Denys Cooper

write-up by Rebecca MacEachern April 30, 2021

When he retired from the National Research Council, 2019 Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame Inductee Denys Cooper started a new hobby: collecting stamps.

“I now have over 12,000 Olympic stamps, including over 170 field hockey stamps of a potential 255-plus for all hockey events,” says Cooper, who is originally from England.

Collecting field-hockey stamps is a hobby that seems only fitting for Cooper, who has put his own stamp on so many facets of the local, provincial, national, and international field hockey communities. He has been a member of the Outaouais Field Hockey Club for almost as long as it has existed, joining in 1973, two years after it was established.

His impressive field hockey stamp collection is also a testament to what Cooper can achieve when he sets his sights on something. Like when he was attending the University of Exeter (1959-62) where he and his teammates played field hockey on a very wet grass pitch which resulted in most games being cancelled.

“Having played also on a nearby en tous cas field adapted from tennis-it was a good experience – fast and predictable,” says Cooper who was also Secretary of the University’s Sports Clubs. “l took the opportunity to propose that the university should install such a surface. But was told that students ‘could not make such proposals.”

But, as Cooper describes it, his persistence paid off and two years later such a field was installed. A few years after that, the University upgraded to Astroturf.

“The University (of Exeter) is now deemed to be the premier university for field hockey in England.”

In his 50-plus field-hockey career, Cooper, 82, reckons that the change from grass field to artificial turf was indeed a “game changer.” One that has affected the pace of the game and the physical fitness of those involved in playing and officiating.

“We’ve seen a major improvement in the speed of the game, but likewise, a need for greater fitness for both players and umpires, especially with rule changes in the past 10 years,” says Cooper.

Cooper has worn so many different hats in the OFHC and spent so much time as a player, coach, mentor, and umpire (one year he travelled over 22,000 miles to umpire and has attended over 43 AGMs in Ottawa) that when it comes to all things field hockey, he is the “go to” guy, as well as the guy who “gets it done.”

As Secretary and then President of the Canada Field Hockey Umpire’s Association in 1977, Cooper saw the need for more umpires as well the importance of implementing some type of monetary incentive/award to compensate umpires for working the games. During his tenure, Cooper helped to increase its membership from 8 national umpires in 1970 to over 80 umpires in 1985.

And a more recent demonstration of Cooper’s “can do” attitude is his involvement with the preparations for the OFHC’s 50th Anniversary later this summer. He is also keeps busy as the Club’s statistician and has earned a sterling reputation for the important and valuable information that he collects and provides to the Club.

Although Cooper has no shortage of “best moments” during his years in field hockey and as a member of OFHC, there are at least two that stand out from his involvement in the Montreal Olympics and activities leading up to them. When it was announced in 1970, that Montreal would be hosting the Summer Olympics in 1976, Cooper knew that he had to be involved.

“l was one of a dozen members from our club involved in the organization for the 1975 pre-Olympic tournament (as an umpire and Technical Director”, recalls Cooper. “That and the logistics leading up to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal (as a statistician) …. were major highlights.”

Although he has devoted much effort and time to promoting field-hockey with younger people, including students in high-school, Cooper has concerns that the sport is not as popular as it has been in the past.

Due to involvement in high schools (and thank to Cooper and Julie Nelson), many girls have been introduced to the sport and are very active as players but the same cannot be said for a lot of the boys, says Cooper.

“They (the boys) have this perception that it is a “girl” sport which is not true and is unfortunate,” he says. “We have had young (boys) ice-hockey players come out during the summers but only a few of them stick with the sport…. they are not keen on using the flat end of the stick or the reverse skills that are needed.”

But, as Cooper points out, unlike other sports the number of field hockey players and umpires is relatively low making for higher chances of playing at higher levels.

“…the chances of playing nationally and even internationally are one of the highest for all sports in Canada.”

Cooper adds that the costs to play are low, especially for the equipment that is needed but there is also the fact that players looking to improve their skills and play at the highest levels must travel to Toronto or Vancouver, as that is where the training is based.

For Cooper, as with many former and currents members of the OFHC, it is the camaraderie, the friendships, and, of course, the pure love for the sport that seems to be a common bond. The post-game gatherings at a nearby pub for a pint and some grub are especially enjoyable and a long-standing tradition for members, adds Cooper. These seem to be hallmarks of the OFHC, an abundance of laughter and fun, both on and off the field.

“There was the time when a player wanted me to give him a yellow card so he could sip his beer conveniently placed behind the goalpost – alas he went dry – but we had a good laugh afterwards.”

And it would be remiss not to mention the famous Grey Cup and skating parties “where people gathered at our house for potluck chili and my wife Jenny’s hot gluhvein,” says Cooper.

It would be an understatement to say that field hockey and the Club have had major impacts on his life, but it should also be pointed out that Cooper himself has played an integral role in the promotion and development of the sport.

And who knows, maybe some day, Cooper will be adding a stamp to go with his growing collection, one that honours him and all the contributions he has made to field-hockey and the Outaouais Fieldd Hockey Club.