LAS VEGAS – The Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League selected future Minnesota State men's hockey defenseman Luke Ashton (North Vancouver, British Columbia) in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 165th overall Saturday night at the Las Vegas Sphere.
 
Ashton penned a National Letter of Intent to join the Mavericks in 2024-25. The left-shot defenseman was ranked No. 123 in the NHL Central Scouting final ranking of North American skaters for the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
 
In his first season with the Langley Rivermen (British Columbia Hockey League) in 2023-24, he played 53 games and posted 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points with 18 penalty minutes.
 
He also skated in four playoff games and recorded one goal. Ashton played for the Vernon Vipers (BCHL) for two seasons prior to Langley and totaled 81 games, two goals and seven assists, along with 25 penalty minutes. In 2022-23, he tallied one goal and three assists in 10 playoff games.
 
Prior to making the jump to the BCHL, Ashton spent three seasons with the Burnaby Winter Club.
 
"It is a well-earned opportunity for Luke and his career," said Minnesota State head coach Luke Strand. "It is only the beginning of what he will become. Columbus got a world class person and a player with a tremendously high ceiling."
 
Ashton is listed as a 6-foot-7-inch, 231-pound left shot defenseman born in 2005.
 
Since November, Minnesota State men's hockey has announced 12 off-season signings.
 
The Mavericks have had three players sign professional contracts since the end of the 2023-24 season, including Sam Morton (Calgary Flames), Tony Malinowski (Reading Royals) and Lucas Sowder (Pioneers Vorarlberg – Austria). Forty MSU alumni are currently playing professionally at all levels.
 
Twenty-nine Minnesota State student-athletes have played an NHL game since Tim Jackman debuted for Columbus in 2003.