F John "LJ" Mooney - Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, U16 AAA (2025 Draft)

[GermanSpitfire]

L.J. Mooney at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of L.J. Mooney, 2007-03-08 West Mifflin, PA, USA USA. Most recently in the USHL with USNTDP Juniors. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Figured it’s time for his thread - one of the top ‘07’s out of America at this point in time. Has all the skill in the world and is a fantastic skater to boot. He is the cousin of Arizona Coyote 1st rounder Logan Cooley also.

It should be interesting to see how things play out for the kid.

Click to read more...

 

[Peat]

He's '25 draft, not '24? Seems a step ahead of Cooley production wise at the same age though.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

He's '25 draft, not '24? Seems a step ahead of Cooley production wise at the same age though.

Correct - Sometimes I have fat fingers. Appreciate the correction!

 

[SlafySZN]

2025 first overall?

 

[Lavar Ball]

I know he is an 06 but I think James Hagens is still going to be THE guy out of US for the 2025 draft

 

[BKarchitect]

Does anybody know if he goes by LJ or John? His dad is John Mooney...I just find it amusing if he went by "Little John" as a youngster hence "LJ". No idea if that is true or not but would be funny.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I know he is an 06 but I think James Hagens is still going to be THE guy out of US for the 2025 draft

Maybe - I also really like Logan Hensler, another late birthday '06 - Hensler a defender could very well be the best defender of his age group right now.

Does anybody know if he goes by LJ or John? His dad is John Mooney...I just find it amusing if he went by "Little John" as a youngster hence "LJ". No idea if that is true or not but would be funny.

Good question, I'm going to change the title so there isn't any confusion. I have heard John as often as I have heard LJ.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

 

[wetcoast]

Does anyone know when and where he might be playing in the next couple of seasons leading up to the draft?

 

[BKarchitect]

Does anyone know when and where he might be playing in the next couple of seasons leading up to the draft?

Safe money is on the USNTDP for he next two years prior to the 2025 draft. I suppose the OHL is a possibility but I’d bet on him following the path of his cousin Logan Cooley from the Pens Elite to the US juniors team. He’s a stone cold lock to be selected and would arrive in Plymouth with the same kind of stature and expectations that Hagens and Eiserman had with the 06’s.

 

[wetcoast]

Safe money is on the USNTDP for he next two years prior to the 2025 draft. I suppose the OHL is a possibility but I’d bet on him following the path of his cousin Logan Cooley from the Pens Elite to the US juniors team. He’s a stone cold lock to be selected and would arrive in Plymouth with the same kind of stature and expectations that Hagens and Eiserman had with the 06’s.

That was my gut feeling on it as well but I'm not familiar with the US National team process when do players commit or is there a camp ect...?

 

[BKarchitect]

That was my gut feeling on it as well but I'm not familiar with the US National team process when do players commit or is there a camp ect...?

There’s an evaluation camp in the spring after which the new U17 group is announced.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

There's a Pittsburgh Penguins 16U team playing at the Silver Stick this weekend. Pretty sure it's Mooney's team. There will be some good young hockey players in that event. Ryan Roobroeck's London Knights will also be there and playing Pittsburgh on Friday, Nov. 25. If I lived closer, I'd go check that out.

 

[clevelandcane]

There's a Pittsburgh Penguins 16U team playing at the Silver Stick this weekend. Pretty sure it's Mooney's team. There will be some good young hockey players in that event. Ryan Roobroeck's London Knights will also be there and playing Pittsburgh on Friday, Nov. 25. If I lived closer, I'd go check that out.

Where are the games? Any links to the schedule?

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Where are the games? Any links to the schedule?

Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ont., according to schedule on London Knights 16U website. Will try to find the Silver Stick schedule.

2022-2023 > U16 (Minor Midget) > U16 AAA > Schedule & Results (London Junior Knights)

London Junior Knights powered by MBSportsWeb

londonjuniorknights.com

 

[clevelandcane]

Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ont., according to schedule on London Knights 16U website. Will try to find the Silver Stick schedule.

2022-2023 > U16 (Minor Midget) > U16 AAA > Schedule & Results (London Junior Knights)

London Junior Knights powered by MBSportsWeb

londonjuniorknights.com

A little far for me. Thanks for any additional info!

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

A little far for me. Thanks for any additional info!

Yeah, me too. That's a day-and-a-half of driving for me.

Found the tourney website, well the part for the 16U group with Mooney and Roobroeck. BK Selects are there, too.

Final > 2022-2023 > Whitby Finals > Divisions > U16 15U AAA (2007) (International Silver Stick)

silverstick.org powered by MBSportsWeb

silverstick.org

EDIT: Sorry, my guess that it was Mooney's team was wrong. It is a 16U tournament and he is on Pittsburgh's 16U team, but it's the 15U team that is going to this tournament.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Lmao I thought there was a prospect named John Money at first.

John Money - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

I just find it hard to believe that he’s a better prospect than Hagens

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

I just find it hard to believe that he’s a better prospect than Hagens

We have to wait a few years before it even matters anyway , but some say that for his birth year he is every bit as good , if not more skilled.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

He should change his first name to Jackie

 

[sigx15]

I just find it hard to believe that he’s a better prospect than Hagens

He’s really elite. He’s as elite of a player at his age as I’ve seen last year. The biggest thing will be where he’ll end up with his size. I haven’t seen him play in person this year but I know he’s grown some, just not sure how much. I’m super high on Hagens so I don’t know if I’d say he’s a better prospect but he was right there with him last year. We’ll see how he does with the jump to U17 NTDP next year. I pretty much always temper all my expectations on players until I see them playing juniors. I think he’ll still be elite but we’ll see

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s really elite. He’s as elite of a player at his age as I’ve seen last year. The biggest thing will be where he’ll end up with his size. I haven’t seen him play in person this year but I know he’s grown some, just not sure how much. I’m super high on Hagens so I don’t know if I’d say he’s a better prospect but he was right there with him last year. We’ll see how he does with the jump to U17 NTDP next year. I pretty much always temper all my expectations on players until I see them playing juniors. I think he’ll still be elite but we’ll see

Was Mooney the best of the American 2007’s or was there anyone as good or better?

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Was Mooney the best of the American 2007’s or was there anyone as good or better?

FWIW, here's a September ranking of top 2007 North Americans from Puck Preps. It's the most recent ranking I've seen of 2007-born players in North America. You already know this, but for the benefit of those who don't, there is a graphic design error on this chart. Ryan Roobroeck is Canadian, not American.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Was Mooney the best of the American 2007’s or was there anyone as good or better?

Cullen Potter is up there, William Moore if he decides to represent USA internationally is up there.

Other notable kids include Cole McKinney, William Belle, Masun Fleeve, Gavin Kor, Conrad Fondrk, Lucas Sawchyn, Cooper Dennis, William Horcoff just to name a few