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PVHS Principal Can't Wait for Hockey Season to Start
By Dillon Chesnut
Nobody in Putnam Valley is more excited about PVHS's first-ever involvement in a merged ice hockey team with JFK High School than the Principal, Raymond Cooper. We interviewed Mr. Cooper by email to get his thoughts on the new program.
Q: We know you love hockey, but what exactly is your experience with it?
A: I played hockey as a young man at West Point's Smith Rink (the largest rink in the world at the time). I played club hockey through peewee's, bantams, midgets, and junior "A" and "B". I participated in several Can-Am games and numerous hockey tournaments around the country. I was coached by some of the greats; one of the most notable of the time was West Point's Hockey Coach Jack Riley (Olympic Coach 1960). I grew up skating with Jay, Mark, Rob, Marybeth, and Brian Riley, all great hockey players. Rob and Brian succeeded their father as coaches at West Point. I played adult club hockey until about 1993.
Q: What Position(s) did you play?
A: I was a defensemen during most of my career with a few years as goalie. I've continued my involvement sporadically over the years offering clinics in defense and goaltending.
A: You have coached too, correct? I coached hockey in Cortland, NY in the club program there. I was director of youth hockey for a couple of years in the late 7'0's and early '80's. We played at the SUNY Cortland Ice Arena. My son, Matthew, started skating when he was three and played hockey the following winter. Matthew played hockey throughout high school and participated in New York State Playoffs (they were champions a couple of years in a row) with both Cortland Youth Hockey and Cortland High School.
Q: Do you have any other sports in your life?
A: I love all sports, but ice hockey is special for me because of my family's involvement over the years. I am excited to be principal of a new school with a new hockey team. Hockey players and hockey parents are a special breed. Hockey, as you know, is not a game that you can just pick up in the back yard. Back yard ponds and man-made rinks are a disappearing thing of the past. It takes a special person to get up before dawn and travel many miles just to practice at a rink with available ice time. The expenses that are associated with hockey are also sometimes cost-prohibitive.
Q: Any final thoughts?
A: Living upstate a few years ago was a wonderful opportunity to live and coach and play hockey nearly year-round. In retrospect I have fond memories (for both my son and me) of getting dressed in the car on the way to practice at 5am, eating breakfast on the way to school and then beginning our day.
I am thrilled that we are able to partner with JFK and offer yet another excellent athletic possibility for our students. I'm looking forward to similar trips to the rink this year to watch our team skate against neighboring schools.
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