TEMPE - The Arizona State men's hockey team (0-0-0) opens its 2023-2024 season with an exhibition match against the University of Arizona (ACHA) on Oct. 6. Friday's puck drop is set for 7 p.m. MST at Mullett Arena and available to stream for free on the Pac-12 ASU Live Stream.
The rivalry matchup is reignited for the first time since 2015. Nearly a decade ago, the duel unfolded at Gila River Arena (now known as Desert Diamond Arena), as the newly promoted NCAA Division I Sun Devils dominated the ACHA Wildcats, 8-1, in front of an 8,000-person crowd. ASU has won 48 out of the last 49 meetings against Arizona.
Arizona is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), therefore the results of the game will not count toward ASU's overall NCAA Division I 2023-24 record.
"We're mainly looking to get some confidence going into the year. I know it's an exhibition game, but we're still going to take it just as seriously as any other game. It doesn't matter who we're playing. When we're putting our jersey on, we're putting our jersey on and we're gonna play how we want to play," said graduate forward and team captain Tyler Gratton.
The 2023-24 season is already underway for the Wildcats (2-1-0), who have only one loss this season, to the Arizona State ACHA Division I team. In the 2022-23 season, UArizona finished No. 11 in ACHA DI rankings with a 16-9-4 record.
"The last thing I said to the guys is, don't take them lightly. You just never know, you never know. You know damn well that they're gonna come up and give their best effort. We're going to go after them," said ASU head coach Greg Powers.
In the inaugural season at Mullett Arena last year, the Sun Devils hosted 24 home games and played 15 games on the road. With an overall season record of 18-21-0, the Sun Devils recorded their third-highest wins in a season in program history. The Sun Devils also finished the 2022-23 season with the third-best penalty kill unit in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey.
OFFSEASON MOVES: "We got bigger. We got harder. We got a lot tougher."
Head coach Greg Powers added five transfers to the roster this offseason. The group includes three forwards and two defensemen culminating 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.
FRESH FACES
With nine new freshmen on the roster for the 2023-2024 season, ASU bolstered several open spots with young talent. Joining the Sun Devils is Hank Levy (G), Anthony Dowd (D), Matthew Romer (F), David Hymovitch (F), Josh Niedermayer (D), Kyle Smolen (F), Cole Gordon (F), Cole Helm (F), and Tony Achille (F).
"They've all done a good job. Three that stick out in my head would be, Kyle Smolen. He's a really good player. He can play up-and-down a lineup. Anthony Dowd's been tremendous, he led Chicago in points for defensemen last year. He's as skilled as it gets. And Matthew Romer. He's seasoned, he's polished. He's been very very good," said Powers of the rookie group.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
TJ Semptimphelter resumes his reign between this pipes in 2023-24. The junior from New Jersey finished sixth in the NCAA in saves with 1024 through 36 games played. That save mark landed Semptimphelter third in all-time single season saves behind only Joey Daccord's 1030 in 2018-19 and 1084 in 2017-18. Last season, Semptimphelter recorded five shutouts to tie for fifth in the NCAA. Joey Daccord holds the ASU career record for shutouts with eight.
KRAZY FOR KOPPERUD
The long-awaited return of Matthew Kopperud is finally upon Sun Devil Hockey. The senior battled season-ending injuries last year, but is healthy for the start of the 2023-24 season. The Denver native is ranked fifth in active career goals amongst all current skaters in the NCAA with 41. The leader of the NCAA has 46. Kopperud leads all current NCAA skaters in power play goals with 24. He is just two shy of breaking ASU alum Johnny Walker's record of 25 career power play goals. The fourth-year Sun Devil dons the 'A' this season - it is the first time in his entire hockey career that Kopperud has been a member of a captains group.
MEET YOUNGER
Head coach Greg Powers filled the goal-scoring gap left by Robert Mastrosimone and Josh Doan with elite firepower in San Jose Sharks draft pick Alex Young. The Colgate transfer ranks eighth among all active career leaders entering 2023-24 in points with 83. His 37 goals land him at No. 8 in goals among NCAA active career leaders. Last year, Young tallied 39 points (21G, 18A) in 40 games, including three game-winning goals and nine power play goals.
THE UNDISPUTED CAPTAIN
Unknown to many Sun Devil fans could be the ninth captain in Sun Devil Hockey history: Tyler Gratton. The graduate transfer joins the ASU roster for his fifth and final year of college eligibility and was unanimously named captain, as voted on by players and staff in September. In previous seasons, the captains group was appointed by head coach Greg Powers and his assistant coaches. This time around, Powers put the power in the players hands, giving the team a vote on the leadership group. Gratton was unanimously voted as captain for the 2023-24 season. He is accompanied by alternate captains (also voted on by the players and staff): Matthew Kopperud, Lukas Sillinger, Ryan O'Reilly, and Ethan Szmagaj.
The rivalry matchup is reignited for the first time since 2015. Nearly a decade ago, the duel unfolded at Gila River Arena (now known as Desert Diamond Arena), as the newly promoted NCAA Division I Sun Devils dominated the ACHA Wildcats, 8-1, in front of an 8,000-person crowd. ASU has won 48 out of the last 49 meetings against Arizona.
the last time we played the Wildcats ?? #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/LC1Eekql7Q
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 4, 2023
Arizona is a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), therefore the results of the game will not count toward ASU's overall NCAA Division I 2023-24 record.
"We're mainly looking to get some confidence going into the year. I know it's an exhibition game, but we're still going to take it just as seriously as any other game. It doesn't matter who we're playing. When we're putting our jersey on, we're putting our jersey on and we're gonna play how we want to play," said graduate forward and team captain Tyler Gratton.
The 2023-24 season is already underway for the Wildcats (2-1-0), who have only one loss this season, to the Arizona State ACHA Division I team. In the 2022-23 season, UArizona finished No. 11 in ACHA DI rankings with a 16-9-4 record.
"The last thing I said to the guys is, don't take them lightly. You just never know, you never know. You know damn well that they're gonna come up and give their best effort. We're going to go after them," said ASU head coach Greg Powers.
In the inaugural season at Mullett Arena last year, the Sun Devils hosted 24 home games and played 15 games on the road. With an overall season record of 18-21-0, the Sun Devils recorded their third-highest wins in a season in program history. The Sun Devils also finished the 2022-23 season with the third-best penalty kill unit in NCAA Division I men's ice hockey.
OFFSEASON MOVES: "We got bigger. We got harder. We got a lot tougher."
Head coach Greg Powers added five transfers to the roster this offseason. The group includes three forwards and two defensemen culminating 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.
FRESH FACES
With nine new freshmen on the roster for the 2023-2024 season, ASU bolstered several open spots with young talent. Joining the Sun Devils is Hank Levy (G), Anthony Dowd (D), Matthew Romer (F), David Hymovitch (F), Josh Niedermayer (D), Kyle Smolen (F), Cole Gordon (F), Cole Helm (F), and Tony Achille (F).
"They've all done a good job. Three that stick out in my head would be, Kyle Smolen. He's a really good player. He can play up-and-down a lineup. Anthony Dowd's been tremendous, he led Chicago in points for defensemen last year. He's as skilled as it gets. And Matthew Romer. He's seasoned, he's polished. He's been very very good," said Powers of the rookie group.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
TJ Semptimphelter resumes his reign between this pipes in 2023-24. The junior from New Jersey finished sixth in the NCAA in saves with 1024 through 36 games played. That save mark landed Semptimphelter third in all-time single season saves behind only Joey Daccord's 1030 in 2018-19 and 1084 in 2017-18. Last season, Semptimphelter recorded five shutouts to tie for fifth in the NCAA. Joey Daccord holds the ASU career record for shutouts with eight.
KRAZY FOR KOPPERUD
The long-awaited return of Matthew Kopperud is finally upon Sun Devil Hockey. The senior battled season-ending injuries last year, but is healthy for the start of the 2023-24 season. The Denver native is ranked fifth in active career goals amongst all current skaters in the NCAA with 41. The leader of the NCAA has 46. Kopperud leads all current NCAA skaters in power play goals with 24. He is just two shy of breaking ASU alum Johnny Walker's record of 25 career power play goals. The fourth-year Sun Devil dons the 'A' this season - it is the first time in his entire hockey career that Kopperud has been a member of a captains group.
MEET YOUNGER
Head coach Greg Powers filled the goal-scoring gap left by Robert Mastrosimone and Josh Doan with elite firepower in San Jose Sharks draft pick Alex Young. The Colgate transfer ranks eighth among all active career leaders entering 2023-24 in points with 83. His 37 goals land him at No. 8 in goals among NCAA active career leaders. Last year, Young tallied 39 points (21G, 18A) in 40 games, including three game-winning goals and nine power play goals.
THE UNDISPUTED CAPTAIN
Unknown to many Sun Devil fans could be the ninth captain in Sun Devil Hockey history: Tyler Gratton. The graduate transfer joins the ASU roster for his fifth and final year of college eligibility and was unanimously named captain, as voted on by players and staff in September. In previous seasons, the captains group was appointed by head coach Greg Powers and his assistant coaches. This time around, Powers put the power in the players hands, giving the team a vote on the leadership group. Gratton was unanimously voted as captain for the 2023-24 season. He is accompanied by alternate captains (also voted on by the players and staff): Matthew Kopperud, Lukas Sillinger, Ryan O'Reilly, and Ethan Szmagaj.