Graduating from the University of Denver didn't bring immediate satisfaction to Jarid Lukosevicius. When he finished school following winter quarter he was singularly focused on helping the Pioneers return to the Frozen Four. It wasn't until after the season ended, he signed a two-year contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins and officially received his degree in June that he could digest its significance.

"I thought about all the hard work and all the grinding I did for school," Lukosevicius said. "It's a different sense of accomplishment than hockey. Looking back at freshman year, some of those classes were so hard and I thought there's no way I was going to make it, and here I am now."

Still, he refuses to take all the credit. He makes sure staff such as Greg Grauberger, the Executive Director of Undergraduate Student Services in the Daniel's College of Business, receive recognition for helping keep him on track to finish his classes on time.

Lukosevicius elected to pursue a finance degree because of its resourcefulness and lack of public speaking engagements. He remains pleased with that decision, though recognizes he may use the degree as a resource more than an avenue to eventually land a finance job. When his playing career concludes, Lukosevicius wants to remain in hockey in some capacity. He's considered offering private lessons back home in Squamish, British Columbia.

"I think finance is a good tool to have," Lukosevicius said. "Freshman year we found out that general business wasn't available (as a major), so Troy Terry and I decided to go into finance because it was the best option. Well, I did, Troy didn't obviously."

Lukosevicius has rejoined his former roommate and Anaheim Ducks forward, Terry, this summer in Denver. He's among the group of alumni training with Director of Sports Performance Matt Shaw and, when he's not working out, he's in his backyard with his newest toy. Lukosevicius recently purchased a hockey net and 100 pucks to share with his roommates, Ian Mitchell, Jaakko Heikkinen and Ryan Barrow. He assembled the net in two hours, complete with a surrounding fishing net to ensure if pucks hit the crossbar, they won't hit the roof.

"We're smart, that's why I got my degree," Lukosevicius said with a smirk. "I don't have school, so all I do is work out and sit at home. I got so bored and I was like 'I'm going to buy a hockey net and shoot pucks and get better.'"

With a degree in one hand and contract in the other, Lukosevicius is already focused on improving for next year.

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