Prospects Of The Week
Cruz Lucius Records Seven-Point Weekend, Climbs To Second In NCAA Scoring
Cruz Lucius exploded for seven points for Arizona State in a weekend split against Omaha. Lucius scored the only two goals for the Sun Devils in a 4-2 loss on Friday night and added another goal and recorded four primary assists in a 6-3 win the next night. The 2022 fourth round pick acquired as part of the Jake Guentzel trade leads Arizona State and ranks second in the NCAA with 45 points in 34 games–eclipsing a career high of 34 points in freshman and sophomore seasons with Wisconsin and bouncing back after 10 points in 19 games last year.
With the Arizona State season most likely wrapping up after a series in Denver next weekend, if the Penguins sign Lucius, expect the forward to join Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as early as the first weekend in March.
Quinn Beauchesne Records Eight-Point Week, Leads Guelph Storm Blueliners
Quinn Beauchesne kicked off last week with four assists–including three primary–in a 5-1 win over the Erie Otters on Monday, picked up another primary helper and scored the overtime winner in a 3-2 win over the Sarnia Sting on Wednesday, and scored again and added another assist in a 8-5 win over the Saginaw Spirit on Sunday. The offensive outburst helped the 2025 fifth round pick eclipse 24 points in 49 games last season and jump to the lead among blueliners on the team with 29 points in 47 games in 2025-26.
Guelph currently ranks sixth in the Western Conference of the OHL and sits comfortably ahead of a group of five teams looking to secure one of three remaining spots in the playoffs.
Ville Koivunen Extends Point Streak To Four Games With Three-Goal Week In AHL
Ville Koivunen extended a point streak to four games with three goals and a helper for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last week. Koivunen scored twice in a 7-2 win over the Springfield Falcons on Wednesday, scored the eventual game winner in a 4-3 triumph over the Bridgeport Islanders on Saturday, and set up a goal with a beautiful backhand sauce pass in a 4-0 win over Bridgeport on Sunday. Koivunen now ranks second on the team with 31 points in only 25 games and leads the team with a 1.25 point per game average–improving on a 0.88 point per game average as a rookie last season. The 2021 second round pick hopes to stay consistent and roll the boost in confidence into another chance and higher production at the NHL level with Pittsburgh.
Down On The Farm
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Bounce Back With Three Wins Last Week
Three different Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scored in a 7-2 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds on Wednesday night. Avery Hayes netted a hat trick, and Ville Koivunen and Tanner Howe both scored twice. Rutger McGroarty recorded a pair of assists. Tristan Broz, Aaron Huglen, Melvin Fernstrom, Boko Imama, Finn Harding, Sebastian Aho, and Owen Pickering all finished with a helper. Sergei Murashov stopped 30 of 32 shots in the win.
The Penguins fell behind 2-0 early in the first period but battled back to tie the game late in the period and managed to beat the Bridgeport Islanders 4-3 on Saturday night. Filip Hollander–joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning assignment–scored, and Atley Calvert, Sebastian Aho, and Koivunen added goals. Joona Koppanen and Howe both recorded two assists. Scooter Brickey, Pickering, and Matt Dumba all finished with helpers. Joel Blomqvist stopped 25 of 28 shots in the win.
The Penguins left no doubt on Sunday afternoon with a 4-0 win over Bridgeport. Sergei Murashov stopped 25 shots to record a third shutout on the season. Howe, Phil Kemp, Gabe Klassen, and Aidan McDonough scored. Broz recorded two assists. Calvert, Imama, McGroarty, Koivunen, Aho, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard all finished with helpers.