Everything has come full circle for New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz and Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.
Back in the day, before both coaches began their respective careers behind the bench (or in Cooper’s case, law first), the two attended Notre Dame high school in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. Tonight, all these years later, the two are set to square off in the Eastern Conference Final.
How cool is that?
Coaches don’t tend to communicate all that much during these kinds of series but we’re obviously in unprecedented circumstances. Trotz and Cooper happened to run into each other in Toronto’s bubble gym and made sure to take advantage of the moment with a little souvenir.
Well that’s pretty cool!
Both men have done their old school proud since entering the league. Trotz captured a Stanley Cup in 2018 and won the Jack Adams award for the second time in four season last year while Cooper was named a finalist in 2014. Cooper also appeared in the Stanley Cup Final back in 2015 but lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. The competing coaches have demonstrated class off the ice as well.
You can probably count on that photo going up on Notre Dame’s wall at some point. Best of luck gentlemen!
(H/T Joe Smith)
