Rio Grande Valley forward Croston makes NCAA DI commitment

February 12, 2015

The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that veteran forward Anthony Croston has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey next season for Arizona State University (ASU). ASU will compete as a NCAA DI independent program beginning in the 2015-16 season.

 

ASU Head Coach Greg Powers made it his plan to make sure Arizona kids don't leave the state to go play college hockey. Croston was NCAA-bound somewhere, and Powers made sure it was going to be at ASU.

 

"It's an unbelievable feeling," Croston said. "It's always been something I've dreamt of."

 

Croston is originally from Colorado, but moved around as a kid, playing his youth hockey in Colorado, Seattle and finally settling in Arizona.

 

At 17-20-6, his Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees are sixth in the NAHL's South division. Croston has 10 goals, 17 assists and 27 points in 43 games next year. He was also chosen to compete in the 2015 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament on February 23-24 in Ann Arbor, MI.

 

While plus/minus is far from a perfect stat, Croston has managed a plus 29 in 102 NAHL games, playing for Rio Grande Valley. He also has 64 career points in those games. He plays strong defensively in the middle of the ice, and figures to have the chops to stay at center for the NCAA season.

 

Croston joins his good friend and commit Cody Gylling (Amarillo) next season in Tempe, while also good friends with current Sun Devils Drew Newmeyer and Ed McGovern, as the four played youth hockey together in Scottsdale.

 

"I love Arizona, it's one of my favorite places to be," Croston said. "I thought being in that environment would be an unreal experience. It definitely impacts my decision."