Luke Wilfley has grown up in Colorado honing his skills to one day be able to play high-level NCAA hockey.

That opportunity presented itself recently when the Englewood native committed to NCAA Division I Arizona State, a school playing the 2024-25 season in the powerhouse NCHC conference.

“Arizona State University contacted me on August 1 to discuss the opportunity to attend school at ASU and play hockey,” Wilfley said. “Playing in the Rocky Mountain Region, Arizona had attended many of our games, so it was great to hear from such an amazing program that I knew had consistently come to watch our team play. After many conversations, my family and I decided that Arizona State University would be the right fit for me and I committed in October.

“Next season, I am hoping to play junior hockey and continue focusing on developing as a player. When I will attend ASU will depend on my development as a player and when the program feels that I am ready.”

Wilfley went on to say there are several aspects of Arizona State that contributed to his decision.

“Starting with the hockey program, Coach (Greg) Powers and his staff have done such an amazing job at ASU, especially in the past nine years that they have been playing NCAA Division I,” Wilfley said. “The program is built on values and culture that I feel are very much like my own. When you visit Arizona State University, you can get a sense right away. They are a family there and they have built an amazing hockey program. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of it. If you look at the coaching staff, the culture they bring and the team dynamic, it’s above all else and I knew when I visited that it would become my home.

“On the academic side, there are several opportunities academically that ASU offers that I believe will help me to be successful. They have a great academic support system in place and the coaching staff places an emphasis on academic success. Last season the team GPA was above a 3.6. I value my academics, so it was important for me to be a part of a program that values academics as well.”

School has always been really important to Wilfley and his family and it was definitely a consideration during the commitment process, he said.

“ASU offers so many academic opportunities and has a support system in place to ensure academic success,” Wilfley said. “Freshmen on the team are required to attend eight hours a week of study hall where they can get support. Additionally, I want to major in business and ASU has a great business school, so this appealed to me. ASU also offers several one-year graduate degree programs, which I liked. I’m not 100% sure what the path looks like for me, but I’m excited to get more information and see what will be the best fit for me once I am there.”

Born and raised in Englewood, Wilfley said he started playing hockey when he was around eight years old.

“My siblings and I went to a school that had a sports court on the playground,” remembered Wilfley. “My brother and I started playing hockey at school and we both fell in love with it. I took skating lessons and then just continued to play. The first program I played for was the DU Jr. Pioneers when I was a Mite. As a Squirt, I played for Krivo (School of Hockey Elite) and then went to the (Colorado) Thunderbirds for my 12U and 13U years. I have played with Okanagan Hockey Colorado for my 14U, 15O and 16U years. I’ve had several really great coaches help me, but the one that sticks out the most is David Clarkson. He was my coach the past two years and he has really transformed my game, helped me to be a better person, and created so many opportunities for me as a player. I couldn’t be more grateful for him.

“Playing at Okanagan has been an amazing experience. The coaches and the staff at Okanagan Hockey Colorado have really supported me, and the culture is something like I’ve never seen before. We are truly like a family. I am so grateful to play at an organization that cares about its players and creates opportunities for Colorado kids to develop at home and then helps them to move on.”

Going forward, Wilfley has achieveable goals in mind.

“My current short-term goals are to work together with my 16U team now to make it to nationals,” Wilfley said. “We have a great group and it would be amazing to get there with this group of boys. My long-term goals are to go to juniors and continue to develop as a player and to be an impact player at that level in order to prepare me for Arizona State University.

“Lastly, the dream would be to one day have the opportunity to play in the NHL.”

Photo/Mady Acorn

— Matt Mackinder

(November 26, 2024)