Cooley was chosen by the Arizona Coyotes with the No. 3 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, Knies by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (No. 57) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Knies
signed a three-year entry-level contract
with the Maple Leafs of Sunday.
"I'm still in shock about the game
, a top prospect for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
He was minus-1 with two penalty minutes and 9-for-20 on face-offs in the championship game.
Cooley said Saturday he would need some time to consider his next move.
"I'm not really processing anything right now," he said. "This is the hardest loss I've ever had. I feel for all these seniors … it [stinks] for them. We wanted to do it for them.
"We were all super confident in this locker room that we could get the job done, but a few bad bounces and it's in the back of your net. It's hockey."
Knies was third for Minnesota with 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) in 40 games as a sophomore, and his seven game-winning goals tied for the NCAA lead. He had one shot on goal Saturday.
The 20-year-old Knies also was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He was voted Big Ten Player of the Year and was named Big Ten First-Team All-Conference.
"It's been my home for two years now," Knies said. "I've made all my friends and family there. It's a special place. It's a special group in this locker room. The memories we had on and off the ice, I don't think I will ever forget those."
