‘It was a true honour': Belfast Giants captain announces retirement after four years with club

Belfast Telegraph

4 days ago

The 33-year-old Canadian winger played for the team for four years, captaining them in the latter two, and retires having played a significant role in bringing seven trophies to the SSE Arena in that time.
Cooper leaves the Giants having scored a remarkable 105 goals and 242 points in 259 games in all competitions, including providing the assist for Ben Lake's dramatic overtime winner against the Cardiff Devils in the 2022 Challenge Cup Final and netting against the same opponents in the Grand Slam-clinching Play-Off Grand Final a year later.
An ever-reliable presence on the roster since joining from the South Carolina Stingrays in 2021, Cooper formed a dynamic partnership with Lake throughout his four years in Belfast, playing on the same line for all four campaigns, and will be fondly remembered for his time in teal.
Having flirted with the idea of retiring last season, this time Cooper has decided it is time to move on from the professional game and admits that getting to play for the Giants has been one of the highlights of his long career.
'It was a true honour to be a Belfast Giant, and the memories that I have made throughout the last four years have been unforgettable,' said the Ontario man.
"I want to thank the Belfast Giants organisation for the opportunity to make such good memories, and the people of Belfast for being so genuine and caring. Thanks for everything.'
A Toronto native, Cooper had four years at Bowling Green State University before he broke into the pro ranks with the AHL's Chicago Wolves in 2016, bouncing between there and the ECHL for the next five seasons.
But it is his time in Belfast that he will be best remembered for, where he became an integral part of the Giants' dynasty since the turn of the decade as a relentless competitor that left everything on the ice for the team.
He would be named an alternate captain to good friend David Goodwin in his first season and would help the team to double success as he scored 33 goals and 72 points in 69 games in his rookie Elite League season.
Most notable was his performance in the Cup Final where he was the one who provided the killer pass for Lake to score the dramatic winner in overtime to down the Devils and earn their first title following the Covid-19 pandemic, and they would add League joy shortly after.
Cooper's second season would be even more impressive as, although his own scoring tally declined slightly, he would be part of the Grand Slam winning Giants side that swept all before them by convincingly defending their Cup and League titles.
And, fittingly, it was their reliable right winger who rounded it all off with the final goal of the season in their 4-1 Play-Off Grand Final win over the Devils, sealing the third trophy and the clean sweep.
With Goodwin confirming his departure following that campaign, Cooper was the man to take over as captain for the 2023/24 season, leading them in the Champions League as they won three of their six group games, but it would be a season filled with team and personal frustration as the Giants ended the year trophy-less and their captain was limited to just 47 games due to a persistent injury.
But he would bounce back last season in emphatic fashion with an outstanding final season, breaking the 30-goal mark again in 72 games and adding 65 points as the Giants clinched another Cup and League double, with the captain netting another crucial goal in the final game of the regular season against the Nottingham Panthers to help secure the League.
Although the Giants undoubtedly would have wanted him back for a fifth season, the Canadian has decided it is time to move on and he leaves with the glowing praise of head coach Adam Keefe.
'Coops embodies everything we strive for at this club – integrity, resilience, and an unrelenting commitment to the team. He has been a true leader in every sense of the word and someone who set the standard each and every day,' praised Keefe.
"Mark's contributions to our success cannot be overstated, and his presence will be deeply missed, both in the locker room and on the ice. It has been a privilege to coach him, and I know he will go on to make a positive impact in whatever path he chooses next.'