Cruz Lucius Season 2024-25

CAREER HIGHS
GAME
Goals: 2 (4x); last at Penn State, 2/23/24
Assists: 4; vs. Notre Dame, 1/7/23
Points: 4 (2x); last vs. Notre Dame, 1/7/23
Point Streak: 7; 12/9/22-1/20/23
Multi-point Games: 17; last vs. Ohio State, 3/9/24
Overtime Goals: 1; at Bemidji State, 10/13/2

SERIES
Goals: 2 (7x); last at Penn State, 2/23-2/24, 2024
Assists: 5; vs. Notre Dame, 1/7-1/6, 2023
Points: 5; vs. Notre Dame, 1/7-1/6, 2023

SOPHOMORE (2023-24, at Wisconsin)

• Appeared in 36 games and tallied 13 goals and 21 assists to tie career-high 34 points
• His 34 points during the 2023-24 season led team
• Career-high 13 goals rank second on the team
• 21 assists good for third on the roster
• Scored first goal of the season on Oct. 13, 2023 at Bemidji State before adding overtime game-winning goal in 4-3 victory
• Scored twice in 5-2 victory at then-No. 1 Minnesota on Oct. 26, 2023
• Scored a power-play goal midway through the second period to spark comeback in 5-4 win vs. Michigan on Nov. 3, 2023
• Posted two three-point games; tallied one goal and two assists in 6-1 victory vs. Ohio State on Dec. 2 and two goals and one assist in 5-0 victory at Penn State on Feb. 23
• Tallied two goals and seven assists in six-game point streak from Nov. 25 to Dec. 28
• One for one in the shootout
• Posted 116 shots on the season to rank second on the team
• Five power-play goals good to tie for second on the roster
• Named to the 2023 Ice Breaker All-Tournament Team…All-Big Ten Honorable Mention…named Academic All-Big Ten

FRESHMAN (2022-23, at Wisconsin)

• Appeared in 34 games and tallied 11 goals and 23 assists
• Led the roster with 34 points, posted 96 shots, and scored four power-play goals
• Shared team lead with two game winning goals
• Eight multipoint games including two four point nights
• Notched first career goal in first game of the season at No. 14 Ohio State on Oct. 7 (3-1 L)
• Recorded first multipoint game with a goal and an assist in 5-2 win at No. 10 Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 21, 2023
• Posted two goals and two assists in 5-1 win vs. Lindenwood on Nov. 19, 2023
• Scored shorthanded in 3-1 loss to Clarkson on Dec. 29
• Had seven-game point streak totaling 12 points (2G, 10A) from Dec. 9-Jan. 20
• Tied UW record with four assists in a period against No. 20 Notre Dame on Jan. 7
• Scored game-tying goal with 22 seconds remaining in the first period in 3-1 win vs. No. 1 Minnesota on Feb. 11
• Mark Johnson Rookie of the Year award recipient
• Hobey Baker nominee

NHL DRAFT: 
Cruz was chosen in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft (124th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes...had NHL rights traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2024

JUNIOR HOCKEY:
Skated with the U.S. National Team Development Program ... scored nine goals and 18 points during injury-shortened, 23-game season during 2021-22 ... helped Team USA win silver at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 World Championship with two goals and eight points in six games playing alongside Badger Charlie Stramel ... recorded 14 goals and 42 points in 42 contests with the U.S. Under-17 Team during the 2020-21 campaign