After just one prolific season with the University the Minnesota men’s hockey team, freshman Logan Cooley will forgo his final three years of eligibility as he signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract with the Arizona Coyotes Thursday. He led the Golden Gophers to an NCAA runner-up finish in 2022-23 behind a team-best 22 goals, 38 assists and 60 points.
The third-overall selection of the Coyotes in last summer’s NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh, Pa., native was a 2023 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Hat Trick Finalist after one of the best rookie seasons in team history. Cooley’s 60 total points were the fifth-most by a freshman in the 102-year history of Gopher men’s hockey, while his NCAA-leading 38 assists were the third-best for a Minnesota freshman. He racked up major postseason honors landing on the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, NCAA Fargo Regional All-Tournament Team, Big Ten All-Tournament Team, All-Big Ten First Team and the All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Cooley produced nearly every night for the Maroon and Gold, recording at least one point in 32 of 39 games played, while 21 of his team-best 22 goals scored came in Gophers’ victories. He turned up the offense down the stretch and had a season-long, 16-game point streak, the third-longest streak in the nation this year, totaling 33 points in that span.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
