The Montreal Canadiens selected forward L.J. Mooney, a native of West Mifflin, in the fourth round (No. 113 overall) of the NHL Draft on Saturday.
Last season, Mooney skated in 51 games for the United States National Team Development Program’s under-18 squad and scored 51 points (10 goals, 41 assists).
Oh myyyy LJ Mooney ????#USAvsBGSU pic.twitter.com/f3BdB1wYNS
— USA Hockey’s NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) February 15, 2025
A right-handed shot, Mooney (5-foot-8, 160 pounds) is committed to the University of Minnesota for next season.
“I’d say I’m a playmaker,” Mooney said to TribLive earlier this month. “Always competing, also. I think sometimes maybe my (level of competition) doesn’t get talked about a lot. Or my physicality. But I think I’m just as good at that as I am with my puck skills and making plays.”
This marks the fourth consecutive season a native of Western Pennsylvania has been drafted by an NHL team.
His cousin, forward Logan Cooley (West Mifflin), was the third overall selection in 2022 by the former Arizona Coyotes. Forward Brandon Svoboda (Level Green) went to the San Jose Sharks in 2023, and forward Christian Humphries (Peters Township) was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round of the 2024 draft.
