It’s hard not to root for a player like Cole Koepke. Since the day he first entered Boston Bruins training camp, the 6-foot-1, 204-pound forward has had to rise to the occasion on a team full of giants. While it certainly hasn’t been easy, the Two Harbor, Minnesota native has gladly accepted the challenge.
His relentless work ethic, hustle, and never-say-die attitude turned him from the darkest of dark horses to the Bruins opening night roster. Kopeke skated on the Bruins’ fourth line against the Florida Panthers on opening night. Although the Bruins fell in disastrous fashion, Koepeke and his linemates, Johnny Beecher and Mark Kastelic , were one of the few bright spots in the 6-4 thrashing.
“I think it’s been good,’ Koepke said last week at Warrior Arena. “I’ve been learning a lot. This group has been really welcoming.
The coaching staff has helped me along, getting adjusted to the systems. I’ve been pretty happy with how I’ve been playing. They’re doing a good job of keeping me up to speed and pushing me to do my best.
” In five preseason games, Koepke has earned his keep, registering a goal and an assist, with eight shots on net. Battling for a spot among the Bruins’ bottom six forwards this year has been an enormous challenge. Koepke had to measure up against the likes of behemoths such as Justin Brazeau (6-foot-6), Beecher (6-3), Max Jones (6-3), Kastelic (6-4) and Riley Tufte (6-6).
Although he’s giving up some size to his towering teammates,.