storm supremo John Lawless saw that Stephen’s contract talks with new Cardiff owner, David Temme had stalled.
So John quickly made contact and “sold” his club to Stephen. The Storm had acquired the best British D-Man in the game.
Stephen spent two very enjoyable seasons in Manchester, the team finishing runners up in his second season. In the summer of 1998 he was looking forward to signing a promised new contract. However coach Kurt Kleinendorst reneged on his contract promise, giving him little time to find a new club.
Despite being left high and dry by the Storm, Stephen returned home to the North East and signed for the Newcastle Riverkings.
However the team struggled continually and finished the season second from bottom.
Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham coach Mike Blaisdell, a former Durham Wasps team mate of Stephen’s, saw him as a key cog in his plans for his team Panthers.
So, in the summer of 1999 he readily agreed to join Mike in the Midlands.
Unfortunately after only 10 games Blazer departed for Sheffield and was replaced by former Panthers coach Alex Dampier.
What looked to be a season of promise stuttered along to a disappointing end and Stephen moved on.
Blaze man Stephen
Hull Thunder and Coventry Blaze
A split 2000 – 01 season was to follow, first with the Hull Thunder. The BNL team had built an impressive squad of seasoned players, intent on a having a crack at the Championship. Players of the calibre of Ron Shudra, Tommy Plommer, Anthony Payne, Corey Lyons and Aaron Caine had been signed. Initially the team did very, very well and lead the table.
However money problems hit the club, players wages were continually late and cheques started to bounce. Consequently players became unhappy and eventually Stephen’s patience ran out and he accepted an offer to join Coventry.
It was a good move, coach Paul Thompson was building a team to compete with the very best. This was highlighted the following season as the Blaze finished as runners up in the League, Playoffs and Challenge Cup. Only Tony Hand and his Dundee Stars stood between them and glory.
Retirement
At the end of the 2001 – 02 season Stephen decided to retire, he’d had a stellar 21 season career. During that career he had been award the Alan Weeks trophy, for best British defenceman, a staggering 8 times.
He also played 61 times for the Great Britain national team too.
The following season the Coventry Blaze decided to honour Stephen. They fittingly chose a Blaze versus Cardiff Devils game to retire his number 55 shirt.
As Blaze coach Paul Thompson explains in an online article given to Coventry live;
The main reason is not just the great effort he made for us, but the fact that he has been the
defenceman of his generation.
It’s incredible to think that he has been the best for the last 16 years.
We are retiring his shirt as a tribute to his career.”
You can read the full article here.
These days Stephen lives with his wife and children in Cardiff and works in the retail motor car industry.
Thanks for the memories Stephen.
Alumni
You can also listen to Podcast interviews from Stephen’s’ alumni of former team mates here:
Frankie Killen (Durham) Episode S1 E12
Mario Belanger (Durham) Episode S2 E10
John Lawless (Cardiff) Episode S1 E11
Shannon Hope (Cardiff) Episode S1 E17
Nicky Chinn (Cardiff) Episode S3 E02
Hilton Ruggles (Cardiff) Episode S1 E24
Jason Wood (Cardiff) Episode S1 E28
Ivan Matulik (Cardiff) Episode S1 E18
Wayne Cowley (Newcastle) Episode S3 E01
Jamie Leach (Nottingham) Episode S1 E24
Steve Carpenter (Nottingham) Episode S1 E10
Randall Weber (Nottingham) Episode S1 E07
Ron Shudra (Hull) Episode S1 E03
Anthony Payne (Hull) Episode S3 E06
Tommy Plommer (Hull) Episode S2 E03
Marc Twaite (Coventry) Episode S1 E02
Peter ‘Jonker’ Johnson (Durham) Episode S4 E01
Tim Cranston (Durham) Episode S4 E04
Barry Nieckar (Nottingham) Episode S4 E06
Shout Out Time
Today’s shoutout today goes to my Patreon Patrons:
Tommy Boll, Oscar Brownsword, Colin Dunn, Tony Harrison, Jim Murden, Jeff Povey, Chris Saddington and Michael Cook
Thanks for your continued support guys.
Patreon
You know I really love contacting former players and recording their hockey memories and then editing and producing this Podcast to bring those memories to you.
More importantly I know you love hearing them too.
We all love listening to those often hidden stories from inside the game, the stories that we, as fans, never get to hear.
It really gives me a buzz every time I upload a brand new Podcast, knowing that you’ll remember and reminisce about those memories from your hockey heroes of the past.
However……
It’s not cheap bringing this Podcast to you, that’s why I’ve chosen to use Patreon to ask for donations to keep the Podcast going.
You can really help the show by donating say, just $2 per Podcast episode (about £1.40) for the price of a cup of Coffee or the price of a Beer at $6 (about £4.20) – you really will be helping to keep the show going.
In return, my Patrons will receive a reward, right now there are 4 different reward levels to chose from.
Plus I’ll be continually posting to Patreon, Videos and Podcasts that are exclusive to You, my Patrons.
Click on to the video below, I’ve recorded a brief “Welcome to my Page” video – well, that’s from me and the dog – you’ll see what I mean when you check it out.
If you’d like more information about Patreon, the video below explains everything:
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