LJ Mooney Shows Off Moves In NCAA Debut

The Gophers went into the 3rd frame surprisingly down 3-2 to the Michigan Tech Huskies. Mooney went to work within the first minute of the period by finding teammate and Buffalo Sabres prospect Brodie Ziemmer with a perfect backhand pass to the slot to tie the game up at 3. This was Mooney’s only point in the game, but the Habs prospect did show just how skilled a passer he can be this year with his first-ever NCAA point in his first-ever game. Ziemmer’s goal also helped open the floodgates for the Gophers as they proceeded to score 3 more unanswered goals to win the game 6-3.

While Mooney’s only play that got on the scoreboard was the game’s tying goal, he brought a lot more to the game than just his skilled moves. Despite only being 5’8 162 LBS, Mooney is not afraid to throw his body and attempt to hit anything that moves. It only took him about 5 seconds into his collegiate hockey career to throw his first hit.

His hitting ability is just one of his best assets, which is something nobody would ever expect when seeing him on the ice. It’s really impressive to see him be able to hit all these players who are much bigger than him with such force. It makes him look like a more physical version of Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher.

The more we get to watch him, the more it seems that the Canadiens may have found the perfect replacement for Gallagher when his career is over. Chances are, because of his size, Mooney will need to spend the next four full years at the University of Minnesota to develop his game and body as much as possible before moving on to the pro game. This will give him the time to come in right around after the end of Gallagher’s contract, being able to take the torch from him as the Habs’ small, gritty, heart and soul guy on the team.

There really is only about 2-3 spots per NHL team for someone of Mooney’s size, so with star players like Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield already holding two spots on the Canadiens long-term, it will be hard for Mooney to find a spot with the Habs, but with his feistiness he could be able to carve himself a role on the team someday. However, that would definitely need to be at a time that Gallagher is no longer on the team.

In fact, Mooney had more pure skill than Gallagher, which would allow him to potentially be a better version of the veteran forward in the NHL. Of all the Habs prospects playing in the NCAA, Mooney may be the most intriguing to watch as he develops due to his unusual physical play for a player of his stature.

Mooney’s next game with the Gophers will be tonight at 8 pm ET against the Michigan Tech Huskies yet again.

Could tonight be the game? Mooney gets his first NCAA goal?