As the outdoor ice melts on another hockey season, I’d like to take a moment to honor my Cooper SK-100 helmet. We’ve been through a lot together.

I remember when I was first given this helmet, in the 1970s. It’s a hand-me-down from my cousin, Brad Atol, whose name is almost visible on the front, written in black marker probably 40 years ago.

By the time I started playing youth hockey, face masks were required equipment, so I had to use a different helmet. But when I started playing Sunday morning pickup games about eight years ago, the ol’ Cooper returned to the ice.

It’s been slowly falling apart, and by last week there was only one screw holding it together. I had to take it off because the front part kept falling into my face. Of course, within 10 minutes of playing without a helmet, I butted heads with a guy along the boards. Ouch.

The ol’ Cooper will never be the same, but I refuse to retire it. This photo is just to help me remember it the way it was before I taped it back together for next year.

Thank you, Cooper, for your four decades of service.