Cooper Patrick Marody Bio
Cooper Patrick Marody (born December 20, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as a center for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL). Marody was drafted 158th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and began his professional playing career in 2018 after a standout collegiate run with the University of Michigan Wolverines.
Early Life and Background
Cooper Patrick Marody was born in Brighton, Michigan, to parents Patrick and Lisa Marody. He attended St. Patrick School in Brighton before completing two years at St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake Village, where he rose through the local hockey ranks and earned recognition at the high school level.
Marody played junior varsity during his freshman season at St. Mary’s Prep and was promoted to the varsity squad later that year. During his sophomore season he earned selection to the 2012–13 Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association (MHSHCA) First Team All-State, an early sign of his scoring and playmaking potential.
Path to Hockey
Marody progressed through the United States Hockey League (USHL) after being selected 130th overall by the Green Bay Gamblers in the 2013 USHL Draft; he was not signed by Green Bay and instead attended an open tryout camp for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, who signed him as a free agent. In Muskegon he established himself as a reliable scorer and playmaker, recording nine goals and 21 assists in 58 games in 2013–14.
Midway through the 2014–15 USHL season Marody was traded to the Sioux Falls Stampede, where he produced 20 goals and 29 assists in 38 regular-season games and added one goal and 11 assists in 12 playoff contests to help the Stampede capture the Clark Cup. His junior success opened the door to NCAA Division I hockey with the University of Michigan.
Cooper Patrick Marody Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Marody debuted for the Michigan Wolverines in the 2015–16 season, scoring a goal and registering an assist in his first collegiate game on October 16, 2015, against Mercyhurst. He finished his freshman year with 10 goals and 14 assists in 32 games despite missing more than a month due to mononucleosis, showing early promise as a two-way center with offensive instincts.
During the 2016–17 season Marody faced an academic ineligibility issue that sidelined him for the first semester but returned to play and recorded five goals and ten assists in 18 games. He delivered his first collegiate hat trick on February 3, 2017, against Ohio State and earned recognition as the Big Ten Third Star of the Week following that performance.
NCAA Breakthrough (2017–2018)
Marody broke out in the 2017–18 collegiate season, finishing as the Big Ten scoring champion with 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 40 games. His 51 points led the Big Ten and ranked sixth nationally, while his 35 assists led the conference and ranked third in the NCAA, underscoring his role as a primary playmaker for Michigan.
That season included an eight-game multi-point streak from October 27 to November 18, during which Marody collected four goals and 15 assists. He recorded a second collegiate hat trick in the Great Lakes Invitational and was named to the all-tournament team. Marody earned All-Big Ten First Team honors and was selected as an AHCA Second Team All-American; he was also nominated for the Hobey Baker Award during the 2017–18 campaign.
Professional Transition and Edmonton Oilers Era (2018–2022)
Although drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015, Marody’s NHL rights were traded to the Edmonton Oilers on March 21, 2018, in exchange for a third-round pick. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Oilers on April 8, 2018, and was assigned to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL the following day, making his professional debut on April 11, 2018, and recording an assist.
Marody scored his first professional goal on April 12, 2018, and finished the 2017–18 AHL stint with one goal and two assists in three games. He earned a first call-up to the Edmonton Oilers on October 21, 2018, and made his NHL debut on October 23, 2018, appearing in an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Marody returned to the Condors and led the team in scoring, which resulted in his selection to the 2019 AHL All-Star Game.
Philadelphia Flyers and AHL Tenures (2022–2024)
As a free agent from the Oilers organization, Marody returned to his original draft club when he signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 13, 2022. He spent time with AHL affiliates while contributing as a skilled center capable of creating offense and logging consistent minutes in the middle of the lineup.
Following the expiration of his NHL contract, Marody elected to continue his career in the AHL and signed a two-year AHL contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on July 30, 2024, affirming his role as a veteran presence at the AHL level and a leader for younger players within the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Marody plays as a right-shooting center noted for playmaking and vision; his collegiate assist totals and point production reflect strong passing ability and offensive awareness. He combines size—listed at 6 ft 0 in and 190 lb—with a consistent motor and positional awareness that allow him to generate secondary assists and set up linemates in the offensive zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Marody’s career include winning the 2015 Clark Cup with the Sioux Falls Stampede, leading the Big Ten in scoring in 2017–18, selection as an AHCA Second Team All-American, an NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers on October 23, 2018, and selection to the 2019 AHL All-Star Game. He also recorded pivotal NCAA tournament goals in 2018, including a game-winning goal in the regional semifinal against Northeastern that helped Michigan reach the Frozen Four.
Cooper Patrick Marody Career Wins
While forwards are typically measured by goals and points rather than wins, Marody’s verified offensive accomplishments span USHL, NCAA, AHL and brief NHL play. His junior and collegiate point totals document the scoring footprint that propelled him to professional ranks and sustained his role across North American pro leagues.
USHL and NCAA Highlights
In the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede Marody tallied 20 goals and 29 assists in 38 regular-season games during 2014–15 and added one goal and 11 assists in 12 Clark Cup playoff games to help the Stampede win the championship. At the University of Michigan he produced 51 points in 40 games during the 2017–18 season, leading the Big Ten in scoring and ranking among the national leaders in assists.
Professional Performances
Marody’s professional debut produced immediate results: an assist in his first AHL game on April 11, 2018, and his first professional goal on April 12, 2018. He led the Bakersfield Condors in scoring during the 2018–19 AHL season, which culminated in selection to the 2019 AHL All-Star Game, and he has contributed steadily at the AHL level through subsequent seasons.
Cooper Patrick Marody Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Marody’s family background is grounded in Brighton, Michigan, where he was born to Patrick and Lisa Marody. His upbringing in a Michigan hockey community provided local development opportunities and access to junior and prep hockey programs that shaped his early career.
Personal Life
Public records indicate Marody attended St. Patrick School in Brighton and later St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake Village, where he advanced from junior varsity to varsity competition. No public record of a spouse or children is provided in the verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Marody is under contract with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a two-year AHL deal signed in July 2024 and projects as a veteran center expected to provide secondary scoring and playmaking. His recent AHL experience and history of leading club scoring suggest he will be relied upon for consistent offensive zone creation, special teams opportunities, and mentoring younger forwards.
The outlook for 2025 centers on Marody maintaining his role as a top-six AHL center and leveraging his passing ability to produce assists and power-play chances. Continued production at the Phantoms would position him as a dependable AHL veteran and a candidate for call-up consideration should organizational needs arise at the NHL level.