Asher Lucas knows exactly what he wants out of all the years and the work he has dedicated to the sport of hockey.
He wants to play in the NHL.
After being drafted in the 11th round at pick 241, in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft by the Seattle Thunderbirds, Asher is one step closer to making this dream come true.
“I’m really pumped about that,” said Asher. “It’s a great opportunity for me and I’ve heard a lot of great things about their organization.”
He is already looking forward to meeting everyone in September and getting to know a whole new team, including their coach.
So far, Asher has spent most of his life being coached by his dad, Tyrel Lucas, who had a stick in Asher’s hands before Asher could even walk. Tyrel himself played professionally and started Total Ice Training Centre after moving back to Williams Lake.
Asher has also been playing with the same tight-knit group of friends for years but is looking forward to new experiences, building new relationships and learning from a different coach.
He was already able to get to know the owner of the Thunderbirds during one week of playing in Nashville as part of the World Selects Invitational U15 Tournament. Asher was one of six players selected to play on the team from the Northstars Hockey Academy U15 team who, along with players from two other Junior Prospects League players.
The owner of the Thunderbirds is also involved in the Junior Prospects League and was coaching the World Selects team in Nashville, which Asher said exposed him to different plays and some new tips and tricks to better his game.
For the time being, Asher will be spending his summer preparing to head down to training camp in September with the Thunderbirds. Though he will still be too young to play for the team, he’ll get to try and make an impression and then will bring what he learns back home to play for the Northstars Academy U17 team.
Far from feeling pressured, Asher sounds grateful for a father who has been teaching him everything he knows about hockey and Asher has been “just loving it and wanting to put in the work.”
Along with excelling at hockey, Asher is an honour roll student.
“Being good in school goes along with hockey,” said dad Tyrel Lucas, noting hockey is a tool which can help get you education.
Asher also enjoys dirt biking, golf, fishing, boating, and baseball in his spare time.
As he prepares for September training camp with the Thunderbirds, Asher is maintaining a disciplined training schedule. He works out most days and is on the ice nearly every day of the week.
His dad and coach Tyrel said there are no guarantees, and the really hard work begins now for Asher and the two other Northstars Academy players picked by Seattle in the prospects draft, Colton Gerrior and Jaxson Dikur, but he also expressed faith in their drive.
“They’ve clearly known that they want to be hockey players and they’ve put in the work,” he said.
READ MORE: Williams Lake’s Jaxson Dikur picked by Seattle Thunderbirds in prospects draft
READ MORE: Williams Lake’s Colton Gerrior signs with Seattle Thunderbirds
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