Grant Cooper will leave the Leeds Knights later this month for an opportunity to play in the Elite League, the club has announced.
The Canadian, who arrived in the National League from the ECHL’s Reading Royals in August, recorded 60 points (25 goals, 35 assists) in 26 appearances for the Knights.
“It’s a tough time to lose any player, especially at such a crucial point in the season, with a cup semi-final on the horizon in addition to the push for the title,” explained head coach Ryan Aldridge.
“Grant has been seeking an opportunity in the Elite League and he feels that now is the right time to make that happen. We [would like to] wish him well and thank him for him for all of his efforts and for being a professional while carrying out his notice.”
Cooper, a natural left winger, leads the National League in points and assists.
The Knights, who sit top of the National League, return to the ice on Saturday [7 January] to take on the Bristol Pitbulls.
Analysis: Will the Leeds Knights take Grant Cooper’s exit in their stride?
The Leeds Knights will be impacted by the exit of Grant Cooper, but his departure will not knock them out of the title race in the National League.
The Knights have been exceptional since the start of the season and have climbed to the top of the table with a spicy record of 25-1-2.
They still haven’t lost on the road in regulation time and hold a one-point advantage over the Milton Keynes Lightning with three games-in-hand.
Cooper, who will leave for an opportunity in the top division later this month, has played a crucial role for the Knights, but he isn’t the only prolific player on Ryan Aldridge’s roster.
In addition to the Canadian, Leeds have five players on their roster who have produced offence at more than a point-per-game rate this term. They have also already “secured” a top-six replacement.
The Knights, still in their infancy as a franchise, have already proven that they are smooth operators. Cooper’s exit won’t throw them off course.
