Games got underway on Sunday at the Summer Showcase, and Montreal Canadiens prospect LJ Mooney turned heads in Team USA’s game against Sweden. The Habs prospect got a goal and an assist in USA Blue’s 5-2 loss against Sweden. The fourth-round pick at the last draft made a fantastic no-look cross-ice pass to set up Luke Osburn to tie up the score late in the first frame. The score remained 1-1 until Mooney scored with a top-corner effort to give the USA its first and only lead of the game with just over a minute left in the second frame. The Swedes exploded for four goals in the final period to get the win. Canadiens Re-Sign Young Defenseman To Multi-Year Deal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-re-sign-young-defenseman-to-multi-year-deal] Canadiens Will Be The Youngest Team This Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-will-be-the-youngest-team-this-season] Canadiens: Plenty Of Habs Prospects At The Summer Showcase [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-plenty-of-habs-prospects-at-the-summer-showcase] Speaking to the media after the game, Mooney was asked how he felt about being drafted by the Canadiens and the pressure that comes with it, and he replied: > I couldn't be happier about that. They provide so much support; they're > fantastic, and the fanbase is there. I was so lucky to be drafted by (the > Habs). Just having them behind me, it's fantastic. - The 5-foot-7, 157-pound forward doesn’t have a big frame, and being selected by a team that bet on Lane Hutson, who’s not big either, comes as a bonus. Asked how much inspiration he got from Hutson, he replied: > He's unbelievable. I watched him play with the USNTDP 🇺🇸 a little > bit…Getting drafted by the same team. I think he was doubted, so having people > doubt me also, I think it's pretty cool to have that guy. - Mooney won’t have much time to rest on his laurels after his standout performance against Sweden, since Team USA Blue will be back in action at 1:00 PM CT on Monday. We will, of course, keep a close eye on that game and report back. Photo credit: Ariane Bergeron, Club de Hockey Canadien inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwo-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen], never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains [https://x.com/KarineHains] Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karinehains.bsky.social] and Threads @karinehains [https://www.threads.net/@karinehains]. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/] for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] on The Hockey News.
