How Sidney Crosby’s support shaped Mammoth forward Logan Cooley’s passion for hockey during his early years

Utah Mammoth’s forward Logan Cooley has already been making headlines after he signed an eight-year, $80 million contract with the organization on Wednesday. According to the NHL, the 21-year-old forward leads the Mammoth with eight goals and is second with 12 points in 11 games this season.

He had a goal in a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. However, not many know that Logan Cooley began his hockey journey with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 14U AAA team, and it was Sidney Crosby’s support that helped shape his passion for the game during his primitive years.

How Sidney Crosby’s support shaped Utah Mammoth forward’s passion for hockey

Logan Cooley started his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 14U AAA team, where Sidney Crosby’s support helped nurture his early passion for hockey. Though the captain of Pittsburgh Penguins did not directly contribute to Cooley’s journey, his jointly presented hockey program for children, along with USA Hockey and the NHL, has supported Cooley’s formative journey in hockey. Cooley's love for hockey started when he watched his brothers, Eric and Riley, play hockey at Rostraver Ice Garden. His journey started with Sidney Crosby's Little Penguins program, which shaped Cooley's formative years, leading to his success in the sport. According to the NHL, Sidney Crosby's Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey is an introductory program for children aged 5 to 9, designed to teach them the fundamental skills of hockey in a fun and safe environment.

Over the years, Sidney Crosby has played a pivotal role in transforming youth hockey in Pittsburgh through this program, Little Penguins Learn to Play. The initiative, presented by the NHL and NHLPA with the support of Sidney Crosby, DICK'S Sporting Goods, and USA Hockey. The Learn to Play program began in Pittsburgh in 2008. Since then, it has become a league-wide initiative aimed at nurturing young talent in the city.Logan Cooley began his career in youth hockey, playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 14U AAA team, where he appeared in 69 games and tallied 44 goals, 39 assists for 83 points. Again, for the 16U AAA team, he played 45 games where he scored 18 goals and 28 assists for 46 points. Later, he joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he played in 2020.

Logan Cooley’s reaction after joining Utah Mammoth

As Logan Cooley signed an eight-year, $80 million contract with the Utah Mammoth, with an average annual value of $10 million on Wednesday, the 21-year-old forward stated, “I'd like everyone know how grateful I am to be in this position and this opportunity.

I would like to thank Ryan and Ashley Smith for believing in me and giving me this opportunity, and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that they made the right decision.”He further added, “I love it here. It's the best time I've had playing hockey, the fans, the facilities we have are second to none. And you know, I think just the team we have with (forward Dylan) Guenther, (forward Clayton) Keller, 'Sergy' (defenseman Mikhail Sergachev), the core we have here.

It's a special group, and I'm excited to add to that. And I think the way we're playing and the team we have, we're going to be a dangerous team to stop.

”It is to be noted that Cooley was selected by the Arizona Coyotes with the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Besides, Cooley has 121 points (53 goals, 68 assists) in 121 regular-season games. He had NHL career highs in goals (25), assists (40), and points (65) in 75 games with Utah last season.Also read: Logan Cooley signs $80 million extension, signaling a new era for the Utah Mammoth | NHL News - The Times of India