TEMPE, ARIZ. -- The Arizona State men's ice hockey team looks to extend their win streak to three-straight, in the first home series at Oceanside Ice Arena of 2018 as they take on UMass-Lowell.
ASU (6-12-4) returns to the rink in the desert as the Champions of the inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational with wins against Northern Michigan, 7-3, and Michigan Tech, 3-2. The River Hawks (12-9) are the 10th team the Sun Devils face that is either ranked or receiving votes in the USCHO poll.
The Sun Devils first-ever tournament win in program history was a showcase of success from players who laid dormant in recent matchups. In the sliding victory over Northern Michigan, the entire captain's line including Dylan Hollman, Louie Rowe, and Anthony Croston, all scored goals in the same game for the first time this season. Graduate forward Gage Hough beat NMU's goaltender for back-to-back goals and defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk scored his fourth goal of the season.
On Saturday night, Pasichnuk's two goals in the championship game brought him into a tie for leading point scorer with forward Brett Gruber at 14 total and second in goal-scoring behind forward Tyler Busch with six sent to the back of the net through 22 games. For his performance in Vegas, NCAA Ice Hockey named Pasichnuk the second star of the week.
Freshman Johnny Walker collected his fifth goal of the season against Michigan Tech with assists from Croston and goaltender Joey Daccord.
In addition to notching his second assist of the season, Daccord recorded his 10th game in the last 11 appearances with 30-plus saves.
The Devils and River Hawks last met during the 2015-16 season when ASU was the new kid on the block, and the USCHO poll ranked UMass-Lowell No. 8 in the country.
Both rosters looked a bit different then, with ASU's current graduate Hough in his second season as a River Hawk and his former teammate, Dylan Hollman serving his year-in-residence after transferring from Lowell. The Sun Devils suffered two losses that series, with Hough assisting on one of the goals against his current team.
The River Hawks are led by Tampa Bay Lightning's 2016 7th round pick Ryan Lohin. The sophomore forward boasts seven goals and 13 assists for 20 total points, including two goals last weekend against in-state rival, UMass.
Lowell's leading goal scorer John Edwardh is also on a hot streak as of late, scoring one goal in three of the last four games for eight goals throughout the season.
River Hawks junior Christoffer Hernberg stands between the pipes with a .929 save percentage, and season-high 33 saves against Northeastern and UConn. New York Rangers 2016 draft pick sophomore goaltender Tyler Wall has seen the ice six times for a .823 save percentage.
ASU (6-12-4) returns to the rink in the desert as the Champions of the inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational with wins against Northern Michigan, 7-3, and Michigan Tech, 3-2. The River Hawks (12-9) are the 10th team the Sun Devils face that is either ranked or receiving votes in the USCHO poll.
The Sun Devils first-ever tournament win in program history was a showcase of success from players who laid dormant in recent matchups. In the sliding victory over Northern Michigan, the entire captain's line including Dylan Hollman, Louie Rowe, and Anthony Croston, all scored goals in the same game for the first time this season. Graduate forward Gage Hough beat NMU's goaltender for back-to-back goals and defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk scored his fourth goal of the season.
On Saturday night, Pasichnuk's two goals in the championship game brought him into a tie for leading point scorer with forward Brett Gruber at 14 total and second in goal-scoring behind forward Tyler Busch with six sent to the back of the net through 22 games. For his performance in Vegas, NCAA Ice Hockey named Pasichnuk the second star of the week.
Freshman Johnny Walker collected his fifth goal of the season against Michigan Tech with assists from Croston and goaltender Joey Daccord.
In addition to notching his second assist of the season, Daccord recorded his 10th game in the last 11 appearances with 30-plus saves.
The Devils and River Hawks last met during the 2015-16 season when ASU was the new kid on the block, and the USCHO poll ranked UMass-Lowell No. 8 in the country.
Both rosters looked a bit different then, with ASU's current graduate Hough in his second season as a River Hawk and his former teammate, Dylan Hollman serving his year-in-residence after transferring from Lowell. The Sun Devils suffered two losses that series, with Hough assisting on one of the goals against his current team.
The River Hawks are led by Tampa Bay Lightning's 2016 7th round pick Ryan Lohin. The sophomore forward boasts seven goals and 13 assists for 20 total points, including two goals last weekend against in-state rival, UMass.
Lowell's leading goal scorer John Edwardh is also on a hot streak as of late, scoring one goal in three of the last four games for eight goals throughout the season.
River Hawks junior Christoffer Hernberg stands between the pipes with a .929 save percentage, and season-high 33 saves against Northeastern and UConn. New York Rangers 2016 draft pick sophomore goaltender Tyler Wall has seen the ice six times for a .823 save percentage.