NEW HAVEN, Conn. – One of the oldest programs in college hockey plays host to the newest program in the NCAA this weekend. Yale, which debuted a team in 1895, will host the Sun Devils in the first of three-straight weekends on the road for ASU.
It is the first-ever trip to Yale University for the Sun Devils (7-16-5), but not the first meeting between the two programs. ASU and the Bulldogs (9-11-1) have met in the semi-final round of the inaugural Desert Hockey Classic in 2016 at Gila River Arena. Yale, who was then ranked No. 12 in the country, won that contest, 4-0. Only three active Devils played in that game just two short years ago.
"The guys are excited to get back out on the road after very challenging home stretch that made us a better hockey team," said head coach Greg Powers. "Playing in a historic venue like Ingalls Rink at Yale against yet another top program is going to be a great challenge for our program."
Coach Powers and his team looks to pick up right where they left off on the road after winning the inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational four weekends ago.
Since the new year, the Sun Devils are averaging just under three goals per game, after averaging just 1.95 goals per game during the 2017 stretch of the season.
A group of underclassmen continue to lead that change, including sophomores Brinson Pasichnuk and Tyler Busch, as well as freshman Johnny Walker. The latter paces the team in goals scored with nine, which is tied for the program record for goals scored by a freshman in a season.
Pasichnuk is on a bit of a tear as of late with five multi-point performances in the last eight games, and three multi-assist games in the last five. He continues to lead the team in overall scoring with 21 points (6g, 15a).
While Pasichnuk is averaging 1.50 points per game over the last eight games with 12 points (3g, 9a), while Walker is averaging a point-per-game over the last five with four goals and an assist.
Fellow defenseman Jacob Wilson has also had a nice stretch over the last five games, averaging a point-per-game with four assists and a goal.
For Yale, junior Joe Snively paces the team as the only Bulldog with double-digit numbers in goals (11) and assists (10). When he scores a goal, Yale is 6-1-0 this season. In games he's held off the scoresheet, Yale is winless with eight losses.
Yale's season has seen its ups and downs, as the Bulldogs started the season off 4-2-0 before dropping five straight to end November. They followed that up with a 6-2-1 record before dropping their last two contests to Clarkson and St. Lawrence.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST/5 p.m. MST both nights and can be watched on the Ivy League Network.
It is the first-ever trip to Yale University for the Sun Devils (7-16-5), but not the first meeting between the two programs. ASU and the Bulldogs (9-11-1) have met in the semi-final round of the inaugural Desert Hockey Classic in 2016 at Gila River Arena. Yale, who was then ranked No. 12 in the country, won that contest, 4-0. Only three active Devils played in that game just two short years ago.
"The guys are excited to get back out on the road after very challenging home stretch that made us a better hockey team," said head coach Greg Powers. "Playing in a historic venue like Ingalls Rink at Yale against yet another top program is going to be a great challenge for our program."
Coach Powers and his team looks to pick up right where they left off on the road after winning the inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational four weekends ago.
Since the new year, the Sun Devils are averaging just under three goals per game, after averaging just 1.95 goals per game during the 2017 stretch of the season.
A group of underclassmen continue to lead that change, including sophomores Brinson Pasichnuk and Tyler Busch, as well as freshman Johnny Walker. The latter paces the team in goals scored with nine, which is tied for the program record for goals scored by a freshman in a season.
Pasichnuk is on a bit of a tear as of late with five multi-point performances in the last eight games, and three multi-assist games in the last five. He continues to lead the team in overall scoring with 21 points (6g, 15a).
While Pasichnuk is averaging 1.50 points per game over the last eight games with 12 points (3g, 9a), while Walker is averaging a point-per-game over the last five with four goals and an assist.
Fellow defenseman Jacob Wilson has also had a nice stretch over the last five games, averaging a point-per-game with four assists and a goal.
For Yale, junior Joe Snively paces the team as the only Bulldog with double-digit numbers in goals (11) and assists (10). When he scores a goal, Yale is 6-1-0 this season. In games he's held off the scoresheet, Yale is winless with eight losses.
Yale's season has seen its ups and downs, as the Bulldogs started the season off 4-2-0 before dropping five straight to end November. They followed that up with a 6-2-1 record before dropping their last two contests to Clarkson and St. Lawrence.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST/5 p.m. MST both nights and can be watched on the Ivy League Network.