Chaz Lucius
| Chaz Lucius | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
May 2, 2003 | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Manitoba Moose | ||
| NHL draft |
18th overall, 2021 Winnipeg Jets | ||
| Playing career | 2022–2025 | ||
Chaz Lucius (born May 2, 2003) is an American former professional ice hockey center. Although Lucius was drafted in the first round by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2021 NHL entry draft,[1] he never played in the NHL.
Lucius played collegiate hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NCAA. His professional career was plagued by numerous injuries. After playing parts of three seasons for the Manitoba Moose, the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, he was diagnosed with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and retired from professional hockey in April 2025.
Playing career
Following his freshman season with Minnesota, Lucius concluded his collegiate career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets on April 27, 2022.[2] Lucius began his professional career with the Jets' American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, recording 2 goals and 3 assists in 12 games. After returning from the World juniors, Lucius was assigned to play major junior hockey for the remainder of the 2022-23 season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) on January 9; he had originally been selected by the Winterhawks 74th overall in the 4th round of the 2018 WHL draft.
Despite being assigned on January 9, due to the team being on an East Division road trip, Lucius did not make his debut until January 20, against the Victoria Royals. In his debut, Lucius recorded 2 assists in a 7–6 overtime win.
On April 8, 2025, after suffering from multiple joint injuries in the prior three seasons, Lucius announced his retirement from professional hockey via Instagram after being diagnosed with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome.[3][4]
International play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  United States | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
.svg.png){kind=icon} | 2023 Canada | |
On December 12, 2022, Lucius was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded five goals and two assists in seven games and won a bronze medal.[5]
Personal life
Lucius has one younger brother, Cruz, who also plays hockey. Cruz played as a winger for the Arizona State Sun Devils of the NCAA; he was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022 and currently is an unsigned Anaheim Ducks prospect.[6]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2019–20 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 32 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 12 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | University of Minnesota | B1G | 24 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Portland Winterhawks | WHL | 6 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 17 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 25 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| AHL totals | 54 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | United States | U17 |  |
6 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2023 | United States | WJC |  |
7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 13 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 0 | ||||
References
- ↑ "Chaz Lucius". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
- ↑ "Jets sign forward Chaz Lucius to three-year, entry-level contract". Winnipeg Jets. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (April 8, 2025). "Winnipeg Jets prospect Chaz Lucius, 21, announces retirement". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ↑ "Jets 2021 first-round pick Chaz Lucius retires from hockey for medical reasons". Sportsnet.ca. Canadian Press. April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ↑ Kimelman, Adam (December 12, 2022). "2023 World Junior Championship rosters". NHL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Ducks acquire forward Cruz Lucius from Penguins". tsn.ca. August 19, 2026. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- 2003 births
- Living people
- American ice hockey centers
- Manitoba Moose players
- Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey players
- NHL first-round draft picks
- People with Ehlers–Danlos syndrome
- Portland Winterhawks players
- Sportspeople from Lawrence, Kansas
- USA Hockey National Team Development Program players
- Winnipeg Jets draft picks
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- Medalists at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics
- Youth Olympic silver medalists for the United States