TEMPE – Sun Devil ice hockey alumni Jacob Semik and Demetrios Koumontzis have made the next steps in their careers by signing a pair of ECHL professional hockey contracts teams announced in the last week. Semik signed with the Utah Grizzlies and Koumontzis agreed to terms with the Idaho Steelheads.
Both defensemen made their debuts for their respective teams in the past week.
Both graduates were staples of the Sun Devil Hockey program for the last handful of years. As a fifth-year skater, Koumontzis was part of the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018-19. When Semik was a freshman the following year (2019-20), the team was projected to make the second consecutive tournament berth before the disruption of COVID-19.
Semik spent his four-year tenure in Tempe as a fierce defenseman, appearing in 134 games and scoring three goals and 27 assists. Semik only missed two possible games in his entire four-year career. In his senior season, Semik boasted a +9 plus/minus and had nine assists in 39 games while donning the "A" patch for ASU over the last two seasons.
The Scottsdale native spent five years with the program relishing as a forward, but transitioned to defense in the middle of his final season when the Sun Devils fell shorthanded due to injury. Koumontzis provided the heavy force that ASU needed and finished his college hockey career with 22 goals, 45 assists and four game-winning goals, including a career-high seven goals in his final season. Koumontzis was an integral part of the captains' group and was named alternate captain at the beginning of the year with Josh Doan (C) and Semik (A) for in the inaugural season at Mullett Arena. At the end of his freshman season, he was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft as the 108th overall pick.
The two signings follow Sun Devil alumni Chris Grando (Jacksonville Icemen) and Josh Doan (Arizona Coyotes) Doan's three-year entry level contract begins in the 2023-24 season and he is currently playing down south with the Tucson Roadrunners, an AHL affiliate with the Coyotes.
The four signings follow six former Sun Devils who signed professional contracts from the 2021-22 season, including last year's captain Colin Theisen (Tucson Roadrunners, AHL), defenseman Jacob Wilson (Providence Bruins, AHL), forward Johnny Walker (Utah Grizzlies, ECHL), defenseman Tim Theocharidis (Adirondack Thunder) and forwards Jack Becker and Willie Knierim (Idaho Steelheads, ECHL).
The Idaho Steelheads and the Utah Grizzlies are both based in the ECHL Western Conference. The Grizzlies boast a record of 29-28-3 and the Steelheads lead the conference with a record of 48-9-1.
Both defensemen made their debuts for their respective teams in the past week.
Both graduates were staples of the Sun Devil Hockey program for the last handful of years. As a fifth-year skater, Koumontzis was part of the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018-19. When Semik was a freshman the following year (2019-20), the team was projected to make the second consecutive tournament berth before the disruption of COVID-19.
Semik spent his four-year tenure in Tempe as a fierce defenseman, appearing in 134 games and scoring three goals and 27 assists. Semik only missed two possible games in his entire four-year career. In his senior season, Semik boasted a +9 plus/minus and had nine assists in 39 games while donning the "A" patch for ASU over the last two seasons.
OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL ??
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 22, 2023
congratulations, @JacobSemik ?? pic.twitter.com/HgYVYMODpq
The Scottsdale native spent five years with the program relishing as a forward, but transitioned to defense in the middle of his final season when the Sun Devils fell shorthanded due to injury. Koumontzis provided the heavy force that ASU needed and finished his college hockey career with 22 goals, 45 assists and four game-winning goals, including a career-high seven goals in his final season. Koumontzis was an integral part of the captains' group and was named alternate captain at the beginning of the year with Josh Doan (C) and Semik (A) for in the inaugural season at Mullett Arena. At the end of his freshman season, he was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft as the 108th overall pick.
SIGNED, SEALED, AND DELIVERED ??
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 18, 2023
Congratulations, @dkoumontzis ?? pic.twitter.com/iS0tFg2oOJ
The two signings follow Sun Devil alumni Chris Grando (Jacksonville Icemen) and Josh Doan (Arizona Coyotes) Doan's three-year entry level contract begins in the 2023-24 season and he is currently playing down south with the Tucson Roadrunners, an AHL affiliate with the Coyotes.
The four signings follow six former Sun Devils who signed professional contracts from the 2021-22 season, including last year's captain Colin Theisen (Tucson Roadrunners, AHL), defenseman Jacob Wilson (Providence Bruins, AHL), forward Johnny Walker (Utah Grizzlies, ECHL), defenseman Tim Theocharidis (Adirondack Thunder) and forwards Jack Becker and Willie Knierim (Idaho Steelheads, ECHL).
The Idaho Steelheads and the Utah Grizzlies are both based in the ECHL Western Conference. The Grizzlies boast a record of 29-28-3 and the Steelheads lead the conference with a record of 48-9-1.