Chaz Lucius (born May 2, 2003) is an American former professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

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. Although Lucius was drafted in the first round by the

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he never played in the NHL. Lucius played collegiate hockey with the

Minnesota Golden Gophers The Minnesota Golden Gophers (commonly shortened to Gophers) are the college athletics, college sports teams of the University of Minnesota. The university fields a total of 21 (9 men's, 12 women's) teams in both men's and women's sports and com ...

in the

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. His professional career was plagued by numerous injuries. After playing parts of three seasons for the

Manitoba Moose The Manitoba Moose are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team plays its home games at Canada Life Centre. The fran ...

, the Jets'

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(AHL) affiliate, he was diagnosed with

Ehlers–Danlos syndrome Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) is a group of 14 genetic connective-tissue disorders. Symptoms often include loose joints, joint pain, stretchy velvety skin, and abnormal scar formation. These may be noticed at birth or in early childhood. Co ...

and retired from professional hockey in April 2025.

Playing career

Following his freshman season with

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, Lucius concluded his collegiate career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the

on April 27, 2022. Lucius began his professional career with the Jets'

affiliate, the

, recording 2 goals and 3 assists in 12 games. After returning from the World juniors, Lucius was assigned to play

major junior hockey Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from ...

for the remainder of the 2022-23 season with the

Portland Winterhawks The Portland Winterhawks are a junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1950 as the Edmonton Oil Kings, the team relocated to Portland in 1976 and was known as the Winter Hawks until 2009. The team plays in the U.S. Divisio ...

of the

Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitutes the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) as the highest level of junior hocke ...

(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 The Victoria Royals are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. The Royals play in the B.C. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The team began play during the 2011–12 WHL ...

. In his debut, Lucius recorded 2 assists in a 7–6

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win. On April 8, 2025, after suffering from multiple

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injuries in the prior three seasons, Lucius announced his retirement from professional hockey via

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after being diagnosed with

International play

On December 12, 2022, Lucius was named to the

United States men's national junior ice hockey team The United States men's national junior ice hockey team represents the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship. The team has won seven times World Junior Championships (2004, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2024, 2025). Many NHL prospects, ...

to compete at the

2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships (''2023 WJHC'') was the 47th edition of the IIHF World Junior Championship, Ice Hockey World Junior Championship, held from 26 December 2022 to 5 January 2023. It was won by Canada men's national j ...

. During the tournament he recorded five goals and two assists in seven games and won a bronze medal.

Personal life

Lucius has one younger brother, Cruz, who also plays hockey. Cruz plays as a winger for the

Arizona State Sun Devils The Arizona State Sun Devils are the sport, athletic teams that represent Arizona State University. ASU has nine men's and eleven women's Varsity team, varsity teams competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Divisi ...

of the

; he was drafted by the

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

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and currently is an unsigned

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

prospect following a trade between the two teams.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lucius, Chaz 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