SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- For the third time in less than two months, the Sun Devil men's hockey team travels east to Massachusetts which begins with a weekday game against American International on Tuesday night at MassMutual Center.
After spending the game-less week working on several key aspects of their game, head coach Greg Powers intends for the Devils (4-13-0) to come out fast with fresh, rested legs against the Yellow Jackets (3-8-6).
"We're just focused on Tuesday despite it being a three day trip," said Powers. "We know AIC is much improved, and they're having a good year and have done some really good things with a new staff. We know we're going to have our hands full every game this trip. But the more we can win going into the Desert Hockey Classic, the more confidence we can build.
"The guys are fresh, but we're in what we're calling our third segment of our season -- which started after Thanksgiving -- so we're .500 and the goal was to be over .500. So, we want to get over that mark, get a win Tuesday, and play downhill going into the weekend."
Tuesday night's match-up has a little more meaning than just the first meeting between the two programs, as two Devils are very familiar with AIC.
Redshirt junior David Norris started his NCAA career in the gold and black, pacing his team in assists with 26 during his freshman campaign. He also finished his rookie season with seven goals for 33 points, which was good enough for second during the 2013-14 season. After starting his sophomore season with four goals and 10 assists in 15 games, Norris decided to transfer to ASU -- then a club program -- and play with his brother and former forward, Liam.
After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, Norris is playing his first NCAA season since transferring from AIC.
Also familiar with Springfield is assistant coach Mike Field, who spent four seasons as a forward for the Yellow Jackets from 2004 to 2008. Upon graduating, Field returned as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for AIC for another four years from 2008-12.
In order to leave the reunion on top, the Devils may need to tally several goals if history is any indication. In each of ASU's four victories this season, it took five goals to seal the deal.
Graduate senior Robbie Baillargeon continues to pace the team in goals and points with eight and 15, respectively. Baillargeon along with three other Sun Devils -- redshirt sophomore Louie Rowe, redshirt junior Wade Murphy and freshman Tyler Busch -- are currently averaging at least a point-per-game over the last four games.
On the point of scoring, the Devils and Yellow Jackets have both netted 40 goals on the season through 17 games, which is tied for 44th nationally. Special teams -- which often is where games have been won or lost recently -- favors AIC, as they own the third best power-play percentage in the country at 25.4% while the Devils boast a penalty killing percentage of just 74%.
However, the Yellow Jackets have also struggled on the kill at 77.6%.
The key for both teams will be staying out of the box. ASU currently has 125 penalties against -- which includes 19 in game one against Notre Dame -- versus AIC's 101 this season.
American International is led by freshman Blake Christensen with five goals and 10 assists. While he paces the team in points and assists, fellow rookie Dominik Florian leads the team in scoring with seven goals thus far this season. In the Yellow Jackets' most recent series -- a two-game sweep against Maine -- Christensen tallied a goal and two assists.
Led by head coach Eric Lang, AIC will be aiming to end a three-game skid with their last victory coming on Nov. 26 against Niagara. That win is also the only victory for the Yellow Jackets over the last 11 games, as they've had five ties during that span with three occurring in a row from Nov. 4-10.
Following the one-night showdown on Tuesday, Powers and the Devils will travel to Amherst, Mass. for two games against Massachusetts on Friday and Saturday.
After spending the game-less week working on several key aspects of their game, head coach Greg Powers intends for the Devils (4-13-0) to come out fast with fresh, rested legs against the Yellow Jackets (3-8-6).
"We're just focused on Tuesday despite it being a three day trip," said Powers. "We know AIC is much improved, and they're having a good year and have done some really good things with a new staff. We know we're going to have our hands full every game this trip. But the more we can win going into the Desert Hockey Classic, the more confidence we can build.
"The guys are fresh, but we're in what we're calling our third segment of our season -- which started after Thanksgiving -- so we're .500 and the goal was to be over .500. So, we want to get over that mark, get a win Tuesday, and play downhill going into the weekend."
Tuesday night's match-up has a little more meaning than just the first meeting between the two programs, as two Devils are very familiar with AIC.
Redshirt junior David Norris started his NCAA career in the gold and black, pacing his team in assists with 26 during his freshman campaign. He also finished his rookie season with seven goals for 33 points, which was good enough for second during the 2013-14 season. After starting his sophomore season with four goals and 10 assists in 15 games, Norris decided to transfer to ASU -- then a club program -- and play with his brother and former forward, Liam.
After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, Norris is playing his first NCAA season since transferring from AIC.
Also familiar with Springfield is assistant coach Mike Field, who spent four seasons as a forward for the Yellow Jackets from 2004 to 2008. Upon graduating, Field returned as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for AIC for another four years from 2008-12.
In order to leave the reunion on top, the Devils may need to tally several goals if history is any indication. In each of ASU's four victories this season, it took five goals to seal the deal.
Graduate senior Robbie Baillargeon continues to pace the team in goals and points with eight and 15, respectively. Baillargeon along with three other Sun Devils -- redshirt sophomore Louie Rowe, redshirt junior Wade Murphy and freshman Tyler Busch -- are currently averaging at least a point-per-game over the last four games.
On the point of scoring, the Devils and Yellow Jackets have both netted 40 goals on the season through 17 games, which is tied for 44th nationally. Special teams -- which often is where games have been won or lost recently -- favors AIC, as they own the third best power-play percentage in the country at 25.4% while the Devils boast a penalty killing percentage of just 74%.
However, the Yellow Jackets have also struggled on the kill at 77.6%.
The key for both teams will be staying out of the box. ASU currently has 125 penalties against -- which includes 19 in game one against Notre Dame -- versus AIC's 101 this season.
American International is led by freshman Blake Christensen with five goals and 10 assists. While he paces the team in points and assists, fellow rookie Dominik Florian leads the team in scoring with seven goals thus far this season. In the Yellow Jackets' most recent series -- a two-game sweep against Maine -- Christensen tallied a goal and two assists.
Led by head coach Eric Lang, AIC will be aiming to end a three-game skid with their last victory coming on Nov. 26 against Niagara. That win is also the only victory for the Yellow Jackets over the last 11 games, as they've had five ties during that span with three occurring in a row from Nov. 4-10.
Following the one-night showdown on Tuesday, Powers and the Devils will travel to Amherst, Mass. for two games against Massachusetts on Friday and Saturday.