TEMPE, Ariz. – Senior defenseman Jordan Young and graduate forwards Liam Norris and Garrett Peterson have been named the first captains in Sun Devil Hockey history, head coach Greg Powers announced today. All three will wear the "C," with no alternate captains, Powers said.
“After much deliberation and evaluation we felt strongly that our most tenured players should wear letters,” Powers said. “Liam Norris has been here longer than any other coach and player besides myself and has helped build our program. Jordan Young is right behind Liam in tenure and has also helped build this program to where it is today.
“We wanted to mix in a different look as well and Garrett Peterson has been a model student athlete since the day he got here. Garrett won our iron man award for fitness testing and will provide valuable leadership and experience this young team needs in our first season.”
The Sun Devils are a young team – Young, Norris and Peterson are the only senior or graduate players this season.
Young enters the year at ASU having served as an alternate captain for the ACHA team for two years. It is his fourth year with the team, playing more games than any active player other than Norris. He is a local talent, growing up in Cave Creek, Ariz. and playing youth hockey at Oceanside with the Phoenix Firebirds.
Young was a captain with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL before coming to ASU, and captained Team USA at the World University Games last season.
“It’s just an honor,” Young said. “Being able to fill such an important role and to being able to be looked at as a guy who can start off the tradition that people can follow and whatnot, it’s awesome that the guys have faith in us and they can count on me to be that guy.”
Like Young, Norris was also an alternate captain for the ACHA Sun Devils, wearing the "A" on his sweater last season. This will be Norris’ fifth season at ASU, more than any person in the organization outside of Powers. Last season Norris registered 50 points in 36 games en route to the Western Collegiate Hockey League MVP.
Norris said has not been a captain since he played midget hockey in Canada, but feels prepared for the opportunity with a team he knows as well as anyone.
“I’ve been here with guys like (ACHA stars) Kale (Dolinski) and Danny (McAuliffe) and Colin Hekle and those guys who were wearing the letters and I didn't have one,” Norris said. “But I learned a lot from them and stepped into the leadership role when they were here, even without a letter. It’s seeing guys like that be leaders and just following in their footsteps.”
Peterson is a graduate transfer from Notre Dame, coming to the Sun Devils after graduating from the Mendoza College of Business. Of the three captains, he is the only one with NCAA experience, registering a +3 rating in 41 career games.
He served as a captain for his Triple-A hockey team, as well as juniors before he got to college.
“My heart absolutely sank when Coach told us the captains today in the locker room,” Peterson said. “I have to say it felt like the call I got from Coach to come to ASU for the first time. My heart totally sank then and to be named the captain of this inaugural team, it’s just an honor. Not a lot of words can describe it.”
The Sun Devils open their season against Arizona on Oct. 3 at Gila River Arena in Glendale. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 480-563-PUCK (7825) or visiting ArizonaCoyotes.com. Fans are encouraged to wear gold to the game.
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