TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Hockey announced their 2020 signing class Friday, which includes six incoming student-athletes for the 2020-21 season. The recruiting class ranks fifth nationally according to neutralzone.net.
Two of the six are NHL draft picks, while the class features four forwards, a goaltender and a defenseman.
"This is an exciting and new level of draft class for us, and one that we've been very excited about bringing in," said head coach Greg Powers. "We have a great balance of two-way players, an elite goaltender and raw talent top to bottom. They'll be another freshmen class that comes in and makes an immediate impact.
"Our staff has done a tremendous job going out and getting us players. This class excites us as is and we have other verbally committed players that could be great options to add to this class as well. We will make that determination at the end of everyone's seasons."
2019-20 Signees
Ryan O'Reilly
Forward ('00) – Southlake, Texas
Originally committed to Denver, the Southlake, Texas native will be the fifth NHL draft pick to play in the Maroon & Gold. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 98th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, O'Reilly is one of three 4.25-star prospects coming to Tempe in 2020. In just over three USHL seasons, he's recorded 48 goals and 45 assists, while wearing an 'A' for the Green Bay Gamblers in the 2019-20 season. In 2018, O'Reilly played for Team USA's U19 team in the World Junior A Challenge tournament in Bonnyville, Alberta. Team USA won the tournament and O'Reilly was one of just five USA players to record four points.
"Ryan is a very high-end talent," said head coach Greg Powers. "He's big and he can flat out score. I don't think we've had a player with his physical make-up yet and we're thrilled he chose to be a Sun Devil."
Michael Mancinelli
Forward ('01) – Northville, Mich.
A former North Dakota commit, Mancinelli committed to ASU in December and bolsters the center position for the Sun Devils in 2020-21. One of two Northville, Michigan natives coming in, Mancinelli is one of the youngest recruits in this class as he turns 19 this summer. During his rookie USHL season in Madison, he ranked 6th in the league in scoring among rookies with 35 points. In 2018, Mancinelli played for Team USA at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Neutralzone.net ranks Mancinelli as a 4.25 star – one of three coming to Tempe.
"Michael is a complete 200-foot center. He can score, win draws and can play in his own end," said head coach Greg Powers. "He'll fit in very well right away, especially with losing a right-shot center like Brett Gruber."
Cole Brady
Goaltender ('01) – Pickering, ON
Standing at a whopping 6-foot-5, 175lbs, Brady will be the largest goaltender the Sun Devils have had stand between the pipes. A Devil thru and thru, Brady was drafted by the New Jerseys Devils in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. During his freshman season in Janesville, Brady earned the Jet's MVP award after posting a 21-17-1-3 record with five shutouts, which tied for the fifth-most in the NAHL. Currently, he ranks among the top 10 in the USHL in goals against average, save percentage and fourth in wins with 18. He is the third of three 4.25 stars coming to ASU, according to Neutralzone.net.
"Cole is a special talent. He's a big and very cerebral goaltender," said head coach Greg Powers. "He's developed a very high compete level over three years of junior hockey and is ready to come to ASU and really add to our goaltending group with Evan and Justin. He's a great teammate and loves to win. He's been committed to us for a long time and we're thrilled he's finally coming to Tempe."
Matthew Kopperud
Forward ('99) – Denver, Colo.
In his first year in the USHL, Matthew Kopperud sits fifth on the team in points (40) and is currently riding a seven-game point streak for the Saints. The Denver native committed to the Sun Devils in September of 2018, and will arrive after two-straight, 40-plus point seasons. In 2018-19 with the Merritt Centennials, Kopperud recorded a career-high 51 points with 27 goals in 49 games. He now ranks 26th overall in scoring among skaters in the USHL.
"Matthew has been on our radar for a long time. He attended our very first summer camp before the hybrid year and stayed in touch ever since," said head coach Greg Powers. "He's a very gifted offensive player that competes every shift and loves to put up points."
Benji Eckerle
Forward ('99) – Northville, Mich.
The second of two incoming Sun Devils from Northville, Eckerle and Mancinelli both grew up playing for Compuware Bantams in Michigan – one of the top youth programs in the country – as well as Little Caesars. A player that can play any position up front, he brings versatility to the Sun Devil lineup and one that will contribute right away. This season, he has a career-high 32 points with Tri-City and ranks 4th on the team in scoring.
"Benji does it all. He can play any position up front and can really skate," said head coach Greg Powers. "He is responsible in his own end and has really developed a really good offensive game throughout his career. He's also an incredibly high-character kid and will really add value to our culture inside the room."
Carson Kosobud
Defenseman ('99) – Moorhead, Minn.
As the only defenseman in this class, Kosobud is another former Phoenix kid that made his way to Minnesota for high school (Demetrios Koumontzis). Kosobud played at Moorhead High School and committed to ASU during his senior season in April 2017. That same year, he helped lead Moorhead to the Minnesota 2A state hockey championship. His speed and skating ability will help fill the back end upon the graduation of co-captain Brinson Pasichnuk. On Wednesday night, Kosobud scored the overtime game-winner for Penticton to help push them through the first round of the BCHL playoffs. Through the first round, he currently has the third-most points of all defenseman with a goal and three assists in five games.
"Carson is big,strong, and can skate incredibly well," said head coach Greg Powers. "He'll be a welcomed addition to our back end and will make us more difficult to play against. He grew up in Phoenix and we're thrilled he's coming back home to be a Sun Devil."
Two of the six are NHL draft picks, while the class features four forwards, a goaltender and a defenseman.
"This is an exciting and new level of draft class for us, and one that we've been very excited about bringing in," said head coach Greg Powers. "We have a great balance of two-way players, an elite goaltender and raw talent top to bottom. They'll be another freshmen class that comes in and makes an immediate impact.
"Our staff has done a tremendous job going out and getting us players. This class excites us as is and we have other verbally committed players that could be great options to add to this class as well. We will make that determination at the end of everyone's seasons."
2019-20 Signees
Ryan O'Reilly
Forward ('00) – Southlake, Texas
| SEASON | TEAM | GAMES PLAYED | GOALS | ASSISTS |
| 2019-20 | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) | 41 | 16 | 15 |
| 2018-19 | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) | 16 | 3 | 8 |
| Fargo Force (USHL) | 41 | 11 | 9 | |
| 2017-18 | Madison Capitols (USHL) | 45 | 21 | 13 |
Originally committed to Denver, the Southlake, Texas native will be the fifth NHL draft pick to play in the Maroon & Gold. Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 98th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, O'Reilly is one of three 4.25-star prospects coming to Tempe in 2020. In just over three USHL seasons, he's recorded 48 goals and 45 assists, while wearing an 'A' for the Green Bay Gamblers in the 2019-20 season. In 2018, O'Reilly played for Team USA's U19 team in the World Junior A Challenge tournament in Bonnyville, Alberta. Team USA won the tournament and O'Reilly was one of just five USA players to record four points.
"Ryan is a very high-end talent," said head coach Greg Powers. "He's big and he can flat out score. I don't think we've had a player with his physical make-up yet and we're thrilled he chose to be a Sun Devil."
Michael Mancinelli
Forward ('01) – Northville, Mich.
| SEASON | TEAM | GAMES PLAYED | GOALS | ASSISTS |
| 2019-20 | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) | 43 | 15 | 10 |
| 2018-19 | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) | 29 | 8 | 10 |
| Fargo Force (USHL) | 29 | 5 | 7 | |
| 2017-18 | Madison Capitols (USHL) | 57 | 17 | 18 |
A former North Dakota commit, Mancinelli committed to ASU in December and bolsters the center position for the Sun Devils in 2020-21. One of two Northville, Michigan natives coming in, Mancinelli is one of the youngest recruits in this class as he turns 19 this summer. During his rookie USHL season in Madison, he ranked 6th in the league in scoring among rookies with 35 points. In 2018, Mancinelli played for Team USA at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Neutralzone.net ranks Mancinelli as a 4.25 star – one of three coming to Tempe.
"Michael is a complete 200-foot center. He can score, win draws and can play in his own end," said head coach Greg Powers. "He'll fit in very well right away, especially with losing a right-shot center like Brett Gruber."
Cole Brady
Goaltender ('01) – Pickering, ON
| SEASON | TEAM | GAMES PLAYED | RECORD | GAA | SV% |
| 2019-20 | Fargo Force (USHL) | 36 | 18-12-3-2 | 2.83 | .904 |
| 2018-19 | Janesville Jets (NAHL) | 43 | 21-17-1-3 | 2.79 | .912 |
Standing at a whopping 6-foot-5, 175lbs, Brady will be the largest goaltender the Sun Devils have had stand between the pipes. A Devil thru and thru, Brady was drafted by the New Jerseys Devils in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. During his freshman season in Janesville, Brady earned the Jet's MVP award after posting a 21-17-1-3 record with five shutouts, which tied for the fifth-most in the NAHL. Currently, he ranks among the top 10 in the USHL in goals against average, save percentage and fourth in wins with 18. He is the third of three 4.25 stars coming to ASU, according to Neutralzone.net.
"Cole is a special talent. He's a big and very cerebral goaltender," said head coach Greg Powers. "He's developed a very high compete level over three years of junior hockey and is ready to come to ASU and really add to our goaltending group with Evan and Justin. He's a great teammate and loves to win. He's been committed to us for a long time and we're thrilled he's finally coming to Tempe."
Matthew Kopperud
Forward ('99) – Denver, Colo.
| SEASON | TEAM | GAMES PLAYED | GOALS | ASSISTS |
| 2019-20 | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) | 43 | 16 | 24 |
| 2018-19 | Merritt Centennials (BCHL) | 49 | 27 | 24 |
| 2017-18 | Merritt Centennials (BCHL) | 40 | 9 | 8 |
In his first year in the USHL, Matthew Kopperud sits fifth on the team in points (40) and is currently riding a seven-game point streak for the Saints. The Denver native committed to the Sun Devils in September of 2018, and will arrive after two-straight, 40-plus point seasons. In 2018-19 with the Merritt Centennials, Kopperud recorded a career-high 51 points with 27 goals in 49 games. He now ranks 26th overall in scoring among skaters in the USHL.
"Matthew has been on our radar for a long time. He attended our very first summer camp before the hybrid year and stayed in touch ever since," said head coach Greg Powers. "He's a very gifted offensive player that competes every shift and loves to put up points."
Benji Eckerle
Forward ('99) – Northville, Mich.
| SEASON | TEAM | GAMES PLAYED | GOALS | ASSISTS |
| 2019-20 | Tri-City Storm (USHL) | 46 | 14 | 19 |
| 2018-19 | Tri-City Storm (USHL) | 53 | 6 | 11 |
| 2017-18 | Janesville Jets (NAHL) | 50 | 7 | 15 |
The second of two incoming Sun Devils from Northville, Eckerle and Mancinelli both grew up playing for Compuware Bantams in Michigan – one of the top youth programs in the country – as well as Little Caesars. A player that can play any position up front, he brings versatility to the Sun Devil lineup and one that will contribute right away. This season, he has a career-high 32 points with Tri-City and ranks 4th on the team in scoring.
"Benji does it all. He can play any position up front and can really skate," said head coach Greg Powers. "He is responsible in his own end and has really developed a really good offensive game throughout his career. He's also an incredibly high-character kid and will really add value to our culture inside the room."
Carson Kosobud
Defenseman ('99) – Moorhead, Minn.
| SEASON | TEAM | GAMES PLAYED | GOALS | ASSISTS |
| 2019-20 | Penticton Vees (BCHL Postseason) | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Penticton Vees (BCHL) | 57 | 4 | 13 | |
| 2018-19 | Penticton Vees (BCHL) | 31 | 2 | 10 |
| Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL) | 14 | 0 | 3 |
As the only defenseman in this class, Kosobud is another former Phoenix kid that made his way to Minnesota for high school (Demetrios Koumontzis). Kosobud played at Moorhead High School and committed to ASU during his senior season in April 2017. That same year, he helped lead Moorhead to the Minnesota 2A state hockey championship. His speed and skating ability will help fill the back end upon the graduation of co-captain Brinson Pasichnuk. On Wednesday night, Kosobud scored the overtime game-winner for Penticton to help push them through the first round of the BCHL playoffs. Through the first round, he currently has the third-most points of all defenseman with a goal and three assists in five games.
"Carson is big,strong, and can skate incredibly well," said head coach Greg Powers. "He'll be a welcomed addition to our back end and will make us more difficult to play against. He grew up in Phoenix and we're thrilled he's coming back home to be a Sun Devil."