Stuart coming back home to skate for NCAA Division I Sun Devils
Arizona State University will have a third Phoenix native on its NCAA Division I roster next season as incoming freshman Connor Stuart will join sophomore Johnny Walker and senior Anthony Croston on the Sun Devils.
Stuart announced his commitment earlier this offseason once his season with the NAHL’s Lone Star Brahmas concluded.
“It feels unbelievable,” Stuart said. “It was my dream school ever since they became Division I.”
“We are thrilled to add a player and person of Connor’s caliber this late in the game as it pertains to recruiting,” said ASU coach Greg Powers. “Connor has really developed nicely throughout his junior career and we still feel his best hockey is ahead of him. He defends very well, and I think has a skill set offensively that will continue to get better and better. What really separated him from everyone else was how badly he wanted to be a Sun Devil. That is what we want and expect out of local kids here in Arizona.”
Playing big minutes this season for the Brahmas (and one game to start the season with the Philadelphia Rebels), the Jr. Coyotes alum set career highs in goals (eight) and assists (18) in 60 games. He played the prior two seasons for the Odessa Jackalopes.
“I want to thank anyone who ever took a chance on me and thought that I could play,” Stuart said. “Never being drafted or tendered or anything, just the coaches who were willing to stick their neck out for me and put me in the right position, I can’t thank them enough for giving me the opportunity.
“Three years ago, I was fully enrolled at Arizona State, had a full schedule, I had my roommate, my dorm, and then literally a week before enrollment, I backed out of this whole thing to go the junior hockey route. It’s crazy to think that I’ll be able to go back and live in the dorms where I was visiting my buddies for three years prior.”
Stuart will study business and marketing at ASU.
Photo/Rebekah Bing
— Matt Mackinder
(July 30, 2018)