The Penticton Vees Hockey Club is pleased to announce Mario Lucia has committed to the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the 2012/13 season.
As an eighteen-year-old rookie, Lucia has recorded three goals and seven points in five games. Lucia was a drafted 60th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild. He has been a significant contributor to the Vees solid start to the season (4-1-0). The Plymouth, Minnesota native has been playing on the top line with Travis St. Denis and Connor Reilly.
“Notre Dame is very fortunate to have landed a quality individual in Mario," said Vees head coach and general manager Fred Harbinson. "He is a gifted player that has not only size, but speed and skill.
"Mario is an exciting player to watch and will be for years to come at Notre Dame. More importantly, Mario is an outstanding academic student and young man off the ice.”
The announcement ends the questions about Lucia's college future as his father, Don Lucia, is head coach at the University of Minnesota and three of his current Vees teammates – Connor, Mike and Ryan Reilly – are all headed there next season.
The University Notre Dame Fighting Irish is currently a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The Fighting Irish have been a member of the CCHA for the past 44 years. Notre Dame has won two CCHA regular-season and postseason tournament titles in 2007 & 2009. Starting in 2013, the University Of Notre Dame will move to Hockey East and become it’s 11th member school.
Lucia is the 10th player on the Vees 2011-2012 roster to secure an NCAA scholarship.
