Two NAPHL alumni selected in 2021 NHL Draft
Chaz Lucius (top) played in the NAPHL during the 2018-19 season, while Talyn Boyko (bottom) played in the NAPHL during the 2017-18 season.
The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is pleased to announce that two former players who previously played in the NAPHL were selected in the 2021 National Hockey League Draft, which took place virtually on June 23-24.
Former Gentry Academy 15U standout and forward Chaz Lucius was selected 18th overall in the 1st round by the Winnipeg Jets.
Lucius, 18, played in 13 games with the USA U18 National Development Team Program this season, tallying 20 points (13 goals, 7 assists).
The product of Grant, Minnesota racked up 50 points (31 goals, 19 assists) in 46 games with the USA U17 NTDP in 2019-20.
He led the USA in scoring at the 2020 U17 World Hockey Challenge with 10 points (7G, 3A), which also led the tournament in goals and points.
Lucius is committed to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, starting next season.
Lucius played in the NAPHL during the 2018-19 season, helping the Gentry Academy 15U team to a perfect 13-0 record that season. Lucius led the NAPHL in scoring that season with 62 points (39 goals, 23 assists) in just 13 games played. He was also named to the All-NAPHL 15U 1st team that season.
The other NAPHL alumni selected in the 2021 NHL Draft was former Pursuit of Excellence 18U goaltender Talyn Boyko, who was selected #112 overall in the 4th round by the New York Rangers.
Boyko, a native of Drumheller, Alberta., was selected by the Tri-City Americans 53rd overall in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. The 6’8/196 lbs. netminder played for the Pursuit of Excellence 18U team in the NAPHL during the 2017-18 season.
Boyko, 18, played in nine regular season games that season and posted a 4-5-0 record with a 2.65 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
He also played in the 2017-18 NAPHL 18U All-Star Game for the North All-Stars, allowing just a single goal on 17 shots in the game.
For the past three seasons, Boyko has played in 48 games with the Americans in the WHL. Boyko has posted a .888 save percentage and 4.22 goals against average. In the 2020-21 season, he improved his overall save percentage to .901 from .892 in the year prior and shaved 1.50 off from his goals against average, dropping to 3.02 from 4.52 in 2019-20.
