Captain Kasprick takes Titans to playoffs

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This article was published 28/02/2025 (252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Neepawa’s Cooper Kasprick is carrying a lot of responsibility for his hometown team this season, but he’s loving every second of it.

As a 19-year-old team captain that plays a fun style of hockey for the Titans, you can certainly see why.

On paper, he’s the team’s third-line winger, a notnundersized but certainly not huge player who thrives in all scenarios on the ice and off.

He’s mostly out there to play a 200-foot, responsible game and take advantage of his opportunities, but in reality, he’s a lot more than that.

Kasprick isn’t afraid to play with an edge, which considering his size, is saying something.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, he plays a fast, north-south style game, but his on-ice skill is just part of the package.

Having grown up in Neepawa and having plenty of players nearby to look up to, he knows very well what it means to play for pride.

“It’s amazing. I grew up billeting players and always wanted to play for Neepawa,” said Kasprick.

“It’s something I always dreamed of doing and two years ago I got the chance to play my first game, and ever since then it’s been awesome. It’s everything I dreamed of and now to be named captain has been unreal and best of all, we’re having a good year.”

Playing junior hockey in your hometown can come with a lot of responsibility, but he seems to be not only shouldering it, but seemingly having found a groove and now taking on as much as he can.

And loving it.

From school and community visits to hockey-themed events and overall community volunteerism, Kasprick leads the team off the ice just as well as he does on the ice.

“In the community, he’s very well-known,” said Titans head coach Ken Pearson.

“Being the local guy, it gives our minor hockey players someone to connect with real easily. A lot of the parents know Cooper, know his family, and he’s been that guy that people recognize and connect with right away.”

Coming out of the Neepawa Minor Hockey system and experiencing the connection with those positive role models in his early days made a lasting impression on Kasprick.

“He’s the guy that gets out to breakfast club, helps out at practices, does our school visits,” said Pearson.

Pearson pointed out how Kasprick learned from last year’s leadership group and is taking that another step with the hopes of even further team success in the form of a deeper playoff run this year.

It appears that Kasprick’s hard work is paying off, as it seems the game is rewarding him. He’s put up 29 points (15 g, 14 a) in 40 games, and most recently, a career night.

This past Tuesday, Kasprick had a hat-trick in what was his 150th career game as a Titan, a 7-1 win over the Winnipeg Freeze.

Most importantly, it clinched a playoff spot, securing a second straight post-season berth for the Titans.

Kasprick is bringing positive energy in a positive direction to a town and club that has been rebuilding and refreshing the past few years, and is the perfect personification of what Pearson is trying to do with his team.

“It started last year. We talked to all of our guys and the veterans that were moving on and asked them for their input,” said Pearson.

“Cooper was the guy they all put forward as one of those guys, then he and I met a lot this last off-season and talked about the responsibility that comes with being a hometown guy.”

Pearson is reaping the benefits of how Kasprick carries himself off the ice and his competitiveness on the ice.

“He’ll stick his nose in there. That’s what we’re after, good character guys. Good work ethic and low maintenance. That’s what our guys, for the most part, are. I think that Cooper is the perfect example of what we’re looking for in those leaders. Our young guys can look to someone like him,” said Pearson.

And the result is rewarding, as the Titans are returning to the post-season. After last year’s taste of post-season hockey, they hope this becomes the norm, and if anything, a deeper run than last year’s seven-game, opening-round defeat at the hands of the Oil Capitals.

“I wouldn’t say that we’ve exceeded our expectations so far this year. I’d say we’re where we thought we’d be right now, so it’s important this time of year that our guys continue to push each other in practice so that we’re ready to come for the playoffs,” said Pearson.

It wasn’t always easy, and Kasprick had to work at being a leader. The community visits and giving back were easy as it was second nature, but if anything, he almost took on too much responsibility on the ice too soon.

Pearson mentioned in his off-season meetings with Kasprick that he had to put work into just being the best version of who he already was.

“He struggled a little early on in that he put pressure on himself because I think he felt that he needed to be different,” said Pearson.

“The guys just want him to be Cooper, and not Captain Cooper. He went through a bit of a tough stretch, but once he figured out how to be himself, his game has really taken off since Christmas.”

A mantra seems to have stuck, as Kasprick is taking the characteristics of a community leader and volunteer to Neepawa’s Yellowhead Centre every day.

“I come to the rink with a positive attitude. It’s fun to be around the guys. Bring good energy. Lead by example,” said Kasprick.

“Don’t try to do too much. Never hard on guys. Just try to be myself. Try and do the right things so that guys have an example to follow.”

When asked what’s been the best part of his junior career so far, Kasprick replied without hesitation that the Titans recently hitting their stride is hard to ignore.

“Winning games these last few weeks. That’s what stands out. Last year’s playoffs definitely stands out as well. I’d never seen Neepawa’s rink that full,” said Kasprick.

With his team playing good hockey as of late, last year’s first-round loss combined with this year’s veteran-laden group, Neepawa is hoping to turn the table come mid to late March.

“I kind of remember being there as a kid for playoff games when it was that full but I was pretty young, but yeah taking this team on a run would be great,” said Kasprick.

How to do it, the recipe is simple. It will take commitment both on the ice and off, which if anyone has learned how to do, it’s the Titans captain.

“Working hard. Following coach Ken’s instructions. We work on a lot of system stuff. Stick to that. Be aware in the defensive zone and capitalize on our chances in the offensive zone when we get them.

“Last year our goal was to make playoffs and this year it’s to win the league,” said Kasprick.

“We’ve got an unreal team this year. Really good goaltending, great forward group and a solid defensive corps. We’re deep and can play in all roles so I believe in us.”

The Titans play the Freeze in Winnipeg tonight before a week off. They’ll then have a furious five games in seven days, starting against Virden on March 8, to conclude the regular season.

» mpackwood@brandonsun.com