A Milwaukee Admirals ritual with a young fan in ‘Cooper’s Corner’ puts a smile on everyone’s face
Warming up for a Milwaukee Admirals minor-league hockey game, Jachym Kondelik skates up to the glass in “Cooper’s Corner.”
He gives it a gentle punch with his glove, and 14-year-old Cooper Schultz, sitting as always in the front row, puts his hand up, asking for more.
Then the teen stands up and turns sideways, left shoulder toward the rink, as Jimmy Huntington rushes over from behind the net. With a little jump-and-twist, Huntington delivers a friendly check through half-inch plexiglass and then pounds it excitedly.
The scene repeats regularly at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, but a video shared by the Admirals across social media recently has brought more attention to the 14-year-old and the players who brighten his day.
“We’ve been season ticketholders for five years, and since Day 1, there’s always been a few players to take an eye to him,” says Brad Schultz, Cooper’s father. “Of course, as a special-needs kid, he stands out a little.
“Jimmy and Jachym have been pretty responsive. They go above and beyond.”
it’s more than just a game 🥹 pic.twitter.com/UeyRDaPLmL
— Milwaukee Admirals (@mkeadmirals) January 28, 2023
You can hear the enthusiasm in Brad Schultz’s voice just as clearly as you see it in Cooper’s reaction.
And it’s infectious.
“Since I came last year, I saw him in the corner and I was like, aaaah, he looks nice,” Huntington said. “I went to him and we started a couple of things we do. I just step on the glass, we punch together. It probably makes his day too, and his dad is happy.
“We just have a connection, a ritual every game.”
Huntington said he’s met Cooper on several occasions, and Kondelik did for the first time at a season ticketholder event Thursday, when he gave him a signed stick.
“It’s always nice to see the same faces in the crowds,” Kondelik said. “We see him here every warmup. He’s always here nice and early, so it’s great to have fans like him.
“I saw when Jimmy started it and I always saw how happy it made him, so I kind of got in on it. It always makes us happy when we see him happy.”
While receiving the stick definitely made Cooper’s night, Brad Schultz said, it’s the interactions with everyone – players, mascots, nearby fans – that mean the most.
Cooper’s favorite Admirals have been the ones who take time to visit Cooper’s Corner and particularly those whose names he can say, including Cole Schneider and Kiefer Sherwood. “Jachym” is tough, so Kondelik is “21” to him.
Brad Schultz continues to be amazed by how much attention the most recent Admirals’ post about Cooper has gotten.
“It’s just what we do,” he said.
“Everyone is welcome in Cooper’s Corner.”
More:This Admiral's most important assist came when his family needed him most
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Admirals ritual with a young hockey fan brings smiles
