Multiple Sun Devils earn All-NCHC honors

The NCHC postseason started without Arizona State in the tournament field last weekend, but that didn't keep the two highest performing offensive playmakers from earning postseason accolades for their play.

Cruz Lucius earned well-deserved First-Team All-NCHC honors (57 points with 8 first-team votes) after an incredible senior season, setting career highs with 15 goals and 31 assists for 46 points, team-high marks in all three categories. His 31 assists are tied for most in the NCHC at the time of this writing (Minnesota-Duluth's Jayson Shaugabay), and his 46 points and 1.28 points per game both good for second-best in the conference. His 5 power play goals and 3 game winning goals both landed him in or near the top-10 in the conference in both categories. A graduating senior, Lucius was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022 but his rights are currently held by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He will be eligible to sign his entry level contract or become a free agent.

His fellow senior Bennett Schimek just barely missed out on First-Team honors, finishing with 56 points and 6 First-Team votes as the top forward on the All-NCHC Second-Team. Matching Lucius nearly stride for stride, Schimek established a new career high with 30 assists, adding 13 goals to finish with a career high 43 points. His 1.23 points per game ranks 4th in the conference, and along with Lucius and Cullen Potter, produced the only team in the NCHC with three skaters to record a hat trick. An undrafted free agent, Schimek is considered one of the top free agent players available to NHL teams as the season winds to a close.

The accolades may not be finished for Arizona State as Lucius is one of three finalists for Forward of the Year, joined by Max Plante (Minnesota-Duluth) and Tyson Gross (St. Cloud State). Individual award winners will be announced from March 11-19.