Mark Cooper is making a successful
adjustment to college hockey.The Bowling Green freshman forward leads the team
with five goals entering Saturday’s home game against third-ranked Notre
Dame.The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder also has earned a spot on the power
play."I’m just keeping things simple and taking everything as a learning
experience … and working hard," said Cooper, who has played in all 16
games.He has one assist and just three minor penalties."He’s a really smart
player," BG coach Chris Bergeron said. "What he lacks in strength, he
makes up for with his hockey sense. He goes to the right areas on the ice. He
does the right things an awful lot. His skill package is pretty good. He’s a big
body. His shot is underrated. He can really shoot it. There’s a lot to like
about his game."Cooper is expected to be part of the long-term solution
offensively for BG, which has scored just 30 goals in 16 games this season. It
had just 85 goals in 44 games last season.The Toronto native totaled 49 goals
and 62 assists in 95 games with St. Michael’s of the Ontario Junior Hockey
League.Cooper’s learning to improve his defense, and is adjusting to the faster
and stronger players in college. But he’s skated on one of BG’s top three
forward lines most games."He’s willing to come out of his comfort
zone," Bergeron said. "He’s willing to take the coaching. He’s willing
to watch tape and do what he needs to do to improve."He’s one of those kids
who doesn’t have all of the answers and says I’m going to do it my way. He’s
listening and sometimes that’s not easy. He does those things because he knows
it’s going to make him better. That’s a big part of why he’s been
successful."FACTS: The Falcons are 3-9-4 overall and 2-6-3-1 in the CCHA.
ND is 13-4, 9-1.PP: The BG power play has been improved of late, scoring in
three of the last five games."I like the intensity and we’re taking what
the game is giving us more," Bergeron said. "For most of the first
half, we were chasing our tail around because we didn’t have the puck on our
stick and the (penalty-kill) was out-working our power play. Now, the power play
is working harder and that’s led to more (offensive) zone time. Now, we’re
starting to demand results."The BG power play is last in the league at 8.2
percent (6-of-73)."We’re getting things going in practice and that’s helped
build our confidence in games," Cooper said.ND’s penalty-killing ranks
fifth nationally at 91.2 percent (62-of-68).GOALIE: Junior goalie Steven
Summerhays has been regarded as ND’s weak link in the past, but he’s been
terrific this season.He ranks fifth nationally with a 1.56 goals-against average
and a 12th with a .937 save percentage.Summerhays entered the season with an
.896 career save percentage.DEFENSE: ND sophomore defenseman Robbie Russo has
four goals and 11 assists, and an on-ice rating of plus-9.He was a fourth-round
NHL draft pick of the New York Islanders in 2011.WJC: ND freshman forward Mario
Lucia was named to the preliminary roster for the United States team that will
compete in the World Junior Championships later this month.The second-round
Minnesota draft pick in 2011 has five goals and three assists.BREAK: Saturday’s
game completes BG’s pre-Christmas schedule.The Falcons, who took final exams
this week, are off next week and return to practice Dec. 26 for a nonleague home
game Dec. 29 against Niagara.