Dec 04, 2008 - 04:30 PM

By Brad Kelly

Shea Cooper isn't waffling in the least when it comes to his intentions for next season.

He wants to be an Oshawa General.

"100 per cent," was his answer when asked if playing for the Generals next season is something that he is striving for. "That's where my mindset is at and I hope next year it happens."

So far the 17-year-old is making a strong case for himself.

Sent to the Bowmanville Eagles of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for some much needed experience just after the season began, the former 13th round pick of the Generals in 2007 has assumed the number one role, and responded in a positive fashion. In 15 games he has just seven wins, but his stats are impressive, recording one shutout with a 2.71 goals against and .908 save percentage.

"He needs experience. That's why he's not (with the Generals)," says head coach Curtis Hodgins of Cooper's development. "He needs to play in all kinds of different situations, face a lot of shots. Coming out of midget hockey, he's not quite ready for (the OHL) right now.

"I think he's got potential to play there next year. His job right now is to focus here, and lead our team to success and that will lead to success for him."

Fans may recall that Cooper was the short-term answer for one weekend last season when the Generals parachuted six different netminders into the lineup at various points. Cooper's opportunity came during a Saturday and Sunday in January, beating Peterborough in a shootout, and then emerging as the winner a night later against Sarnia.

"The experience was indescribable," he says. "It was one of those feelings you get once in a lifetime. You have to step up in one of those games to show how you are. It helped me so much with my career. It just gave me the confidence to keep on going."

He understands the areas of his game that need work, and it's not all about just stopping the puck.

"First of all, just work on my mental part of the game," he says. "That's what I think I didn't have for my age to be in the OHL. Just calming down in the net and making the saves look easier than what they really are."

If he does stick with the Generals next season, the transition should be a relatively smooth one. He attends the same high school as players on the current roster, and is billeted with the same Oshawa family as a year ago. Equipment wise, he still wears his mask with the Generals' logos in games with the Eagles.

"I used that mask twice last year and it bailed me out and it's doing the job this year, although it's falling apart. I just find it my lucky charm."