The journey to the ACHA All-Star Game didn’t start on the ice; rather, it started on the bench and in the stands.

Until Feb. 2, 2013, ISU goalie Matt Cooper had only played in three games for the Cyclones and was 2-0 with a shutout with one game where he entered the game in relief and didn’t get a decision.

On Feb. 1 in Oklahoma City, the Cyclones blew a 4-2 lead going into the third period against Central Oklahoma and lost the game 6-5. ISU goalie Scott Ismond started that game and Paul Karus came into the game in the third period after Ismond allowed three third-period goals.

After the game that night, ISU assistant coach Kyle McDonald told Cooper that he was going to get his chance in the next game against Oklahoma.

“He kind of just came up to the goalies, we always have a meeting for the next game and whatnot,” Cooper said. “He just goes straight out with it; he says, ‘I’m going to give you a shot, are you going to be ready?’ and I said, ‘Yes sir, I’m ready to play.'”

Cooper said that was the first “top-tier team” that he got to play this season.

“Getting the opportunity then and where the team was at in the season, I knew that if I excelled in that position I’d maybe be able to carry on through the rest of the season and get more playing time,” Cooper said.

The Cyclones took the ice the next day and defeated the Sooners 4-1 in front of Cooper. He stopped 30 of 31 shots in the game.

“Sometimes people will ask the question — not in his case — but in other cases, ‘Hey, maybe the guy just got lucky for one game,’” said ISU coach Al Murdoch.

That proved to not be the case.

The next weekend on Feb. 8, the Cyclones hosted Lindenwood, who they hadn’t beaten since 2008. Cooper did allow four goals on 24 shots against the Lions, but it proved to be enough for the 5-4 victory.

The next night Cooper allowed only one goal on 31 shots in a 4-1 victory against the Lions, which completed the sweep.

Cooper went on to help the Cyclones to the CSCHL tournament championship game and the third round of the ACHA tournament. He finished this season with a 9-1-1 record and .960 save percentage.

Cooper spent the previous two seasons at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., which participates at the NCAA Division III level. He didn’t play in any games while he was there before transferring to Iowa State.

Murdoch said Cooper was recommended to him by Minnesota-Duluth assistant coach Christian Koelling.

“When a great team like Minnesota-Duluth wins the national championship like they did two years ago, sometimes you have players that are absolutely excellent but they’re not good enough to move on, so he recommended Matt Cooper and we went with it,” Murdoch said.

After last season, Cooper said he didn’t really have a plan, but one thing was certain.

“I just knew I didn’t want to go back to Hamline because it was a small school and the hockey team wasn’t going in the right direction that I wanted it to,” said Cooper.

Hamline won just one game this season.

“I’m pretty glad with my decision, to say the least,” Cooper said.

Before talking with coaches and a few friends that go to Iowa State, Cooper didn’t know anything about it, nor did he know anything about the ACHA.

“It’s not very well advertised up north, I suppose,” Cooper said. “But I’ll definitely be a spokesman from here on out for Minnesota and all the high school grads who are looking for a place to play who don’t necessarily want to go to a small school and people who are looking for the big-school experience. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Cooper finished this season with a trip to the ACHA All-Star Game. While he is considered a senior, he said he intends to be back next season.

Even though he has three years of eligibility left, he said he “will only be here for another year, most likely.”

With Karus graduating after this season, Cooper and Ismond will be the two goalies returning to the ISU Division I hockey team next season.