Colby Cohen

Last updated

Colby Cohen
Colby Cohen 2012.jpg
Cohen in 2012
Born (1989-04-25) April 25, 1989 (age 35)
Villanova, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for Colorado Avalanche
Ässät
HC ’05 Banská Bystrica
NHL draft 45th overall, 2007
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2010–2015

Colby Shane Cohen (born April 25, 1989) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played 3 games in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche and in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, the minor league affiliate of the Boston Bruins. Currently, Colby serves as an NCAA College Ice Hockey and NHL color analyst for Westwood One and ESPN.

Contents

Playing career

Amateur

Cohen first played junior hockey with the Syracuse Stars in the Eastern Junior Hockey League 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 pick, 45th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, joining the Avalanche's first-round pick, former Development Program teammate and fellow BU recruit Kevin Shattenkirk. [5] [6] In his freshman year with the Terriers in 2007–08, Cohen 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 tournament's Most Outstanding Player 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]

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 with the Avalanche, alongside Shattenkirk, on April 3, 2010. [6]

Professional

Cohen in 2011 ERI 3458 (5369036199).jpg
Cohen in 2011

Upon signing with the Avalanche, Cohen moved directly into the American Hockey League 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]

Cohen during Boston Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup victory parade Colby Cohen (5846754774).jpg
Cohen during Boston Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup victory parade

After three games with the Avalanche, Cohen was returned to Lake Erie before being traded to the Boston Bruins for Matt Hunwick on December 29, 2010. [14] [17] 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 when the team won 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] 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 two 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, and after bouncing around European clubs for a season, Cohen opted to end his professional playing career to pursue a career as a television analyst currently working for NBC Sports Philadelphia, ESPN, NESN, CBS Sports, and American Sports Network.

Personal life

Cohen, who is Jewish, [21] was born and raised in Villanova, Pennsylvania. [22] [23] He attended Radnor High School. [7] Cohen is also first cousin to Olympic skier and NFL player Jeremy Bloom and author Molly Bloom. [24]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2004–05 Syracuse Jr. Stars OPJHL 497212812411210129
2005–06 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 46571244—————
2005–06U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 37591433101120
2006–07 Lincoln Stars USHL 5313476011040002
2006–07U.S. NTDP U18NAHL41340—————
2007–08 Boston University HE 393131634—————
2008–09 Boston UniversityHE438243265—————
2009–10 Boston UniversityHE3614163082—————
2009–10 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 30119—————
2010–11 Lake Erie MonstersAHL1410112—————
2010–11 Colorado Avalanche NHL 30004—————
2010–11 Providence Bruins AHL461111246—————
2011–12 Providence BruinsAHL584111539—————
2012–13 Providence BruinsAHL430141448—————
2013–14 Ässät SM-l 50112—————
2013–14 San Antonio Rampage AHL20000—————
2014–15 HC ’05 Banská Bystrica Slovak 1509960—————
NHL totals30004—————

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2006 United States U17 Silver medal icon.svg61126
Junior totals61126

Awards and honors

AwardYear
USHL
Second All-Star Team 2006–07 [5]
All-Star Game2006–07 [2]
College
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2009 [25]
NCAA Frozen Four Tournament Most Outstanding Player 2009 [5]
All-Hockey East First Team 2009–10 [26]
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2009–10 [27]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Janke, Kinsey. "Fresh Faces: Colby Cohen". San Antonio Rampage . Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  2. 1 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 10, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Recruit Controversy". Terrierhockey.com. October 27, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Miller, Bob (February 3, 2013). "Colby Cohen player prospect". HockeysFuture.com . Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Avs Sign Shattenkirk, Cohen". NHL. April 3, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "25 Colby Cohen". Boston University. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. 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.
  10. ↑ "BU's Colby Cohen tabbed for Player of the Month for January". HockeyEastOnline.com. February 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ "HOCKEY EAST CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TIME RESULTS". Hockey East. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Pair of junior defenseman sign with Colorado Avalanche". goterriers.com. April 5, 2010. Archived from the original on August 14, 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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Colby Cohen". Hockey Hall of Fame.
  19. ↑ Liiga [@smliiga] (June 26, 2013). "Colby Cohen ja Ziga Jeglic liittyvät Porin Ässien joukkueeseen" (Tweet). Retrieved November 11, 2014– via Twitter.
  20. 1 2 Shinzawa, Fluto (December 8, 2013). "Cohen Has Traded in Skates for Microphone" . Boston Globe . Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Professional Hockey Review: 2010–11; National Hockey League". Jewish Sports Review . 8 (87): 7. September–October 2011.
  22. ↑ "Professional Hockey Preview 2010–11, The NHL", Jewish Sports Review , January/February 2011, Volume 7, Number 11, Issue 83. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  23. ↑ "The Canadian Jewish News – Handful of Jewish skaters start NHL season". Cjnews.com. October 21, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Q&A with Colby Cohen, formerly of the Lincoln Stars". June 15, 2007.
  25. ↑ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  26. ↑ "UNH's Butler, Maine's Nyquist headline Hockey East All-Star selection". hockeyeastonline.com. March 18, 2010. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Denver has three First Team All-Americans". uscho.com. April 9, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player
2009 		Succeeded by
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