"It's Pretty Special" for Cooley to be Highest-Ever Pick from Pittsburgh

Logan Cooley started playing hockey in the inaugural season of Sidney Crosby's Little Penguins Learn to Play Program back in 2008-09. A couple of years later, he watched as local products J.T. Miller, John Gibson, Brandon Saad and Vince Trocheck got drafted in 2011 and went on to craft great NHL careers.
Those are all players Cooley admired while growing up playing for the DICK'S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, so it's pretty surreal that he has become that person for the next generation after making history at the 2022 NHL Draft.
The West Mifflin native became the highest-ever draft pick from Pittsburgh when the Arizona Coyotes took him with the third overall selection on Thursday night at Bell Centre.

"It's something that people are telling me, and it's pretty special," Cooley said. "When I was a little kid growing up in Pittsburgh, I never really thought this would happen. So for it to finally come true, it's pretty special. To be on that list as one of the top guys coming out of Pittsburgh is pretty special."
As the pick was being announced in Montreal, back in Pittsburgh, younger kids currently playing for Pens Elite who were gathered at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for an NHL Draft watch party jumped to their feet and cheered loudly.

"I just think that's a proud moment for all of us," Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said. "Because in some small way, we're all a part of that. And it just speaks volumes for how far grassroots hockey has come in the Pittsburgh."
Miller had previously held the honor of being the highest drafted Pittsburgh-area player after going 15th overall to the New York Rangers over 10 years prior. He knew that his reign would be coming to an end once this year's draft got underway.
"I hear he's going pretty early, so I'm happy for him," Miller had said a couple of weeks ago. "I hear he's a heck of a player, and I'm excited to be watching him. It's good to see all the talent still continually coming out of Pittsburgh."
Cooley had been projected to go in the top-10, and many expected him to go in the top 3-5. While that's exactly where the forward went, the same couldn't be said for the first couple of picks, as Montreal (No. 1 overall) and New Jersey (No. 2 overall) went a bit off the board with their selections.
"It was a draft that no one really knew what was going to happen, so I was kind of expecting something like this to actually happen," Cooley said. "It was pretty crazy to see, and I'm just happy that I fell to the Coyotes."
And he was also happy that he made it north of the border in time, as Cooley's flight from Pittsburgh to Montreal had actually gotten canceled. So Logan and his family members - dad Eric, mom Cathy, older brothers Eric and Riley and younger sister Lauren - all piled into a big van and made the nine-hour drive to Quebec to get here in time for Logan's big day.
"I don't think I was up at all the whole drive," Cooley said with a laugh. "I think I was sleeping the whole time, so it went pretty quick. Unfortunate our flight got canceled, but it all worked out, so pretty happy."
To have them all by his side as Logan realized his dream was especially meaningful with the impact they've had on his journey.
"They've supported me so much over the past few years, and to be able to celebrate with them means everything," Logan said.
Hockey has always been a big part of the Cooley family, as Logan had two uncles who played NCAA Division I college hockey, and his brothers played as well. So when it was finally Logan's turn, his parents took him to his first session over at the Rostraver Ice Garden, outfitted him in gear that actually fit and got him on the ice. Crosby's program provided Cooley the opportunity, and he took it and ran with it - or skated with it.
"We were kind of surrounded by hockey and at the time, hockey was - and still is - a super expensive sport," Cooley said. "Crosby did something special by giving younger kids free equipment and to go out there and have fun. That's kind of where my passion grew, going out there and having fun and eventually took off from there."
Time will tell where it goes from here, but according to Penguins director of amateur scouting Nick Pryor, Cooley - who is set to attend the University of Minnesota in the fall after coming iut of the U.S. National Team Development Program - has got a really bright future ahead of him.
"He's extremely gifted offensively," Pryor said. "He plays the game with so much speed and pace and skill, and he's one of those players that kind of keeps you on the edge of your seat when you're watching him. We're happy for him, excited for him."