Injury-plagued Winnipeg Jets prospect retires from hockey due to hereditary disorder

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Apr 08, 2025 10:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Chaz Lucius, a first-round draught prime of the Winnipeg Jets successful 2021, announced his status from hockey connected Tuesday aft precocious being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

In a statement, Lucius said EDS is "a hereditary upset that affects the connective insubstantial that stabilizes and supports the joints and organs passim the body."

"As I struggled with incurring and recovering from assorted joints injuries implicit the past respective years, I thought I was conscionable unlucky," helium said.

"With this diagnosis of EDS, I present recognize that my assemblage impacted by EDS could not grip the carnal quality of playing hockey. Given this condition, my wounded history, and the carnal quality of hockey, I person been medically advised not to proceed to play."

The 21-year-old from Lawrence, Kan., had spent the past two-plus seasons with the Jets' American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

Lucius had 9 points (three goals, six assists) successful 25 games for the Moose successful 2024-25. He past played connected Feb. 9.

"After overmuch treatment and consultation with Chaz, his representatives, and aesculapian professionals, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club afloat supports his hard determination to retire," the Winnipeg Jets said successful a statement.

"Chaz's information and struggles with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome enactment him astatine hazard of wounded if helium continues to play astatine the nonrecreational level, truthful we recognize his choice."

Lucius played 1 twelvemonth of collegiate hockey successful the U.S., with the University of Minnesota successful 2021-22, wherever helium had 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) successful 24 games for the Gophers. He besides played inferior hockey for the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks successful 2022-23, signaling 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) successful conscionable six games.

The six-foot-two, 185-pound centre besides competed for the U.S. astatine the 2023 satellite inferior championship, wherever helium had 7 points (five goals, 2 assists) successful 7 games arsenic the Americans won bronze.

Lucius said helium looks guardant to being an advocator for others with EDS.