Samuel Coonan
No. 55
Position: Utility
Senior Debut: Round 1, 2005
Career: 1996 - Present
Games Played: 564
Strengths: Tap in goals, drag pushes, sledging, confidence, Jennifer Coonan
Weaknesses: Building rapport with officials, Sandra Bullock’s performance in The Blindside.
Career Goals: 237
Career Assists: 19
2020 Contract: -$350 (not including Hockey NSW fee)
There are jersey numbers in sports that come with high expectations given the history of great players that have worn them before. Basketball has 23, 10 for Soccer (football for Robert Owen’s benefit) and for Hockey, its 55. Samuel Coonan sought that number out knowing that expectation, and has thrived since. Not shying away from the challenge even with the knowledge of Chantelle Logan wearing it for our Women’s PHL team.
When you think of the Miami Heat, you think of Dwyane Wade (that is spelt correctly - I triple checked. Don’t come at me - he played for 2 other teams over 1.5 years that we just refuse to acknowledge). When you think of The Entrance Hockey Club, you think of Samuel Coonan. A Devil for 25 years, life member and perhaps his proudest achievement to date, the number one drag flick option for the Mens Division 1 team for 2019, Sam is the Magic Johnson of hockey. A utility player with a high hockey IQ who is capable of starting in any position on the field but always manages to find his way to the forward line by the end of the game. Excels in many fundamental aspects of the game but his most impressive may be something that won’t show up on the stat sheet. His ability to get under the skin of a opponent is a art form which is a result of natural born ability and the completion of an apprenticeship served under multiple club legends such as Arnel Sugui, Michael Banks, Brad Smith, Rob & Steve Owen.
One of the best 9 players to ever play for the Entrance Hockey Club with the last name Coonan, he made a immediate impact on debut for the mens PHL as a 15 year old. He will be the first to tell you that he played a pivotal, if not leading role in securing the Devils first ever win over Souths (5-2) in a first round match up. His pedigree means that you won’t be able to pick him up cheap in your fantasy lineup, but your money will be well spent because he has consistently delivered at the top level of the game for 14 years. Expect even bigger returns in 2020 as the 4th place holder in 2019 for the Best Coonan, Sam may feel like he has something to prove.
He isn’t even 30 and is arguably already on the Mount Rushmore of The Entrance Hockey Club and some would say, Central Coast Hockey.
