The Shreveport Mudbugs, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), are pleased to announce that defenseman Croix Evingson, 19, has committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, who are members of Hockey East.

Evingson (6’5/210) becomes the first player in the Mudbugs brief NAHL history to make an NCAA commitment.

The native of Anchorage, Alaska, has had a memorable first month of the 2016-17 season. In 9 games played, he has recorded 10 points, which in 3rd on the Mudbugs in scoring and tied for 5th among all NAHL defensemen.

Evingson has made an immediate impact for the Mudbugs, who posted a 5-3-1 record to date. He was named the NAHL Defenseman of the Month for September as he recorded 8 points in just six games during the month, which also included a +8 rating.

Evingson also posted two three-point games and has recorded a point in six of his eight games played to date.

Evingson was selected in the 7th round of the 2016 NAHL Draft. He played last season for the Kenai River Brown Bears in the NAHL and Chicago Steel in the USHL.

“Croix has been a very solid player for us and we were excited to get him in the NAHL Draft this summer. We rely heavily on him in all situations and his combination of size and puck-moving ability makes him a great all-around defenseman,” said Shreveport head coach Karlis Zirnis.