Forward Logan Cooley, a native of West Mifflin, will return to the University of Minnesota for his sophomore season of 2022-23.
The school announced Cooley’s decision on Friday.
As a freshman in 2022-23, Cooley was dominant. Appearing in 39 games, he was third in the nation in scoring with 60 points (22 goals, 38 assists) and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award which recognizes the top overall men’s player at the NCAA level.
Cooley, 19, was the third overall pick in the NHL Draft last year by the Arizona Coyotes, the highest a native of Western Pennsylvania has ever been drafted by an NHL team.
His decision came days after the Coyotes’ always tenuous future in Arizona was thrown into further doubt after their plans to build a multi-billion dollar entertainment district in Tempe were rejected by voters on Tuesday. For the time being, the Coyotes will continue to play at Arizona State’s Mullett Arena, a venue that holds only 4,600 for NHL contests.
The Coyotes have been the subject of ample speculation for many years with regard to potential relocation.
Per NHL rules, the Coyotes retain Cooley’s NHL rights until Aug. 15, 2026.
Cooley is an alumnus of the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth program.
