Steen Cooper has an A.
The veteran forward was added to the Penticton Vees' leadership with co-captains Cody DePourcq and Patrick Sexton and fellow assistant captain Jack Ramsey.
Vees coach-GM Fred Harbinson said Cooper is an obvious choice to wear a letter.
“Steen already has three seasons of experience under his belt and clearly understands what it takes to be successful at the junior A level,” said Harbinson in a team statement.
Cooper, who turns 19 in November, returns for his second season with the Vees after coming over from the Cowichan Valley Capitals midway through the 2013-2014 season. The Duncan product had six goals and 23 points in 30 regular season games with Penticton last year. Between the Vees and Capitals, Cooper amassed nine goals and 41 points in 57 regular season games. Cooper finished fourth in team playoff scoring last spring and tied for second in goals with five in 11 playoff games.
Along with his BCHL experience, as he enters his fourth season, Cooper was a member of Team Canada West at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, last November. In 161 career regular season games, Cooper has accumulated 24 goals and 91 points. Cooper will make the jump to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division 1 next fall with Minnesota State Mankato.
The Vees first exhibition home game is this Friday, Sept. 5, when they host the West Kelowna Warriors at the South Okanagan Events Centre at 7 p,m. Exhibition tickets are just $5 for all ages and are available at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC.