Colby Cohen

Colby Cohen
Born April 25, 1989
Villanova, PA, USA
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL Draft 45th overall, 2007
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2010–present

Colby Shane Cohen (born April 25, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent.

Playing career

Amateur

Cohen first played junior hockey with the Syracuse Stars in the and the Ontario Junior Hockey League in the 2004–05 season.[1] Colby was selected to play in the U.S. National Team Development Program and represented the United States in the 2006 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, in a silver-medal performance.[2]

Committing to a collegiate career with Boston University for 2008, Cohen began the 2006–07 season with the USNTDP before leaving, citing unhappiness within his role, to join the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League.[3][4] In his lone season with the Stars, Cohen established his offensive prowess and led the entire USHL among defensemen with 60 points in 53 games to earn a place in the USHL Second All-Star Team.[5]

Cohen was then selected as the Colorado Avalanche's second choice, 45th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, to join the Avalanche first round pick, former Development Program teammate and fellow BU recruit, Kevin Shattenkirk.[6][5] In his freshman year with the Terriers in 2007–08, he played in 39 out of a possible 40 games in the Hockey East, finishing third among Terriers Blueliners, and trailing only Shattenkirk in Assists with 13.[7]

In his sophomore year, Colby enjoyed his most successful collegiate season as BU advanced to the Frozen Four Tournament.[7] In 43 games he compiled 8 Goals and 24 Assists to finish second among Terrier defensemen with 32 Points, while also posting a Plus/Minus of 24 to finish fifth overall in the country.[7] Colby earned selection to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament after scoring the overtime game-winning Goal, from a pass from Defense partner Shattenkirk, in a 4–3 victory over the Miami Redhawks to win the 2009 National Championship.[7][8][9][7]

Returning for his junior campaign with the Terriers in 2009–10, Cohen was named as Player of the Month in January but was unable to help the team defend its National Championship after losing in the Hockey East Semi-finals.[10][11] Cohen was named to the Hockey East First All-Star Team and the NCAA East First All-American Team as he led the team's defense with 30 points in 36 games, scoring 14 Goals which were the most scored in a single season by a BU Defenseman in over 30 years.[12] Following elimination, Cohen brought an end to his collegiate career, signing an entry level contract alongside Shattenkirk, with the Avalanche on April 3, 2010.[6]

Professional

Upon signing with the Avalanche, he moved directly into the AHL and made his professional debut with the Lake Erie Monsters.[6] He finished the 2009–10 season with one assist in three games.

Prior to the 2010–11 season, Cohen attended his first Avalanche training camp and was among the final cuts assigned to Lake Erie on October 3, 2010.[13] After starting the season with the Monsters, Cohen was recalled by the injury-depleted Avalanche and made his NHL debut in a 5–0 shutout win against the Dallas Stars on November 6, 2010.[14][15] In his ascension to the NHL, Cohen again joined Shattenkirk as a teammate along the blueline.[16]

After three games with the Avalanche, Cohen was returned to Lake Erie before being traded to the Boston Bruins for Matt Hunwick on November 29, 2010.[17][14] On April 14, 2011, Cohen was called up by the Boston Bruins as a spare for the playoffs, but he did not play so his name was not engraved on the Stanley Cup as a result of the team winning the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.[18] The Bruins did, however, include Cohen in the official Stanley Cup photo, and he was presented with a Stanley Cup ring.[18]

On June 26, 2013, Cohen signed his first European contract with the Finnish club Ässät.[19] Only five games into the 2013–14 season with Ässät, Cohen left the team to join the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League, for which he would play for 2 games.[20]

After his stint with the Rampage, Cohen joined NESN as a College Ice Hockey Analyst while also completing his degree in History from Boston University.[20]

Cohen signaled a return to Ice Hockey, signing a short-term contract with the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League.[21] However, during pre-season, Cohen left the team, announcing his intention to return to North America.[22]

On October 17, 2014, Cohen signed a contract with the Reading Royals of the ECHL.[23] After five scoreless games with the Royals, Cohen was traded to the Missouri Mavericks for future considerations on November 8, 2014.[24] When the Mavericks acquired Cohen on November 8, 2014, they put him on their "Suspended" list. On November 10, 2014, the Mavericks activated Cohen from their "Suspended" list and traded him, before he had ever played a game for the team, to the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.[2][25] Cohen decided against returning to the Stingrays, opting for a return to Europe in signing for the remainder of the season with HC ’05 Banská Bystrica of the Slovak Extraliga on November 17, 2014.[26] After 15 games with Bystrica, Cohen continued his journeyman season where it started in agreeing to return to the Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL on January 21, 2015.

Personal life

Cohen, who is Jewish,[27] was born and raised in Villanova, Pennsylvania.[28][29] He attended Radnor High School.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Syracuse Stars OPJHL 50 13 30 43 124 — — — — —
2005–06 U.S. National Development U17 Team USDP 46 5 7 12 44 — — — — —
2005–06 U.S. National Development U18 Team NAHL 37 5 9 14 33 10 1 1 2 0
2006–07 U.S. National Development U18 Team USDP 4 1 3 4 0 — — — — —
2006–07 Lincoln Stars USHL 53 13 47 60 110 4 0 0 0 2
2007–08 Boston University HE 39 3 13 16 34 — — — — —
2008–09 Boston University HE 43 8 24 32 65 — — — — —
2009–10 Boston University HE 36 14 16 30 82 — — — — —
2009–10 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 3 0 1 1 9 — — — — —
2010–11 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 14 1 0 1 12 — — — — —
2010–11 Colorado Avalanche NHL 3 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2010–11 Providence Bruins AHL 46 1 11 12 46 — — — — —
2011–12 Providence Bruins AHL 58 4 11 15 39 — — — — —
2012–13 Providence Bruins AHL 43 0 14 14 48 — — — — —
2012–13 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 2 0 3 3 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Porin Ässät SM-l 5 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2013–14 San Antonio Rampage AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2014–15 Reading Royals ECHL 6 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2014–15 HC ’05 Banská Bystrica Slovak 15 0 9 9 60 — — — — —
2014–15 Nottingham Panthers EIHL 14 2 4 6 8 — — — — —
NHL totals 3 0 0 0 4 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2006 United States WHC17 2nd 6 1 1 2 6
Junior totals 6 1 1 2 6

Awards and honors

Award Year
USHL
Second All-Star Team 2006–07[5]
All-Star Game 2006–07[2]
College
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2009[30]
NCAA Frozen Four Tournament Most Outstanding Player 2009[5]
All-Hockey East First Team 2009–10[31]
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2009–10[32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Janke, Kinsey. "Fresh Faces: Colby Cohen". San Antonio Rampage. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "COLBY COHEN". EliteProspects.com.
  3. ↑ Miller, Bob (October 16, 2006). "Early Look at 2007 USNTDP Prospects". HockeysFuture.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2007. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Recruit Controversy". Terrierhockey.com. October 27, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Miller, Bob (February 3, 2013). "Colby Cohen player prospect". HockeysFuture.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Avs Sign Shattenkirk, Cohen". NHL. April 3, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "25 Colby Cohen". Boston University. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  8. ↑ "NEVER SAY DIE!: Terriers Capture National Title in OT Thriller". Boston University Terriers. April 11, 2009. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
  9. ↑ Koepke, Neil (April 12, 2009). "Colby Cohen just did his job". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  10. ↑ "BU's Colby Cohen tabbed for Player of the Month for January". HockeyEastOnline.com. February 2, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ "HOCKEY EAST CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TIME RESULTS". Hockey East. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Pair of junior defenseman sign with Colorado Avalanche". goterriers.com. April 5, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  13. ↑ Sadowski, Rick (October 4, 2010). "Avalanche split Colby Cohen, Kevin Shattenkirk for now". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Colby Cohen (D)". American Hockey League.
  15. ↑ "Budaj earns first shutout in year, Avs topple Stars". CBS Sports. November 5, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  16. ↑ Frei, Terry (November 7, 2010). "Defenseman from Boston U. both in lineup". Denver Post. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Avs deal Cohen to Bruins for Hunwick". National Hockey League. November 29, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Colby Cohen". Hockey Hall of Fame.
  19. ↑ Colby Cohen ja Ziga Jeglic liittyvät Porin Ässien joukkueeseen Liiga on Twitter. June 26, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Shinzawa, Fluto (December 8, 2013). "Cohen Has Traded in Skates for Microphone". Boston Globe. Retrieved November 11, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  21. ↑ "NEW D-MAN FOR PANTHERS". EIHL. August 8, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Colby Leaves with Club's Thanks". Nottingham Panthers Official Website. September 8, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Royals sign defenseman Colby Cohen". Reading Royals. October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Royals agree to terms with Michael Caruso". Reading Royals. November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
  25. ↑ "ECHL Transactions – Nov. 10". ECHL. November 10, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  26. ↑ Julius Koval (November 17, 2014). "Client Colby Cohen has signed in Slovakia". Twitter. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Professional Hockey Review: 2010–11; National Hockey League". Jewish Sports Review 8 (87): 7. September–October 2011.
  28. ↑ "Professional Hockey Preview 2010–11, The NHL", Jewish Sports Review, January/February 2011, Volume 7, Number 11, Issue 83. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  29. ↑ "The Canadian Jewish News – Handful of Jewish skaters start NHL season". Cjnews.com. October 21, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  30. ↑ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  31. ↑ "UNH's Butler, Maine's Nyquist headline Hockey East All-Star selection". hockeyeastonline.com. March 18, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Denver has three First Team All-Americans". uscho.com. April 9, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colby Cohen.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Nathan Gerbe		 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2009 		Succeeded by
Ben Smith