TEMPE, Ariz. -- Bigger, faster, tougher. Those three characteristics topped head coach Greg Powers' list of must-haves from the transfer portal this off-season. On Wednesday, Powers and his Arizona State University ice hockey staff announced a group of five new Sun Devils for the 2023-24 season who fit the bill. The group includes three forwards and two defensemen from Boston College, Yale, UMass Lowell, Colgate, and Penn State.
The forwards: Brian Chambers, Tyler Gratton, and Alex Young combined for 73 total points from 36 goals and 37 assists in 2022-23. The duo of defensemen, Cade Alami and Brandon Tabakin, combined for 42 blocks, two goals, and seven assists last season.
"These five players all address a specific area of need we feel we needed to attack. They make us bigger, faster, and tougher. The identity of which we established Sun Devil Hockey has been hard, heavy and very difficult to play against. That will be how our team plays and it will be at a level like never before with the addition of these five veteran players, the players returning, and our freshmen class," said head coach Greg Powers.
Three of the five players, Gratton, Tabakin, and Chambers, have championship experience prior to their collegiate careers and are USHL Clark Cup Champions. Tabakin and Chambers were teammates during the Sioux Fall Stampede's 2018-19 championship and Gratton won the Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel in 2016-17.
MEET THE NEWEST SUN DEVILS
Alex Young Senior Forward
5'11" | 183 lbs
Shoots: Right
Calgary, AB, CAN
Drafted: 2020 7th round, #196 overall by San Jose Sharks
Twitter: @Alex12Young | Instagram: @alexyoung_12
Young, a 2020 San Jose Sharks draft pick, heads to the desert after three seasons and 100 NCAA games at Colgate. This past season was Young's best yet, the Canada native put up 39 points - nearly a point per game - and tallied a single season high of 21 goals while finishing the year with 18 assists, +1 plus/minus, and 37 penalty minutes. Young was instrumental in bolstering Colgate to its best season in decades in 2022-23, as the Raiders earned their first ECAC Championship in 33 years and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014-15. During his sophomore campaign, Young saw action in 39 games and recorded 31 points from 10 goals and a team-leading 21 assists. He finished the year tied sixth in the ECAC in assists and second on the team in power play goals with five. He also led the Raiders with eight multi-point games and logged 108 shots on goal and 31 blocked shots while being named to the Raider Academic Honor Roll and the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.
In his first year in Hamilton, Young was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, on the ECAC All-Rookie Team, and was a finalist for the ECAC Rookie of the Year Award. He competed in 21 of the season's 22 games and topped the team with 13 points from six goals and seven assists. He also led the roster with 55 shots on goal and scored his first collegiate goal against Clarkson. Once again, he was named to both the Raider Academic Honor Roll and ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.
Before his time as a Raider, he played for the Canmore Eagles in the AJHL for three years. As an Eagle, Young saw action in 172 games and recorded 91 goals, 115 assists, and 206 points. Young helped bring his team to the playoffs every year he played in the AJHL. During his last season, Young donned the 'A' for his team. Tyler Gratton Graduate Forward
6'2" | 187 lbs
Shoots: Left
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Twitter: @gratton_tyler | Instagram: @t_gratts28
Gratton played in 123 games for Penn State from 2019-23 and is fresh off of his best point-scoring season with a career high 15 points in 2022-23 with seven goals and eight assists. In his senior year at Penn State, Gratton wore the 'A' as an alternate captain. In 2021-22, the Academic All-Big Ten honoree played in 37 games and scored a career high nine goals and tacked on three assists for 12 points. In his first two years with the team, Gratton scored seven points with four goals and three assists in 48 total games played. Prior to Penn State, Gratton spent the 2018-2019 season split between the Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL) and the Fargo Force (USHL), where he played a total of 58 combined games and scored 17 goals and 11 assists. He spent the previous two seasons (2016-18) with the Chicago Steel (USHL) and helped Chicago to the 2017 USHL Clark Cup Championship with 11 goals and 12 assists in 64 games played. Gratton was also named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team in 2016-17. In his second year with the Steel, the Pennsylvania native donned the alternate captain 'A'.
Brian Chambers Graduate Forward
6'1" | 193 lbs
Shoots: Right
Weymouth, Massachusetts
Twitter: @BrianChambers3 | Instagram: @brian_chambers
Chambers, a graduate transfer from UMass Lowell, spent four seasons with the River Hawks and competed in 104 games. He was a two-time Hockey East All-Academic Team selection. During the 2022-23 season, he recorded 19 points with eight goals and 11 assists in 28 total games. In his three previous years, he skated in 76 games and scored seven goals and dished out 15 assists. In his sophomore campaign, he scored two game-winning goals and assisted on a third. Chambers was also on the Sioux Falls Stampede for the 2018-19 season and helped the team win the '19 Clark Cup Championship alongside his once-again teammate Brandon Tabakin. He recorded 41 points with 17 goals and 24 assists with a +19 plus/minus rating in the team's championship season. During the Stampede's playoff run, he scored two goals and tallied three assists in 12 games. In the 2017-18 season, he played 30 games for the USHL's Cedar Rapids Roughriders and registered 12 points (4g, 8a) and played 18 games for the Northeast Generals in the NAHL with 11 points off three goals and eight assists. Brandon Tabakin Graduate Defenseman
5'10" | 170 lbs
Shoots: Left
Woodbury, New York
Instagram: @b_tabakin04
Tabakin played in 74 games for the Yale Bulldogs from 2019-23. During the 2022-23 season, he tallied 33 blocks and scored six points off of two goals and four assists in 29 games played. In 2021-22, he skated in 28 games and put up 16 blocks and three points, including his first career goal, and two assists. After his freshman season in 2019-20, Yale athletics ceased in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Tabakin returned to his USHL team, the Sioux Falls Stampede for a third season. In 2020-21, Tabakin skated in 31 games for the Stampede and collected nine assists. In his rookie year at Yale, the New York native earned time on ice in 17 appearances for three assists and was named an ECAC All-Academic Team member.
Before his collegiate career, Tabakin was part of the 2019 USHL Clark Cup Champion Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) squad. Over two years in Sioux Falls, Tabakin totaled 16 points in 102 games played. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, SD with the President's Award for Educational Excellence, Regents Scholar Award, and Advanced Placement Achievement. Cade Alami Junior Defenseman
6'7" | 212 lbs
Shoots: Right
Bedford, New York
Twitter: @AlamiCade | Instagram: @cadealami
A sophomore transfer from Boston College, Alami played in 39 games for the Eagles over two seasons and recorded 13 blocks and four assists. Standing at six-foot-seven-inches without skates, Alami adds much-needed size to ASU's d-core. Prior to Boston College, he spent the 2020-21 season with the Jersey Hitmen (NCDC) and earned a goal and four assists in 16 games. Alami spent a full season with the BCHL's Surrey Eagles where he posted 13 points in 58 games while tallying 67 penalty minutes. The New York native previously spent two seasons playing at the Berkshire School and the Mid Fairfield Rangers. While at the Berkshire School, he also played lacrosse, football, and tennis.
The forwards: Brian Chambers, Tyler Gratton, and Alex Young combined for 73 total points from 36 goals and 37 assists in 2022-23. The duo of defensemen, Cade Alami and Brandon Tabakin, combined for 42 blocks, two goals, and seven assists last season.
"These five players all address a specific area of need we feel we needed to attack. They make us bigger, faster, and tougher. The identity of which we established Sun Devil Hockey has been hard, heavy and very difficult to play against. That will be how our team plays and it will be at a level like never before with the addition of these five veteran players, the players returning, and our freshmen class," said head coach Greg Powers.
Three of the five players, Gratton, Tabakin, and Chambers, have championship experience prior to their collegiate careers and are USHL Clark Cup Champions. Tabakin and Chambers were teammates during the Sioux Fall Stampede's 2018-19 championship and Gratton won the Clark Cup with the Chicago Steel in 2016-17.
MEET THE NEWEST SUN DEVILS
Alex Young Senior Forward
5'11" | 183 lbs
Shoots: Right
Calgary, AB, CAN
Drafted: 2020 7th round, #196 overall by San Jose Sharks
Twitter: @Alex12Young | Instagram: @alexyoung_12
Young, a 2020 San Jose Sharks draft pick, heads to the desert after three seasons and 100 NCAA games at Colgate. This past season was Young's best yet, the Canada native put up 39 points - nearly a point per game - and tallied a single season high of 21 goals while finishing the year with 18 assists, +1 plus/minus, and 37 penalty minutes. Young was instrumental in bolstering Colgate to its best season in decades in 2022-23, as the Raiders earned their first ECAC Championship in 33 years and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014-15. During his sophomore campaign, Young saw action in 39 games and recorded 31 points from 10 goals and a team-leading 21 assists. He finished the year tied sixth in the ECAC in assists and second on the team in power play goals with five. He also led the Raiders with eight multi-point games and logged 108 shots on goal and 31 blocked shots while being named to the Raider Academic Honor Roll and the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.
In his first year in Hamilton, Young was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, on the ECAC All-Rookie Team, and was a finalist for the ECAC Rookie of the Year Award. He competed in 21 of the season's 22 games and topped the team with 13 points from six goals and seven assists. He also led the roster with 55 shots on goal and scored his first collegiate goal against Clarkson. Once again, he was named to both the Raider Academic Honor Roll and ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.
Before his time as a Raider, he played for the Canmore Eagles in the AJHL for three years. As an Eagle, Young saw action in 172 games and recorded 91 goals, 115 assists, and 206 points. Young helped bring his team to the playoffs every year he played in the AJHL. During his last season, Young donned the 'A' for his team. Tyler Gratton Graduate Forward
6'2" | 187 lbs
Shoots: Left
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Twitter: @gratton_tyler | Instagram: @t_gratts28
Gratton played in 123 games for Penn State from 2019-23 and is fresh off of his best point-scoring season with a career high 15 points in 2022-23 with seven goals and eight assists. In his senior year at Penn State, Gratton wore the 'A' as an alternate captain. In 2021-22, the Academic All-Big Ten honoree played in 37 games and scored a career high nine goals and tacked on three assists for 12 points. In his first two years with the team, Gratton scored seven points with four goals and three assists in 48 total games played. Prior to Penn State, Gratton spent the 2018-2019 season split between the Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL) and the Fargo Force (USHL), where he played a total of 58 combined games and scored 17 goals and 11 assists. He spent the previous two seasons (2016-18) with the Chicago Steel (USHL) and helped Chicago to the 2017 USHL Clark Cup Championship with 11 goals and 12 assists in 64 games played. Gratton was also named to the USHL All-Rookie Second Team in 2016-17. In his second year with the Steel, the Pennsylvania native donned the alternate captain 'A'.
Brian Chambers Graduate Forward
6'1" | 193 lbs
Shoots: Right
Weymouth, Massachusetts
Twitter: @BrianChambers3 | Instagram: @brian_chambers
Chambers, a graduate transfer from UMass Lowell, spent four seasons with the River Hawks and competed in 104 games. He was a two-time Hockey East All-Academic Team selection. During the 2022-23 season, he recorded 19 points with eight goals and 11 assists in 28 total games. In his three previous years, he skated in 76 games and scored seven goals and dished out 15 assists. In his sophomore campaign, he scored two game-winning goals and assisted on a third. Chambers was also on the Sioux Falls Stampede for the 2018-19 season and helped the team win the '19 Clark Cup Championship alongside his once-again teammate Brandon Tabakin. He recorded 41 points with 17 goals and 24 assists with a +19 plus/minus rating in the team's championship season. During the Stampede's playoff run, he scored two goals and tallied three assists in 12 games. In the 2017-18 season, he played 30 games for the USHL's Cedar Rapids Roughriders and registered 12 points (4g, 8a) and played 18 games for the Northeast Generals in the NAHL with 11 points off three goals and eight assists. Brandon Tabakin Graduate Defenseman
5'10" | 170 lbs
Shoots: Left
Woodbury, New York
Instagram: @b_tabakin04
Tabakin played in 74 games for the Yale Bulldogs from 2019-23. During the 2022-23 season, he tallied 33 blocks and scored six points off of two goals and four assists in 29 games played. In 2021-22, he skated in 28 games and put up 16 blocks and three points, including his first career goal, and two assists. After his freshman season in 2019-20, Yale athletics ceased in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and Tabakin returned to his USHL team, the Sioux Falls Stampede for a third season. In 2020-21, Tabakin skated in 31 games for the Stampede and collected nine assists. In his rookie year at Yale, the New York native earned time on ice in 17 appearances for three assists and was named an ECAC All-Academic Team member.
Before his collegiate career, Tabakin was part of the 2019 USHL Clark Cup Champion Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) squad. Over two years in Sioux Falls, Tabakin totaled 16 points in 102 games played. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, SD with the President's Award for Educational Excellence, Regents Scholar Award, and Advanced Placement Achievement. Cade Alami Junior Defenseman
6'7" | 212 lbs
Shoots: Right
Bedford, New York
Twitter: @AlamiCade | Instagram: @cadealami
A sophomore transfer from Boston College, Alami played in 39 games for the Eagles over two seasons and recorded 13 blocks and four assists. Standing at six-foot-seven-inches without skates, Alami adds much-needed size to ASU's d-core. Prior to Boston College, he spent the 2020-21 season with the Jersey Hitmen (NCDC) and earned a goal and four assists in 16 games. Alami spent a full season with the BCHL's Surrey Eagles where he posted 13 points in 58 games while tallying 67 penalty minutes. The New York native previously spent two seasons playing at the Berkshire School and the Mid Fairfield Rangers. While at the Berkshire School, he also played lacrosse, football, and tennis.