SUDBURY, Ont. – Former Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) Most Valuable Player Cooper Foster was chosen by the Pittsburgh Penguins, in the sixth round, 174th overall, Thursday in Day 2 of the National Hockey League Draft in Nashville, Tenn.
Skating for his hometown Soo Thunderbirds in the 2021-22 season, Foster helped lead his club to a league championship.
Foster also garnered individual accolades as well being named the NOJHL’s Most Valuable Player, collecting Best Overall Team Player honours along with being tabbed a 1st Team All-Star at forward.
His efforts on the ice saw him produce 60 points in 38 outings for the T-Birds on 18 goals and 42 assists.
Postseason play also saw Foster produce at over a point-per-game clip with 17 in 15 games played, as he scored eight times, while assisting on nine others in helping lead the Sault Ste. Marie to the league title in 2022 and earn a berth to compete in the Centennial Cup.
“Cooper’s selection in the NHL Draft is another reflection of the skill set coming out of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League,” said commissioner Robert Mazzuca.
“Our members teams are continually recruiting top-end talent to compete in our league, and seeing players like Foster and Andrew Gibson going to be drafted into the NHL bodes well for the NOJHL,” added Mazzuca.
Photo credit: Gordon Anderson / The Sault Star
