Education
University of Michigan.
University of Michigan.
Gaye Cooley played college hockey at Michigan State University. After leaving Michigan State in 1967, Cooley began his professional career in the Eastern Hockey League with the Knoxville Knights and then moved to the International Hockey League with the Portuguese Huron Flags and the Des Moines Oak Leafs. Cooley returned to the EHL with the Charlotte Checkers before moving to the American Hockey League"s Rochester Americans but after one season he returned to the Checkers who were now playing in the Southern Hockey League, one of two leagues formed after the EHL folded.
After three seasons, he moved to the Philadelphia Firebirds of the North American Hockey League, the other league formed from the EHL"s closure, and then the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association before finishing his career with one more season with the Checkers.