MARQUETTE, Mich. – For the first time in program history, the Arizona State ice hockey team (1-4-1) is goin' up north to face the Northern Michigan Wildcats on the shores of Lake Superior. The Sun Devils drop the puck against the Wildcats on Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. AZT/7 p.m. ET and on Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. AZT/6 p.m. ET. Both games are available on Midco Sports Plus and on the airwaves on Fox Sports 910.
ASU competes in its second-straight road game after suffering a series sweep at No. 14 Providence. After an off-week over Halloweekend, the Sun Devils once again return to mountain heights at Colorado College for ASU's first conference games in program history.
The Sun Devils look to make a strong presence on the road with the Pairwise rankings in mind, especially since the Pairwise system looks at road wins favorably when deciding the NCAA Tournament field.
Key offensive players make their return to the lineup this weekend as Artem Shlaine and Charlie Schoen after experiencing injuries in the off-season.
SERIES HISTORY
The Wildcats and Sun Devils have faced off three times in the last ten years. This weekend is ASU's first-ever trip to Marquette and the Berry Events Center. Last season, Northern Michigan traveled to Mullett Arena in October. Then, ASU came away with the series sweep in two 3-2 and 5-1 wins. The first time the two programs met was in Las Vegas for the Ice Vegas Invitational in 2017-18. ASU beat Northern Michigan 7-3 on the opening night of the tournament to reach the championship game. ASU eventually defeated Michigan Tech, 3-2, to secure it's first holiday tournament win in program history.
BACK IN THE LINEUP
After missing the first six games of the season, forwards Artem Shlaine and Charlie Schoen return to the lineup for the first time this season at Northern Michigan. Schoen looks to bring more speed and skill to the offense while Shlaine should serve as a faceoff specialist for the Sun Devils and compete as a top two-way center.
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Artem Shlaine returns to his former Wildcat territory after transferring from Northern Michigan following two seasons with the Wildcats. Shaline wore the 'A' in his junior year in Marquette and was upgraded to a captain for his senior year in 2023-24. Shlaine played in 65 games for the Wildcats and tallied 21 goals and 34 assists for a total 55 points.
WIZARDING WORLD OF CULLEN POTTER
Six games into his college hockey career, Potter is already scoring highlight reel goals and actively assisting teammates on the scoresheet. He completed his first collegiate two-point night versus No. 10 Michigan on Saturday with one goal and one assist. His goal that gave ASU the shootout victory does not count towards his NCAA record. Can he reach the point-scoring prestige of the likes of ASU greats Josh Doan and Johnny Walker from their rookie years? Doan set the ASU program record for points by as a freshman with 37 in 2021-22. Walker previously held the record with 24 points in his first year during the 2017-18 season. The highly touted ASU rookie is the second-youngest player in the NCAA. The U.S. National Development Program product is 17 years old and turns 18 on Jan. 10, 2025. He's only seven days older than the youngest player in college hockey (Sascha Boumedienne, Boston University).
NHL DEVILS
Joey Daccord signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $5 million and begins next season.
The 28-year-old goalie could have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. He's in his second full season in the NHL after going 19-18-11 with a 2.46 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts in 50 games (46 starts) for Seattle in 2023-24.
Former Sun Devil Hockey captain Josh Doan made the NHL opening day roster for the Utah Hockey Club's inaugural season in Salt Lake City. Doan spent one season with the AHL Tucson Roadrunners and made his NHL debut for the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on March 27, 2024.
Forty-eight skaters from the NCHC made NHL rosters. Along with those 48, another 12 alumni of NCHC teams, who didn't play in the NCHC (two of which are Daccord and Doan), landed a spot on opening-night rosters. In all, a total of 60 alumni from NCHC teams will begin the 2024-25 season on NHL rosters.
CONTENDING IN THE CONFERENCE
Despite the slump in goal scoring, ASU leads the conference in shots on net through six games with 186. Sun Devil netminders have also had to make the most saves in the NCHC at 176 between Gibson Homer and Luke Pavicich.
Noah Beck is tied for the conference lead in points with nine. Bennett Schimek's eight points through six games is tied for second in the NCHC. Schimek also leads the conference in goals scored with four.
Cullen Potter leads the NCHC in shots followed by teammates Ryan Kirwan, Bennett Schimek,, and Noah Beck who own the second, sixth and 12th spots in the conference, respectively.
ASU competes in its second-straight road game after suffering a series sweep at No. 14 Providence. After an off-week over Halloweekend, the Sun Devils once again return to mountain heights at Colorado College for ASU's first conference games in program history.
The Sun Devils look to make a strong presence on the road with the Pairwise rankings in mind, especially since the Pairwise system looks at road wins favorably when deciding the NCAA Tournament field.
Key offensive players make their return to the lineup this weekend as Artem Shlaine and Charlie Schoen after experiencing injuries in the off-season.
SERIES HISTORY
The Wildcats and Sun Devils have faced off three times in the last ten years. This weekend is ASU's first-ever trip to Marquette and the Berry Events Center. Last season, Northern Michigan traveled to Mullett Arena in October. Then, ASU came away with the series sweep in two 3-2 and 5-1 wins. The first time the two programs met was in Las Vegas for the Ice Vegas Invitational in 2017-18. ASU beat Northern Michigan 7-3 on the opening night of the tournament to reach the championship game. ASU eventually defeated Michigan Tech, 3-2, to secure it's first holiday tournament win in program history.
BACK IN THE LINEUP
After missing the first six games of the season, forwards Artem Shlaine and Charlie Schoen return to the lineup for the first time this season at Northern Michigan. Schoen looks to bring more speed and skill to the offense while Shlaine should serve as a faceoff specialist for the Sun Devils and compete as a top two-way center.
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Artem Shlaine returns to his former Wildcat territory after transferring from Northern Michigan following two seasons with the Wildcats. Shaline wore the 'A' in his junior year in Marquette and was upgraded to a captain for his senior year in 2023-24. Shlaine played in 65 games for the Wildcats and tallied 21 goals and 34 assists for a total 55 points.
WIZARDING WORLD OF CULLEN POTTER
Six games into his college hockey career, Potter is already scoring highlight reel goals and actively assisting teammates on the scoresheet. He completed his first collegiate two-point night versus No. 10 Michigan on Saturday with one goal and one assist. His goal that gave ASU the shootout victory does not count towards his NCAA record. Can he reach the point-scoring prestige of the likes of ASU greats Josh Doan and Johnny Walker from their rookie years? Doan set the ASU program record for points by as a freshman with 37 in 2021-22. Walker previously held the record with 24 points in his first year during the 2017-18 season. The highly touted ASU rookie is the second-youngest player in the NCAA. The U.S. National Development Program product is 17 years old and turns 18 on Jan. 10, 2025. He's only seven days older than the youngest player in college hockey (Sascha Boumedienne, Boston University).
NHL DEVILS
Joey Daccord signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $5 million and begins next season.
The 28-year-old goalie could have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. He's in his second full season in the NHL after going 19-18-11 with a 2.46 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts in 50 games (46 starts) for Seattle in 2023-24.
Former Sun Devil Hockey captain Josh Doan made the NHL opening day roster for the Utah Hockey Club's inaugural season in Salt Lake City. Doan spent one season with the AHL Tucson Roadrunners and made his NHL debut for the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on March 27, 2024.
Forty-eight skaters from the NCHC made NHL rosters. Along with those 48, another 12 alumni of NCHC teams, who didn't play in the NCHC (two of which are Daccord and Doan), landed a spot on opening-night rosters. In all, a total of 60 alumni from NCHC teams will begin the 2024-25 season on NHL rosters.
CONTENDING IN THE CONFERENCE
Despite the slump in goal scoring, ASU leads the conference in shots on net through six games with 186. Sun Devil netminders have also had to make the most saves in the NCHC at 176 between Gibson Homer and Luke Pavicich.
Noah Beck is tied for the conference lead in points with nine. Bennett Schimek's eight points through six games is tied for second in the NCHC. Schimek also leads the conference in goals scored with four.
Cullen Potter leads the NCHC in shots followed by teammates Ryan Kirwan, Bennett Schimek,, and Noah Beck who own the second, sixth and 12th spots in the conference, respectively.