Lobsinger not ready to hang up his skates
Thorold’s Cooper Lobsinger. Photo by: BILL POTRECZ
The Thorold Blackhawks proved to be a perfect fit for Cooper Lobsinger.
The 20-year-old St. Catharines native played the last two seasons with the French River Rapids of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and was bracing himself for the possibility of not suiting up for his last season of junior eligibility.
“I was prepared to give it up and then I realized it keeps me in shape and I love playing for Barnsy (Thorold coach Scott Barnes),” he said. “My option was either giving the game up, because I joined a trade as an HVAC technician, or play for Barnes.
“I’m doing both now. I’m working for Enercare and still playing hockey.”
Lobsinger said it became apparent he was going to have to think about life beyond hockey when he was in French River.
“I was just confused and a little frustrated too because I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he said. “Not too many scouts had reached out and you start thinking, when is enough, enough?”
Enter Barnes, who was familiar with Lobsinger from summer skates.
“I had him on the ice from his minor hockey days in bantam and midget and I talked to him in the summer and he was quitting hockey,” Barnes said.
Barnes then workout a deal with the Rapids for Lobsinger’s rights. The arrangement has proven to be beneficial for both parties.
“He brings great leadership and a great work ethic, Barnes said. “He’s a guy that the younger guys can look up to and see how hard he’s working, just the effort he puts into everything, on ice off ice, whatever we’re doing.”
Barnes said Lobsinger also possesses great character.
“He’s just a really, really good person. That’s the best way to describe Cooper. He’s a guy that you want to help whatever in life he’s going to be doing.”
Lobsinger, who is a sturdy 6-feet and 210 pounds, played both defence and forward growing up.
He had two goals and two assists in his first nine games for the Hawks as a forward before Barnes moved him back to defence Monday.
“Coming in here he wanted to play forward and get back up there,” Barnes said. “He’s really good on face offs and he’s good defensively — he’s really reliable — and he’s got really good hands.
“We need him on the back end now to kind of solidify things. We’ve been putting it off as long as possible, but we’re going to see how it goes.”
Lobsinger, who also played three years of high school hockey at Denis Morris, is fine with either position.
“It definitely changes the way I prepare for a game,” he said. “ If I’m playing forward, I’ll do a lot of quick twitch muscle (exercises), get the legs going real quick. I find with defence, it’s more or less be relaxed out there. There’s a lot more time and space out there when you’re on the back end to quarterback the play and also with each decision really to take consideration what’s given to you.”
The Blackhawks topped the visiting Fort Erie Meteors 5-1 in Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference action Monday at Thorold Arena.
Sam Tonelli, Nicholas Rubino, Adrian Diodati, Declan Fogarty and Dylan Pergantile scored.
Hunter Zoccoli replied for the Mets.
In one other GOJHL game Monday, the Hamilton Kilty B’s continued their winning ways with a 3-2 win over the visiting Pelham Panthers.
Nolan Underwood, Colin MacDougall and Justin Monteith scored for Hamilton.
Dawson Abrahams and Cameron Savoie replied for the Panthers.
STATS PACK
Blackhawks 5 Meteors 1
Thorold forward Nicholas Rubino with a goal and three assists.
For the Thorold Blackhawks: Rubino (3); Sam Tonelli (1); Adrian Diodati (1); Declan Fogarty (1); Dylan Pergantile (1).
For the Fort Erie Meteors: Hunter Zoccoli (1).
Game stats: Shots on goal: By Thorold on Josh Smith (36), by Fort Erie on Noah Fortuna (41); Power plays: Thorold 2-for-9, Fort Erie 1-for-7; Penalty minutes: Thorold 32, Fort Erie 34.
Up next: The Blackhawks visit the Meteors Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
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