(Photo: Aiden Longbrake/WCSN)
TEMPE – In the summer of 2024, Arizona State senior forwards Cruz Lucius and Bennett Schimek, two kids from Southeast Minnesota, made the move from places with cold, snowy weather to the Valley of the Sun. While the 70-degree, sunny weather was surely a benefit of coming to Arizona, they came here on a mission.
With Lucius coming from Wisconsin and Schimek from Providence, two programs rich in hockey history, they sacrificed comfort, along with being a lot closer to home. However, the pair ultimately made the decision that head coach Greg Powers would be the man to get the best out of them and committed to Arizona State.
“It’s hard to put into words what this program means to us,” Schimek said. “We kind of came here on a limb. I think speaking for both of us, we gave up a secure place with friends, and knew the school. It was kind of a leap to come here. Looking back on our time here at Mullett, I don’t think we’d hesitate to do it again.”
Since that leap of faith, it seems as if their prayers have been answered. The two forwards were at one point this season on the top scoring line in the nation, and are both nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the nation’s best player.
Even in a season that they are well-regarded as top forwards in the nation, they have also been met with major struggles. Prior to Friday night’s loss to Omaha, Lucius hadn’t scored since January 2, and the Sun Devils were sitting in last place in the NCHC, in position to miss the conference tournament.
In the two games, Lucius scored three goals and combined for seven points on the weekend, a new high for him in his Sun Devil career. The cherry on top for Lucius is that it came in his final weekend at Mullett Arena.
“[Lucius] is a special player,” Powers said. “I’ve said it from the minute he got here. He’s just so skilled, and tonight he was just possessed. He moved his feet. He scored two last night, but I didn’t love his game away from the puck.”
Growing up so far from Phoenix, Lucius’ family hasn’t been to every game. However, the Lucius family made it all the way out from Grant, Minnesota, to watch him have the best weekend of his time in the Copper State.
“Once I saw everybody tearing up, it started flowing for me,” Lucius said, “The fact that they made it out and supported me means so much. Then, just going out there and playing a game for the team. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”
For Lucius and Schimek, their final time on home ice together was even more bittersweet, given the fact that the pair grew up playing together. Their hometowns are about 30 minutes apart, as seen by the pair’s chemistry. Of their combined 27 goals this season, 15 of them were assisted by each other, including Schimek’s last goal at Mullett, which came off a brilliant play from Lucius, who deked past several defenders before dropping the puck off for Schimek to finish the highlight-reel play.
“It was awesome,” Schimek said, “Obviously, we played together for a long time. We decided to come here together. Being out there for the last game together was really special, and it’s something we’ll never forget. I was a little disappointed that my last goal at Mullett was a Cruz Lucius highlight.”
Both Lucius and Schimek, being seniors and having their families there, it was almost a full circle moment for both players to score goals in one of the Sun Devils’ biggest games of the season thus far. The emotion before and during the game was evident from the pair, as tears came down both Schimek and Lucius’ face during their Senior Night ceremony.
“It was really emotional for both of us,” Schimek said. “I’ve known his family for a long time, and when I saw his family come out, the water works got going for his mom early. I tried to keep it together, and then they started flowing for me.”
Not only was it the last game at Mullett for the seniors, but it is still the beginning of what they hope to see become an elite program. After coming to Arizona State for its inaugural season as a member of the NCHC, Schimek and Lucius played crucial roles in catapulting the program to a destination school for the future.
“There’s not a better place to play in college hockey than here,” Lucius said. “I think ASU will be a place that every single kid will want to come to and thrive under Coach Powers and the whole staff.”
The two seniors still have some hockey yet to be played, as the Sun Devils still have a road matchup against No. 8 Denver. ASU will likely rely on the veteran pair to guide them as they seek to return to the NCHC playoffs, which they currently sit one point clear of elimination.
“You can’t understate, especially [Lucius and Schimek], what they’ve done for this team,” Powers said. “They mean a lot to me. They mean a lot to us. Tonight was 100% about them and making sure our guys did everything they could to get them a win in their last home game at Mullett.”
