Josh Jambor

Walk into any Alpena rink on a cold winter night and you can still picture it: a tall, lanky kid from the neighborhood standing in the crease, eyes locked on the puck, refusing to give an inch. Players like Cooper Black, a proud Alpena High School Wildcat alumnus who has risen from the local nets to the American Hockey Association, are the reason why Alpena is a special place for hockey.

His story isn’t flashy headlines or overnight stardom. It’s something far more powerful for every young athlete in our community: a masterclass in showing up, staying humble, and outworking the doubt that can sometimes creep into your mind in the pursuit of greatness.

Black didn’t burst onto the scene as a can’t-miss prospect. He built himself the hard way. After starring at Alpena High School – earning team MVP and Michigan Goaltender of the Year honors as a senior – he packed his bags and headed to junior hockey. First the NAHL in Maryland, then across the country to the BCHL in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Those moves meant leaving home, facing better competition, and proving every single day that he belonged.

There were no guarantees. Just long practices, new teammates, and the quiet grind of getting better when nobody was watching.

From there he earned his way into Dartmouth College, an Ivy League program where he had to compete, for every minute. He watched, he learned, he kept working. When the opportunity came to chase the pro dream, he left school after his sophomore year to sign with the Florida Panthers organization. That decision took courage, but the real test came afterward.

In the AHL, the game speeds up and the margin for error shrinks. Black had to adjust quickly. Early opportunities were limited, so he did what serious players do: he studed the veterans, absorbed their habits on and off the ice, and kept grinding in the gym. He learned that being a pro isn’t about one big save or one good game – it’s about bringing the same focus and energy night after night, especially when things don’t go your way.

Mental toughness isn’t something you’re born with; it’s built one tough shift, one tough loss, one extra rep at a time.

Wherever Black’s journey takes him, Alpena remains home. Not long ago he returned to the Alpena Hockey Association rink – the same place that helped shape him – to skate with the next generation of local goalies. He didn’t show up for photos or fanfare. He showed up to pass along what he’s learned: the value of consistency, the importance of loving the process, and the reminder that this game (and life) rewards those who stay dedicated when it’s hard.

That’s the part that should hit home for every kid lacing up skates or participating in any high school athletics. You don’t have to come from a hockey factory or have the perfect path. You need the willingness to work when it’s inconvenient, to learn when it’s uncomfortable, and to believe your dream is worth the sacrifice. Black’s size helped sure – but size doesn’t teach you how to bounce back from a bad game or how to keep improving when playing time is scarce. That comes from inside.

To the young players in Alpena – whether you’re a goalie staring down breakaways or a skater chasing every loose puck – Cooper Black’s story is simple and powerful: the ceiling is higher than you think if your work ethic matches your dreams. Keep showing up. Keep grinding when no one’s clapping. And never forget where you started. One day, some kid in a local rink might be looking up at you the same we’re looking at Coop right now.

Black has prevailed by doing the hard things the right way. That’s the example worth following.