Dynamic Erie Otters forward Tyler Cooper announced his commitment to Miami in late August at just 16 years old. Cooper fits the mold of a 200-foot, high-effort Miami player and the type of prospect head coach Anthony Noreen wants in the pipeline.
“I thought the campus was so beautiful. I loved everything about the campus. I loved the coaching staff. I just loved how they believed in me. I loved the culture that they were trying to build, that winning culture. I want to be a small part of that in the future,” Cooper said.
The 2009-born forward from Lake Forest, Illinois, was selected by Erie in the second round of the 2025 OHL Draft after lighting up the Chicago Reapers U15 AAA program. Cooper put up 124 points (61 goals, 63 assists) in 74 games during the 2024-25 season.
“We’re happy that he’s going to a really strong program, and we’re just happy that we have a small piece in his development moving forward as well,” Erie head coach Kris Mallette said.
Now five games into the season, Cooper is looking to build off a rookie campaign that saw him play 63 games as the youngest player in the OHL. He finished the season with 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists.
“Hopefully I can keep the penalty kill rolling and hopefully have a bigger role on the power play. And then just produce 5-on-5 every single game and have that consistency throughout the whole entire year,” Cooper said.
Mallette believes Cooper’s versatility is one of his biggest strengths.
“Last season as a 16-year-old, towards the end of the season, he was arguably one of my top penalty killers,” Mallette said. “Playing on the power play, earning a regular shift, and then time on the PK just shows, again, a complete player. He’s got a real good brain on his shoulders.”El
Cooper also added significant muscle over the offseason, going from 170 pounds per Elite Prospects to roughly 185 pounds while remaining 5-foot-11.
When asked what areas of his game he continues to focus on, Cooper pointed to a few key details.
“My first three steps, my cutbacks, and entries using my crossover,” Cooper said.
Mallette shared a similar assessment of the young forward’s development.
“I think obviously he would tell you that his skating has to improve. Being a late birthday (Dec. 9, 2009), the strength has to continue to improve as well,” Mallette said.
Five games into the season, Cooper has spent much of his time at right wing on Erie’s second and third lines alongside center Colin Kennedy and fellow Miami commit Kase Kamzik (LW). While the line has yet to consistently find the back of the net, there’s potential.
Cooper spoke highly of Kamzik’s development heading into the season.
“We actually are roommates right now. Kase definitely took a big step from last year. He came back; I think he’s 210 pounds. He’s really big. His skating got a lot better, and I think he’s going to have a really good year this year,” Cooper said.
The future of Miami hockey looks bright, and the RedHawks have added another promising piece to their pipeline in Cooper, who’s just scratching the surface.
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