To say that Tyler Cooper was excited when the Erie Otters selected him with the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 OHL Priority Draft would be a massive understatement.
“My initial reaction was like, ‘Wow,’” Cooper told PuckPreps.
That single word said it all. It was a mix of excitement, respect, and readiness to embrace the next chapter with a storied franchise.
For Cooper, getting drafted by Erie was more than just the next step in his hockey journey. It was a statement. He understood that the Otters represented a rich tradition, an elite development track, and a list of alumni who have carved out paths to the NHL.
While the USHL had been a serious consideration after being selected by the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the 13th round of the USHL Phase I Draft, recent NCAA rule changes shifted the landscape.
Suddenly, the CHL looked more appealing, and Erie’s reputation for developing recent talent like Malcolm Spence and Martin Misiak helped seal the deal.
“The OHL is the best junior league, and that’s where I would like to be,” the 15-year-old said.
For those unfamiliar—or just getting acquainted—with Tyler Cooper, the 5-foot-11 right-shot forward is a high-compete player with a 200-foot game, a dangerous shot, and an insatiable love for scoring goals.
The numbers and game film back it up.
Coming off a standout season with the Chicago Reapers 15U team, Cooper led all skaters with 61 goals and 124 points. His point total was 50 clear of the next closest player and marked a significant leap from his previous year’s performance.
But Cooper is quick to share the credit.
“Our team got a little better this year,” he said. “We had a few guys jump into our team, which was awesome, which meant there was more support for every line. That brought all of us up even higher and higher, so I think that kind of led to the monster year that we all had.”
That said, a lot of Cooper’s development came off the ice, where he committed himself to studying the game and enhancing his hockey IQ.
“I watched a lot of hockey,” he said. “I just love watching some of the best players like Nikita Kucherov. He's a wizard with the puck. He just holds onto the puck and then he finds somebody.”
Alongside Kucherov, Cooper draws inspiration from superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, particularly when it comes to developing an aggressive, attacking mindset.
That mindset became even more important after he was left off the NTDP Evaluation Camp roster, a snub that fueled his fire heading into Nationals.
“That was probably the best thing for me because that just showed me that I have to elevate my game even more.”
Elevate it he did. Cooper led the Reapers to the National Championship game against Mount St. Charles. After falling behind 4-1 in the first period, Cooper and his team rallied with three unanswered goals to force overtime. Although Chicago ultimately fell in the extra frame, the game left a lasting impression.
“I'll never forget, nobody was stressing out in that second period when we went to the locker room,” he said. “We all just had that calm sense and then we came back, but couldn't get the job done in overtime.”
Now, as he prepares for his rookie OHL season, Cooper is focused on getting ready for the next level. With the challenge of facing bigger, older competition, he’s spending the summer in the weight room and continuing to sharpen every part of his game.
As a December birthday, Cooper is also eyeing a future in college hockey. While NCAA recruiting timelines have kept conversations limited so far, his aspirations remain clear. He hasn’t taken visits or named programs yet, but he knows where he wants to end up.
“Just the big schools, the powerhouse schools,” he said with a smile.