Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley publicly acknowledged a supportive gesture from Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Sergei Murashov, who offered a stick tap and media shout-out following a recent victory. Murashov, 22, utilized his post-game press conference after a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings to commend Cooley for his transparency regarding the psychological pressures inherent in goaltending. The 22-year-old stopped 18 of 20 shots in his first win of the season and just the second of his 11-game NHL career, a performance that provided a stark contrast to the defensive struggles he has faced against higher-caliber opponents.
Penguins rookie’s gesture highlights growing mental health dialogue in net.
Murashov explicitly credited Cooley’s willingness to speak aloud about mental health struggles, noting that while many goalies face similar challenges, few are willing to discuss them openly. “I want to pass a media message to Devin Cooley. I saw he was really popular recently, and like most of the goalies are going through something like he’s talking about, but not a lot actually speak aloud,” Murashov stated. The Russian netminder emphasized that Cooley’s advocacy genuinely helped him personally, reinforcing the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in professional hockey.
Cooley responded to the gesture on Monday, confirming that he had not witnessed the stick tap directly but learned of it through multiple sources. “I did not see it, but I heard about it from multiple people telling me,” Cooley said. “I heard it was awesome, and I’ve gotten messages from other guys in the league, too.” The exchange underscores a shifting culture within the NHL, where veteran and rookie players alike are increasingly prioritizing mental well-being and peer support over traditional stoicism.
Source: Yahoo Sports
