TEMPE, Ariz. -- When the Sun Devil hockey team played its final game of the season on Feb. 24 at Michigan, it marked an emotional changing of the guard. Senior David Norris was the last Sun Devil to play for both the ASU club program and its three-year-old Division I program.
Norris' brother, Liam, also played for ASU from 2011-16, so when the Sun Devils take the ice next season, coach Greg Powers will not field a single player who played club hockey in Tempe, and for the first time in seven years, he will not field a Norris.
"We were joking that he may have to make one of the rookies next year wear a Norris jersey just to keep it going," David Norris said. "To look back and see I was able to help create a culture here, that is special."
Norris transferred from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts to ASU in 2014 to play with his brother, which he did for half a season before sitting out the following due to NCAA transfer rules when the program elevated to Division I.
"In a perfect world, I would have liked to do a lot better after he left but being around him and being able to play with him in club, it made us so much closer than we probably would have ever been," said Norris, who had four goals and nine points in 20 games this season. "That aspect worked out 100 percent the way I wanted it to."
Having both sons playing in Tempe also allowed the Norris's parents, Jack and Joan, who are from Calgary, to attend numerous games.
"When we talk about David, it's really more about what his whole family has meant to the program," Powers said. "The Norris family left a legacy. They're just good people and they helped us grow our program. For seven years, I had a Norris play for me, but I think I'll be close to them for the rest of my life."
Norris is earning a master's degree in legal studies, focusing on sports law and business. He may complete that degree program this summer; he may be back next fall. If he returns, he'll get a close-up look at the foundation he helped lay and the expectations he helped elevate.
The Sun Devils will introduce a talented freshman class next season to complement sophomore and junior classes that logged heavy ice time this season. Nine of the Sun Devils' top 10 scorers from last season return, including Brinson Pasichnuk (26 points), Brett Gruber (25 points), Tyler Busch (15 points) and Johnny Walker (24 points).
With those pieces in place, Powers will no longer be satisfied with progress. He wants wins.
"Will we continue to focus on our process? Absolutely, but we want some more tangible results," Powers said. "We always cared about wins, but even though we were much closer to getting them, this year was not about wins and losses as much as it was building the program and the culture and getting those guys experience.
"Next year, after all those close games we lost and all that experience our guys gained, they need to translate."
Powers said recently announced plans to build a new hockey arena in time for the 2020-21 season have escalated recruiting efforts for the program and provided a sense of purpose for the players already in the program.
"Next year's freshman class is incredible and since the announcement, interest has picked up tenfold," he said. "We feel confident to go sit at the table with anybody now and have a legitimate chance of getting kids to come here."
Norris still wants to play hockey. He is exploring the possibility of playing in North America or perhaps Europe, where he has friends who play in England, France and Germany. Whatever his plans, he said he will remain involved and in touch with the Sun Devils program.
"It's come a long way," he said. "I remember in that first tournament out at Gila River Arena [in January 2016], we didn't even score a goal. This year, we won a tournament [in Las Vegas] so you can definitely see it's becoming a respectable program that is getting exponentially better each year.
"It's been fun to watch. It's been cool to be a part of it."
Norris' brother, Liam, also played for ASU from 2011-16, so when the Sun Devils take the ice next season, coach Greg Powers will not field a single player who played club hockey in Tempe, and for the first time in seven years, he will not field a Norris.
"We were joking that he may have to make one of the rookies next year wear a Norris jersey just to keep it going," David Norris said. "To look back and see I was able to help create a culture here, that is special."
Norris transferred from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts to ASU in 2014 to play with his brother, which he did for half a season before sitting out the following due to NCAA transfer rules when the program elevated to Division I.
"In a perfect world, I would have liked to do a lot better after he left but being around him and being able to play with him in club, it made us so much closer than we probably would have ever been," said Norris, who had four goals and nine points in 20 games this season. "That aspect worked out 100 percent the way I wanted it to."
Having both sons playing in Tempe also allowed the Norris's parents, Jack and Joan, who are from Calgary, to attend numerous games.
"When we talk about David, it's really more about what his whole family has meant to the program," Powers said. "The Norris family left a legacy. They're just good people and they helped us grow our program. For seven years, I had a Norris play for me, but I think I'll be close to them for the rest of my life."
Norris is earning a master's degree in legal studies, focusing on sports law and business. He may complete that degree program this summer; he may be back next fall. If he returns, he'll get a close-up look at the foundation he helped lay and the expectations he helped elevate.
The Sun Devils will introduce a talented freshman class next season to complement sophomore and junior classes that logged heavy ice time this season. Nine of the Sun Devils' top 10 scorers from last season return, including Brinson Pasichnuk (26 points), Brett Gruber (25 points), Tyler Busch (15 points) and Johnny Walker (24 points).
With those pieces in place, Powers will no longer be satisfied with progress. He wants wins.
"Will we continue to focus on our process? Absolutely, but we want some more tangible results," Powers said. "We always cared about wins, but even though we were much closer to getting them, this year was not about wins and losses as much as it was building the program and the culture and getting those guys experience.
"Next year, after all those close games we lost and all that experience our guys gained, they need to translate."
Powers said recently announced plans to build a new hockey arena in time for the 2020-21 season have escalated recruiting efforts for the program and provided a sense of purpose for the players already in the program.
"Next year's freshman class is incredible and since the announcement, interest has picked up tenfold," he said. "We feel confident to go sit at the table with anybody now and have a legitimate chance of getting kids to come here."
Norris still wants to play hockey. He is exploring the possibility of playing in North America or perhaps Europe, where he has friends who play in England, France and Germany. Whatever his plans, he said he will remain involved and in touch with the Sun Devils program.
"It's come a long way," he said. "I remember in that first tournament out at Gila River Arena [in January 2016], we didn't even score a goal. This year, we won a tournament [in Las Vegas] so you can definitely see it's becoming a respectable program that is getting exponentially better each year.
"It's been fun to watch. It's been cool to be a part of it."