GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller won't have split allegiances when he takes in the weekend series between the Sun Devil hockey team and Boston University on Friday at Gila River Arena and Saturday at Oceanside Ice Arena. He's still a Terrier by pedigree, having played one season for BU in 2016-17.
Underneath that red and white exterior, however, is a growing allegiance to the maroon and gold.
"I have to stick with where I went last year, with BU, and root for them, but against any other team, it's probably ASU," Keller said, laughing. "Other than BU, they'd probably be my team."
Keller, 19, has more than a passing interest in ASU hockey. Sun Devils freshman defenseman Jacob Wilson, 20, was Keller's youth teammate for several years with the St. Louis Junior Blues. The two roomed together at the famed Québec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. Boarding at residents' houses during that event is a time-honored tradition.
"I was pretty young at the time to be doing that with a billet family," Keller said. "He really took care of me."
Keller also went to high school with Sun Devils freshman forward Gage Mackie at powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota.
"It's a small world and it's cool to have those guys here," Keller said.
Keller leads the Coyotes with 14 goals and 36 points this season. He is third among NHL rookies in points, and a candidate for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
The Coyotes have maintained strong ties to ASU hockey since the program elevated to Division I status for the 2015-16 season. Keller hasn't done much in the way of promotion for the Sun Devils, but he is happy to see the program progressing and he likes the idea of helping the team's upward trajectory.
"Any time one of the guys from our team or anyone else can promote college hockey -- obviously a lot of guys in the NHL played college hockey and they know how much fun it was -- it's good to come out, watch a couple games, root them on and see it moving in the right direction," Keller said.
"Growing the game here in Arizona is huge and they're a really big part of that. [Scottsdale product and Toronto Maple Leafs center] Auston Matthews helped overall, but having college hockey helps a lot, too. I think this can be a big hockey state and ASU is getting more and more players each year. When they have those high-end guys, it will draw even more attention and hopefully they will be selling out buildings."
Keller said he planned to attend both games against BU this weekend, despite the fact that NHL players are on their All-Star break. He planned to bring a few of the Coyotes' young players with him. If called upon, he said he would like to help the program in any way possible.
"Definitely," he said. "I'd love to keep in touch with those guys, and if they have any questions about my experience or need anything, I'd be up for that."
Underneath that red and white exterior, however, is a growing allegiance to the maroon and gold.
"I have to stick with where I went last year, with BU, and root for them, but against any other team, it's probably ASU," Keller said, laughing. "Other than BU, they'd probably be my team."
Keller, 19, has more than a passing interest in ASU hockey. Sun Devils freshman defenseman Jacob Wilson, 20, was Keller's youth teammate for several years with the St. Louis Junior Blues. The two roomed together at the famed Québec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. Boarding at residents' houses during that event is a time-honored tradition.
"I was pretty young at the time to be doing that with a billet family," Keller said. "He really took care of me."
Keller also went to high school with Sun Devils freshman forward Gage Mackie at powerhouse Shattuck-St. Mary's in Minnesota.
"It's a small world and it's cool to have those guys here," Keller said.
Keller leads the Coyotes with 14 goals and 36 points this season. He is third among NHL rookies in points, and a candidate for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
The Coyotes have maintained strong ties to ASU hockey since the program elevated to Division I status for the 2015-16 season. Keller hasn't done much in the way of promotion for the Sun Devils, but he is happy to see the program progressing and he likes the idea of helping the team's upward trajectory.
"Any time one of the guys from our team or anyone else can promote college hockey -- obviously a lot of guys in the NHL played college hockey and they know how much fun it was -- it's good to come out, watch a couple games, root them on and see it moving in the right direction," Keller said.
"Growing the game here in Arizona is huge and they're a really big part of that. [Scottsdale product and Toronto Maple Leafs center] Auston Matthews helped overall, but having college hockey helps a lot, too. I think this can be a big hockey state and ASU is getting more and more players each year. When they have those high-end guys, it will draw even more attention and hopefully they will be selling out buildings."
Keller said he planned to attend both games against BU this weekend, despite the fact that NHL players are on their All-Star break. He planned to bring a few of the Coyotes' young players with him. If called upon, he said he would like to help the program in any way possible.
"Definitely," he said. "I'd love to keep in touch with those guys, and if they have any questions about my experience or need anything, I'd be up for that."