The Chilliwack Chiefs are extremely proud to announce that AJ Lacroix has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey for Michigan State University.
The 2005-born forward is heading into his second season with the Chiefs. As a 16-year-old, Lacroix tallied 40 points (21g, 20a) in 53 games, taking home the Chiefs’ Sapphire Creative Rookie of the Year and Ross Beebe Scholastic Player of the Year awards. The West Vancouver product was also named as the BCHL’s March High School Player of the Month and was set to represent the Chiefs at the league’s Top Prospects Game before it was canceled due to Covid-19.
“We’re very excited for AJ and his family. AJ is a student of the game and this decision was one he really took his time with. We respect and are proud of the process he took. He wanted to make sure that he surrounded himself with all of the resources that he could. He did his homework with a lot of different programs and decided that Michigan State was the right fit for him,” said Head Coach and General Manager Brian Maloney.
Lacroix will be the ninth Chilliwack Chief to call Munn Ice Arena home. Some notable alumni of both the Chiefs and Spartans include Shawn Horcoff, Kevin Estrada, and Maloney himself.
“I know from experience that AJ will have every resource available in front of him. Knowing Coach Nightingale and his staff on a personal level, I know AJ will be in great hands moving forward. Michigan State is a premier division one program and they locked up a really good prospect in AJ,” Maloney said.
Lacroix, who represented USA Hockey at this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Alberta said that
“I can’t thank the Chiefs organization enough, especially Coach Maloney, Coach Rihela, Coach Price, and our strength and training staff. I would also like to thank my teammates and my family for pushing me and helping me get to this point, I’m excited for what the future holds,” said Lacroix.
Congratulations AJ!
