The losses have been piling up for the Calgary Wranglers lately, but they are still in the playoff hunt thanks, in part, to starting goalie Devin Cooley.
The Wranglers have dropped 11 of their last 12 games, including Wednesday night’s 8-2 setback to the Coachella Valley Firebirds, but still sit in third place in the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division.
A big reason for that has been the play of Cooley, who has an 18-12-4 record and a sparkling 2.64 goals against average.
This is Cooley’s best season in professional hockey, and he says he credits the work he’s been doing with goaltending coach MacKenzie Skapski.
“We created a plan and it’s been working really well,” Cooley said.
“I feel like I actually know what I’m doing now, and I feel like I actually know how to play the position a little bit better.”
Music lover
Away from the rink, Cooley is a big music lover. He plays the piano, guitar and ukulele. He says it helps him take his mind off the game.
“I found the best hobbies for me are the ones that don’t take a lot of mental bandwidth and that are productive and don’t distract me from hockey,” said the 27 year old.
“Playing instruments is a great example. I like to freestyle on the piano and just kind of let my mind go.”
Tito’s Treasures
If he’s not playing his musical instruments, Cooley says he likes to spend time with his girlfriend Natalie Weyers and their pet rabbit Tito.
“I love him. He’s so chill and fluffy and he’s fun to pet and relaxes most of the day. He’s not slobbery or gross or anything,” he laughed.
Tito was the inspiration for Cooley and Weyers to start Tito’s Treasures at Parachutes for Pets.
It’s geared to give bunnies and smaller animals a temporary home. Weyers is a huge animal lover and knew there was a need for this.
“At Parachutes for Pets they’re not necessarily an animal shelter; they do animal safekeeping,” she said.
“So anyone who is low income, homeless, in the hospital or in any sort of situation where you can’t temporarily take care of your pet, we’ll take them in. We do dogs and cats, and now we have four bunnies there. Our first bunnies that Tito’s Treasures program has been able to take care of.”
Getting out of the slump
Back to hockey, Cooley says his last stretch of games has been difficult for the whole team. He believes they’ll be able to climb out of it.
“We’re going to keep working and we’re going to get back to having fun, and especially me,” he said.
“It’s no more stressed out before games and thinking I’ve got to make this save. It’s just go play and have a blast out there and make saves. Laugh with our teammates and we’re going to get out of it; it’s just a matter of time.”
Cooley and the Wranglers are in Winnipeg to play the Manitoba Moose this weekend.
