TEMPE, Ariz. – After wrapping up the NCAA portion of the season, Sun Devil Hockey returns home for the final series of the year and Senior Weekend at Oceanside Ice Arena. Tickets are still available by calling 480-965-5812 or purchase online here.
The Sun Devils (10-19-3) welcome a familiar opponent from their club days, as Simon Fraser University from Vancouver, British Columbia returns for a two-game series.
"Just like any other year, when you see guys go after seeing them grow as players and people over the course of their college careers, it's always emotional because those are guys you have been through a lot with," said head coach Greg Powers. "This is a unique class with two guys who won an ACHA National Championship and put our program on the map and two other guys who have helped us build this initial foundation. We'll miss all four greatly."
ASU will honor its four seniors during pregame on Saturday night, which include defenseman Drew Newmeyer, forwards Robbie Baillargeon and Ryan Belonger, and goaltender Robert Levin.
As Powers mentioned, Newmeyer and Levin played key roles in the program's evolution, as they both contributed to the Devils' first-ever ACHA National Championship in 2014. Levin shouldered the team through the national tournament, recording two shutouts in four games in route to the tournament Most Valuable Player and the league's Rookie of the Year.
On the back end of his four-year tenure, the senior netminder led this year's group of goaltenders in wins – which were all the first of his NCAA career -- save percentage and goals against average.
After wrapping up his degree in business management and entrepreneurship, Levin will be starting law school at ASU.
Since his arrival in 2013, Newmeyer has stabilized the Devils' blue line for the last four years, while wearing the captain's patch just a season ago. While his first two seasons featured him atop the stat sheet for ASU, his leadership in the locker room and off the ice has made a much more important impact in the program's infancy.
Coach Powers commented on Newmeyer calling him, "a guy I would take on my team 10 years from now."
Newmeyer will finish his degree in finance this spring.
The year after the ACHA championship, Belonger – who started his college career at Northeastern University – saw something brewing in the desert. Upon transferring, the Green Bay, Wisconsin-native made an immediate impact with 32 points in 32 games in 2014-15. Belonger was one of the team's top scorers in their first NCAA season, and has continuously been a locker-room guy during his time as a Sun Devil.
Belonger is finishing up his degree in communications this spring.
On the other end of the spectrum, Baillargeon completes his short, one-year tenure as a Sun Devil. At the end of the NCAA portion of the season, the Ottawa Senators' draft pick finished tied for the lead in scoring (21) and assists (12) this season. Over the course of his 129 collegiate games, which started at Boston University, Baillargeon totaled 28 goals and 48 assists.
The former Terrier majored in history, and is now pursuing his master's in sports law & business.
DISECTING THE DEVILS
As of late, sophomore forward Anthony Croston and freshman goaltender Joey Daccord have been contributing factors to the Devils' recent success.
Over his last six games, Croston has netted seven goals, which matches his entire point total from his freshman season, and one assist. He finished the NCAA portion of the season in first for goals scored as the only player with double-digit goals (10), and tied for the lead in total points (21).
Daccord has recorded 138 total saves over his last three starts, with two 50-plus save performances. With a 1-1-1 record in those three games, he also boasts a 2.33 goals against average and .952 save percentage.
SIMON FRASER SUMMARY
Simon Fraser is currently riding a four-game winning streak entering their second series against an NCAA opponent, after dropping a game to both Alaska programs earlier this year.
SFU is led by Scott Patterson with seven goals and 16 assists this season. Former Sun Devil forward, Mak Barden – who played for coach Powers in the final season of the club years in 2014-15 – makes his return to Tempe as a member of Simon Fraser.
Between the pipes, Lyndon Stanwood holds a perfect 9-0-0 record with a .932 save percentage and 1.78 goals against average this season.
WHERE TO WATCH
Both games can be streamed live and for free on Pac-12.com/live.
The Sun Devils (10-19-3) welcome a familiar opponent from their club days, as Simon Fraser University from Vancouver, British Columbia returns for a two-game series.
"Just like any other year, when you see guys go after seeing them grow as players and people over the course of their college careers, it's always emotional because those are guys you have been through a lot with," said head coach Greg Powers. "This is a unique class with two guys who won an ACHA National Championship and put our program on the map and two other guys who have helped us build this initial foundation. We'll miss all four greatly."
ASU will honor its four seniors during pregame on Saturday night, which include defenseman Drew Newmeyer, forwards Robbie Baillargeon and Ryan Belonger, and goaltender Robert Levin.
As Powers mentioned, Newmeyer and Levin played key roles in the program's evolution, as they both contributed to the Devils' first-ever ACHA National Championship in 2014. Levin shouldered the team through the national tournament, recording two shutouts in four games in route to the tournament Most Valuable Player and the league's Rookie of the Year.
On the back end of his four-year tenure, the senior netminder led this year's group of goaltenders in wins – which were all the first of his NCAA career -- save percentage and goals against average.
After wrapping up his degree in business management and entrepreneurship, Levin will be starting law school at ASU.
Since his arrival in 2013, Newmeyer has stabilized the Devils' blue line for the last four years, while wearing the captain's patch just a season ago. While his first two seasons featured him atop the stat sheet for ASU, his leadership in the locker room and off the ice has made a much more important impact in the program's infancy.
Coach Powers commented on Newmeyer calling him, "a guy I would take on my team 10 years from now."
Newmeyer will finish his degree in finance this spring.
The year after the ACHA championship, Belonger – who started his college career at Northeastern University – saw something brewing in the desert. Upon transferring, the Green Bay, Wisconsin-native made an immediate impact with 32 points in 32 games in 2014-15. Belonger was one of the team's top scorers in their first NCAA season, and has continuously been a locker-room guy during his time as a Sun Devil.
Belonger is finishing up his degree in communications this spring.
On the other end of the spectrum, Baillargeon completes his short, one-year tenure as a Sun Devil. At the end of the NCAA portion of the season, the Ottawa Senators' draft pick finished tied for the lead in scoring (21) and assists (12) this season. Over the course of his 129 collegiate games, which started at Boston University, Baillargeon totaled 28 goals and 48 assists.
The former Terrier majored in history, and is now pursuing his master's in sports law & business.
DISECTING THE DEVILS
As of late, sophomore forward Anthony Croston and freshman goaltender Joey Daccord have been contributing factors to the Devils' recent success.
Over his last six games, Croston has netted seven goals, which matches his entire point total from his freshman season, and one assist. He finished the NCAA portion of the season in first for goals scored as the only player with double-digit goals (10), and tied for the lead in total points (21).
Daccord has recorded 138 total saves over his last three starts, with two 50-plus save performances. With a 1-1-1 record in those three games, he also boasts a 2.33 goals against average and .952 save percentage.
SIMON FRASER SUMMARY
Simon Fraser is currently riding a four-game winning streak entering their second series against an NCAA opponent, after dropping a game to both Alaska programs earlier this year.
SFU is led by Scott Patterson with seven goals and 16 assists this season. Former Sun Devil forward, Mak Barden – who played for coach Powers in the final season of the club years in 2014-15 – makes his return to Tempe as a member of Simon Fraser.
Between the pipes, Lyndon Stanwood holds a perfect 9-0-0 record with a .932 save percentage and 1.78 goals against average this season.
WHERE TO WATCH
Both games can be streamed live and for free on Pac-12.com/live.