Doan, Cooley Prepare to Square Off at Mullett Arena this Weekend

Josh Doan and Logan Cooley may very well be teammates someday soon.
That day, however, will decidedly not come this weekend.
Doan, the Arizona Coyotes' 37th overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, and Cooley, the third overall pick this past summer, have both posted four goals and eight assists in 13 NCAA games this season. The two became acquainted during the Coyotes' prospect development camp in July, and it didn't take long to strike up a friendship.

The pleasantries will likely take a back seat as the Sun Devils host the No. 2 Golden Gophers this weekend, kicking off a stretch of two consecutive weekends against Top-two teams, as Arizona State visits No. 1 Denver next weekend.
First things first, though, as ASU and Minnesota face-off both Friday and Saturday at 7 pm MST.
"This is one that I've had circled on the calendar ever since the schedule came out, and we joked around at development camp about having a little bet on it, so I'm sure I'll shoot him a text within the next few days and see what the bet will be," Cooley said. "Hopefully we come out on top."
Doan, Arizona State's captain, said the chance to play against a potential future teammate adds a different element to the already highly-anticipated matchup.

"We're pretty close, and any time you have a chance to play against someone that you're friends with, it's extremely fun, and it changes the game a little bit," Doan said. "To be able to look back at it down the road and be like, 'We played against each other,' and potentially still be playing in the same arena that we played against each other in would be really cool."
The 20-year-old sophomore has even a little more at stake, as his close friend and 2021 Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Knies will also be in town.
Knies currently has 14 points in as many games at Minnesota, who just swept a series at perennial powerhouse Michigan last weekend.
"We've never played each other," Doan said. "We've played in the same leagues against each other, but we've never had an opportunity to play in a game against each other. I've been looking forward to this for a while, and getting a chance to play him, and hopefully get the best of him, because it will be a long summer if I don't."
Minnesota (10-4-0) comes into the weekend series with a number of impressive wins over Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Penn State.
Playing with the towering 6-foot-3 Knies has also helped create time and space for the crafty Cooley, who said the team has really gelled well together.

"We push each other every day," Cooley said. "We connect so well, we're always moving the puck quickly, and everyone knows where each other is."
The Sun Devils (7-6-0) have bounced back after starting the season a bit slowly, and recently earned a program-defining win against North Dakota after beating them 3-2 in Las Vegas on Oct. 29.
Head coach Greg Powers said Doan leads by example, and is starting to come into his own this season.
"He's starting to play really good hockey at a time where we need him to," Powers said. "His character and the way he works, and how good of a teammate he is, we knew that he would be, and he's just going to continue to get better at it."
Doan started the season without a registering a point in his first three games, but said much of that was attributed to his focus on playing a more complete 200-foot game. Once he settled into that a bit more the offensive numbers followed, including a three-point performance at Bemidji State in Arizona State's fourth game of the season.
He also poetically scored the first goal in Mullett Arena, where the Coyotes are also temporarily playing.

He's proud to wear that 'C' on his sweater, carrying on the legacy of his father, Coyotes legend and longtime captain Shane Doan.
"It's super special," Doan said. "You see the guys who wore it here before me, I got to play with a couple of them last year, talked to the ones before that, and they're all tremendous guys and great leaders.
"It's about leading by example, and it's something that I've taken forward as a kid, and try to do. Growing up with my dad, and seeing what he's done, I have a lot of people in my life that can help through this process, and it's a huge honor."
Cooley has kept his eye on Arizona State's new arena, and said he has watched a few Coyotes games there, as well. Even NHL players have raved about the ice conditions at the sparkling new venue, and the 18-year-old freshman can't wait to check it out firsthand.
Connecting with a friend that he hasn't seen this summer is an added bonus.
"It looks like a heck of an atmosphere," Cooley said. "Josh is a great player, and a good friend of mine too, so I'm looking forward to catching up with him."
Of course, a little chirping once the puck drops is inevitable.

"I'll do something to get in his head," Doan joked. "Him and Matthew are playing together, so obviously I'm excited to get that matchup versus them, and hopefully get the best of them at the end of the weekend."