COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After nine years of competing as an independent program, the Arizona State hockey team (3-4-1) finally lives out the dream of playing for a conference title. The Sun Devils' National Collegiate Hockey Conference schedule begins this weekend at No. 8/8 Colorado College (6-0-0) at Ed Robson Arena. Fans can watch the matchup on NCHC.tv or listen on Fox Sports 910. Friday night's game will also air locally in Phoenix on Fox 10 XTRA KUTP. Puck drop on night one begins at 7 p.m. MST, and Saturday starts at 6 p.m. MST.
"It's a first, and the message is, 'Hey, we only have one first game in the NCHC ever," said Sun Devil Hockey head coach Greg Powers. "All these guys get the honor and the opportunity to compete in that game. It's on us to write the script and not let them dictate how it goes. We need to go in and dictate how this goes, and we have the team that can do it. So it's a great opportunity, and we only get one."
The Sun Devils face their third-ranked opponent this season at No. 8 Colorado College. ASU has a 0-3-1 record against teams ranked in the USCHO.com poll, including a home series against then-No. 10 Michigan and on the road at then-No. 14 Providence.
MR. CLUTCH
Senior Penn State transfer Ryan Kirwan leads the Arizona State team in goals with six this season. Kirwan tallied three goals at Northern Michigan two weeks ago, and all lamplighters came within the final five minutes of regulation, and two were game-winning. He put up 12 shots on the weekend in Marquette to reach 42 shots through eight games played this season, which leads the entire country. Kirwan's shots on net from the slot per 60 attempts are in the top three percent among all skaters in the NCAA, while his offense-generating plays per 60 attempts are in the top five percent. Kirwan has proven that he's a high-volume shooter who is skilled at generating high-danger chances. His teams are 16-0-0 when Kirwan notches a multipoint game and 7-0-0 on nights where he has multiple goals.
DUAL THREAT
The Sun Devils have operated with a dual-threat system in the crease through the past eight games. Gibson Homer (2-2-1) collected his second career shutout at Northern Michigan on Saturday night with 22 saves. He boasts a 2.03 goals against average and a .926 save percentage through five starts. Luke Pavicich, a senior transfer from UMass Lowell, made three starts, including the go-ahead on night one in Marquette two weeks ago. Pavicich boasts a .920 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average.
LAST TIME VS. COLORADO COLLEGE
Last December, the Sun Devils - who were 10-3-1 and ranked No. 12/13 in the country - made the trip up to Colorado Springs to take on a then 7-5-0 Colorado College Tigers. In the series' first game, the two finished in a 2-2 tie, but ASU came away with the shootout win. On Saturday night, former ASU goaltender TJ Semptimphelter put on an absolute show in a 38-save shutout victory. His third shutout of the season and eighth of his career tied Joey Daccord's program record. With the 2-0 win, ASU improved to 6-2-2 all-time against the Tigers.
"Well, we've played them a lot through the years. So it's nothing that we're not prepared for or haven't done in the past. They're very good, undefeated, and in the top ten. They don't have many holes. They've improved even from last year and were good last year. So we understand how difficult it will be, but we're confident, and we think we can go in and have success," said Powers.
In the last meeting, ASU put up 50 shots on CC goaltender Kaiden Mbereko over the two-game series and tallied four goals against him.
"We've always actually had success against him. So we're hoping to build off that, get him moving, and hopefully put some pucks behind him," said alternate captain Ty Murchison.
SERIES HISTORY (6-2-2, in favor of ASU)
ASU and CC first met during the 2017-18 season in the Sun Devils' third full season as an NCAA Division I team. In the initial meeting, ASU traveled to CC's home rink of Broadmoor Arena and was shutout on night one before coming back to capture a 4-4 tie. In ASU's NCAA tournament run year, the Sun Devils hosted the Tigers and collected a series sweep, 4-2 and 4-0. During the final season of Oceanside (2021-22), ASU returned to the Springs and earned a series split. CC was only the second opponent to face the Sun Devils within the halls of Mullett Arena and the first team to suffer a series sweep within ASU's new barn during the 2022-23 season. This is the first season that ASU and CC meet four overall times in a home-and-home showcase. The two teams are part of a three-team pod that includes Denver within the NCHC.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
The Tigers have been primarily backstopped by Kaidan Mbereko, who earned his second-straight weekly honor as NCHC Goaltender of the Week for the week of Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2024. He led CC to a sweep of cross-town rival Air Force, allowing only three goals all weekend while helping CC capture the Pikes Peak Trophy for a sixth straight season. On the season, Mbereko is 6-0-0 with a .940 save percentage and 1.33 GAA; both are top in the NCHC.
BACK IN THE LINEUP
Artem Shlaine returned to the lineup for the first time this season at Northern Michigan two weeks ago. Shlaine served as a faceoff specialist for the Sun Devils and competed as a top two-way center. He tallied an assist in his former home barn. Shlaine wore the 'A' in his junior year at Northern Michigan and 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 55 points.
"It's a first, and the message is, 'Hey, we only have one first game in the NCHC ever," said Sun Devil Hockey head coach Greg Powers. "All these guys get the honor and the opportunity to compete in that game. It's on us to write the script and not let them dictate how it goes. We need to go in and dictate how this goes, and we have the team that can do it. So it's a great opportunity, and we only get one."
The Sun Devils face their third-ranked opponent this season at No. 8 Colorado College. ASU has a 0-3-1 record against teams ranked in the USCHO.com poll, including a home series against then-No. 10 Michigan and on the road at then-No. 14 Providence.
MR. CLUTCH
Senior Penn State transfer Ryan Kirwan leads the Arizona State team in goals with six this season. Kirwan tallied three goals at Northern Michigan two weeks ago, and all lamplighters came within the final five minutes of regulation, and two were game-winning. He put up 12 shots on the weekend in Marquette to reach 42 shots through eight games played this season, which leads the entire country. Kirwan's shots on net from the slot per 60 attempts are in the top three percent among all skaters in the NCAA, while his offense-generating plays per 60 attempts are in the top five percent. Kirwan has proven that he's a high-volume shooter who is skilled at generating high-danger chances. His teams are 16-0-0 when Kirwan notches a multipoint game and 7-0-0 on nights where he has multiple goals.
DUAL THREAT
The Sun Devils have operated with a dual-threat system in the crease through the past eight games. Gibson Homer (2-2-1) collected his second career shutout at Northern Michigan on Saturday night with 22 saves. He boasts a 2.03 goals against average and a .926 save percentage through five starts. Luke Pavicich, a senior transfer from UMass Lowell, made three starts, including the go-ahead on night one in Marquette two weeks ago. Pavicich boasts a .920 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average.
LAST TIME VS. COLORADO COLLEGE
Last December, the Sun Devils - who were 10-3-1 and ranked No. 12/13 in the country - made the trip up to Colorado Springs to take on a then 7-5-0 Colorado College Tigers. In the series' first game, the two finished in a 2-2 tie, but ASU came away with the shootout win. On Saturday night, former ASU goaltender TJ Semptimphelter put on an absolute show in a 38-save shutout victory. His third shutout of the season and eighth of his career tied Joey Daccord's program record. With the 2-0 win, ASU improved to 6-2-2 all-time against the Tigers.
"Well, we've played them a lot through the years. So it's nothing that we're not prepared for or haven't done in the past. They're very good, undefeated, and in the top ten. They don't have many holes. They've improved even from last year and were good last year. So we understand how difficult it will be, but we're confident, and we think we can go in and have success," said Powers.
In the last meeting, ASU put up 50 shots on CC goaltender Kaiden Mbereko over the two-game series and tallied four goals against him.
"We've always actually had success against him. So we're hoping to build off that, get him moving, and hopefully put some pucks behind him," said alternate captain Ty Murchison.
SERIES HISTORY (6-2-2, in favor of ASU)
ASU and CC first met during the 2017-18 season in the Sun Devils' third full season as an NCAA Division I team. In the initial meeting, ASU traveled to CC's home rink of Broadmoor Arena and was shutout on night one before coming back to capture a 4-4 tie. In ASU's NCAA tournament run year, the Sun Devils hosted the Tigers and collected a series sweep, 4-2 and 4-0. During the final season of Oceanside (2021-22), ASU returned to the Springs and earned a series split. CC was only the second opponent to face the Sun Devils within the halls of Mullett Arena and the first team to suffer a series sweep within ASU's new barn during the 2022-23 season. This is the first season that ASU and CC meet four overall times in a home-and-home showcase. The two teams are part of a three-team pod that includes Denver within the NCHC.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
The Tigers have been primarily backstopped by Kaidan Mbereko, who earned his second-straight weekly honor as NCHC Goaltender of the Week for the week of Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2024. He led CC to a sweep of cross-town rival Air Force, allowing only three goals all weekend while helping CC capture the Pikes Peak Trophy for a sixth straight season. On the season, Mbereko is 6-0-0 with a .940 save percentage and 1.33 GAA; both are top in the NCHC.
BACK IN THE LINEUP
Artem Shlaine returned to the lineup for the first time this season at Northern Michigan two weeks ago. Shlaine served as a faceoff specialist for the Sun Devils and competed as a top two-way center. He tallied an assist in his former home barn. Shlaine wore the 'A' in his junior year at Northern Michigan and 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 55 points.