Confident Cowan

Bobby Cowan was running near his home this summer when he received an interesting phone call.

The right-shot forward split last season between Edina High School – where he helped the Hornets win the Class 2A state title – and the USHL’s Omaha Lancers. He had six points (1-5–6) over 20 USHL games and expected to return to Omaha this fall.

However, those plans changed with that July phone call, as Cowan was dealt to the Madison Capitols.

“I remember I was out running sprints and my music stopped playing, and I saw I was getting a call from (Omaha general manager David Wilkie),” Cowan recently told Minnesota Hockey Magazine. “At first, I thought he was maybe just checking in after main camp or seeing how the summer was going, but we got talking, and he told me I was traded to Madison.

“I was completely shocked and, honestly, I had no idea it was coming. But I got a call from (Madison GM/head coach Andy Brandt) that night, and he said they were really excited to add me, and I’m really happy it worked out the way it did. It’s a fun group of guys, and there are a lot of Minnesota kids here too, so it’s been a good fit and I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far.”

Cowan has not only fit in with his new club, but he’s hit the ground running.

He scored in his Madison debut against Omaha on Sept. 19 and added two more goals the next day, leaving the USHL Fall Classic with a team-leading three goals. Cowan missed Madison’s next two games with a nagging upper-body injury and missed the Oct. 5 game at Tri-City, too, but he added an assist the day before on Oct. 4 as the Capitols earned a 3-2 road win against Tri-City.

Bobby Cowan scored three goals in his first two games wearing a Madison Capitols sweater in the USHL. (Photo courtesy of USHL)

Cowan was a ‘no-brainer’ choice for Madison
The St. Thomas commit flashed that offensive potential over the past two seasons, racking up 83 points (41-42–83) over 60 high school games with Edina. So when the Capitols had the opportunity to acquire Cowan, it was a “no-brainer.”

“The biggest thing we were intrigued by was his ability to score,” Brandt said. “He got the opportunity to play in the league last year in Omaha at the beginning and the end, and that’s big too.

“He was coming off a high school season where he had a lot of success, and then you come into a league that’s extremely competitive and teams are fighting for playoff spots, too, so that gives you really good experience and an idea of what to expect at our level. I think that helped Bobby prepare for this season and get off to the start he has.”

Brandt said the trade came together quickly but was a win-win for both clubs, especially with Madison needing to replace its top seven goal scorers – who combined for 141 of Madison’s 218 tallies last season.

Madison’s staff believed Cowan could “help fill that void” and be a threat whenever he’s on the ice.

So far, the 18-year-old forward has done exactly that.

“His work ethic has been tremendous and I’ve been extremely impressed with how Bobby approaches every day,” Brandt said. “To be completely honest, I didn’t know a ton about him coming into this season. I knew he was a kid that some labeled a little bit of a late-bloomer, but he’s gotten better every single year.

“I think we’re already seeing he can be a high-end skill player in our league and he works extremely hard on the ice, in the gym, and he’s helped from a leadership standpoint too.”

Madison teammate Mason Moe also faced Cowan as an opponent, when Moe played for Eden Prairie.

“He’s always been a guy that’s not fun to play against,” Moe said, of Cowan. “He’s super skilled, super crafty and he works hard, and he’s done that for us (in Madison) too. He just makes a lot of plays and he’s a really good teammate, too, so it’s been a lot of fun playing together so far.”

Bobby Cowan scored three goals and two assists for the championship-winning Edina Hornets in the 2024 MSHSL Boys’ State Hockey Tournament. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Cowan finds his confidence
In addition to that work ethic, the other key to Cowan’s early success has been simple: Confidence.

“I really haven’t had a ton of confidence in the past, so that’s been a big thing for me this year,” Cowan said. “Playing at Edina was a great experience, but I didn’t play varsity until my junior year and, honestly, I didn’t even have that much confidence going into my (junior season).

“All my teammates and the kids I’d compare myself to were on varsity the year before so I was behind them and didn’t know how much I’d be able to even play coming in. But when I look back, it was more of a mental thing and it pushed me to get better.”

Cowan said he initially contemplated staying in Omaha last season but ultimately decided he’d likely regret not playing with his childhood friends and making one last run at a state title – a decision that paid off.

However, the USHL experience he gained last season shouldn’t go unnoticed either. Especially down the stretch, as Cowan played 11 games after his high school season and got an idea of what it takes to be successful in the league. He recorded five of his six USHL points in that stretch too, including his first career goal in Omaha’s season finale.

Cowan said the first few games have felt easier as a result this season and he felt “a lot more ready” coming in – which has been reflected in his play. He also came into this season wanting to make a good impression on his new coaches and make the most of his opportunities.

Mission accomplished so far.

“Bobby put in the work all summer and throughout camp, and you could tell he was hungry coming in here,” Brandt said. “So to see him perform the way he has, it should give him a ton of self-confidence, and I think he’s a player that’s ready to break out.

“It all goes back to watching how hard he worked over the past three weeks though. While we were excited to see Bobby get rewarded, we also weren’t surprised, because he was ready for Pittsburgh. He’s done a great job so far and he’s going to be a big part of our group, and we’re hoping he can build on it throughout the year.”