Cooper, coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, is one of four assistants for Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey 2016. He's thrilled to be dipping his toe into these international hockey waters, describing himself as a sponge for all that has washed over him after three days of training camp here.
As for his summer that was almost a rumor?
"I'm blaming it on my kids, whose school in Florida this year started on Aug. 10, which was awful. Push the blame!" Cooper said Wednesday after practice in an empty locker room that normally is home to the Montreal Canadiens.