Photo by Chelsea Stedry

By Blaine McCormick

TEMPE- With a 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound frame and pads as thick as a mattress, it’s no surprise that not many pucks get by senior goaltender Lucas Felbel.

In his third season with the Arizona State club hockey team, Felbel has built an impressive stat line with the Sun Devils of 707 saves and a .923 save percentage so far. He is fearless and intimidating to any player that comes his way.

“His preparation and routine is huge,” head coach Josh Brown said. “He does the same thing everyday and you can see that same consistency in his play on the ice.”

Felbel plays with tenacity and shows an athletic composure as well as presenting a fundamental ease in his position. His ability to slow the pace and collect pucks gives Felbel an advantage when he’s between the pipes.

Fans are treated to an epic show when Felbel is in net. His determination goes as far as to lash out of the crease and swipe the puck away at any opportunity. Like any goaltender, Felbel is not afraid of the puck. He invites his opponents to try and take a shot on him. More often then not, the puck will not cross the thin painted line between the pipes.

“You kind of just go into muscle-memory mode, you go in, try to focus, visualize,” Felbel said about his tendencies. “You just try to be there, be the best you can for whatever situation presents itself.”

A mural of the desert is worn on Felbel’s head on a floor made of ice. The helmet he wears is almost as unique as the personality of the goaltender. The ASU Pitchfork logo pops with vibrant maroon and gold.

One ear vent is surrounded by a detailed depiction of Monument Valley and the colorful Arizona state flag. The other has the Canadian national flag stenciled with the prairies as well as a white-tailed deer. Finally, on the back, “Manitoba” is depicted to remind Felbel of where his humble beginnings started.

The helmet is special to Felbel. Representing not only his school, but also his lifestyle. A kid from the frigid climate of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who now bakes in the Arizona heat.

“My mask shows off the duality of my hockey career,” Felbel said. “It reminds me where I came from and where I can go from there.” 

He gives his defensemen ease knowing that he is always there as a last resort.

Junior defenseman Stefan Valvur praised Felbel for all of his efforts on the ice. Valvur mentioned how he and the team has complete trust in Felbel when he is in net.

“He’s a true enthusiast for the game,” Valvur said. “He has so much competitiveness out there and does everything he can to get the puck out and he’s a huge part of our team.”

Valvur also mentioned how Felbel has a serious personality but is very outgoing to help others. Valvur called Felbel not only a “great teammate” but also a “great friend.”

“He’s a leader and he basically shows us the way,” Valvur said.

“I mean, he’s got a near 95 save percentage,” coach Brown said. “Without that, we’re not winning these games.”

His time was not always spent in the crease during his youth.

Felbel was a late bloomer to the goaltending position as he originally played as a wing until about 10 years old. When he went to a house for daycare, Felbel was always the youngest so the older kids would throw him in net and would rattle him with shots.

Through the days of target practice, Felbel grew to enjoy it. Felbel described the position as high-risk but enjoys the aspect of always being involved in the play.

“You’re either the hero or the goat,” Felbel said. “It feels better to be a hero than to have all the goals pinned on you. You play for those moments where you can step up help your team and make the big saves when they need you to.”