FAIRBANKS, AK – As a new and independent program, any Arizona State ice hockey series holds the potential spark to ignite a new rivalry. As the five independent NCAA Division I men's ice hockey teams turn to each other more and more to schedule second half matchups, new non-conference rivalries are forming and the scorn between the Sun Devils and Nanooks is no exception.
ASU (13-16-0) has played Alaska Fairbanks (13-9-2), a fellow independent, more than any other opponent in its NCAA era. But on this trip, the Sun Devils fly to Alaska hungry for the chance for vengeance against Alaska Fairbanks (13-9-2) after failing to defeat the Nanooks in any of the four games last season. This weekend's series is February 3-4 and starts a four-game home-and-home series with the Nanooks traveling to Tempe on February 24-25. For both matchups, puck drop is at 9 p.m. MST on FloHockey for a pay per view fee.
This is the first road trip in over a month for ASU and is the first of two trips to Alaska as the Sun Devils close out the road schedule at Alaska Anchorage, another independent, on March 3-4.
The Nanooks have won eight of their last ten contests, which featured two ranked wins in the last month. Most notably a 3-1 win over then-No. 1 Denver on Jan. 6 and a win over then-No. 19 Notre Dame on Dec. 31. Alaska ranks eighth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 2.24 goals a game.
Both sides have evenly split the all-time series with four wins apiece, including a tie in their most recent meeting. The Sun Devils won four of the first five games against the Nanooks, but Alaska now boasts four-straight wins in the all-time series after handing ASU three losses and a tie in 2021-22.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Despite the slightly varying records, the stat lines for each team are eerily similar. Where ASU's penalty kill outshines Alaska, the Nanooks have the up on faceoff percentage and goals against average. Both teams score about 2.7 goals per game, carry around a nine percent shots percentage, and boast a power play unit with around a 17 percent success rate.
The ASU penalty kill unit has been ruthless, ranking ninth in the country, keeping an 85 percent success rate in 108 opportunities. Senior Robert Mastrosimone continues to lead the team in points (29), goals (9), assists (20), shots (113), and game-winning goals (3). ASU scored at least three goals in three-straight games.
FORECAST IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Thursday: 10° high, 1° low
Friday: 7° high, -1° low
Saturday: 5° high, -4° low
Sunday: 4° high, -9° low
MIGHTY MASTRO
The forward keeps coming through in big moments for the Sun Devils. Mastrosimone added an assist and a goal to his season tally last weekend against St. Thomas, making it four-straight games with at least a point. His goal came in overtime for his third game-winning goal of the season, which is tied for 12th in the country. While leading the team in all offensive aspects, the senior transfer ranks first in the nation in shots with 113. His 20 assists rank him in a tie for 12th in the country.
ALEX THE GREAT
Freshman forward Ryan Alexander shines in the New Year, notching three goals and an assist in the month of January. He's compiled his second three point streak of the season which has included two goals and an assist. Alexander ranks second on the team in goals with eight this season.
SEMPTIMPHELTER STAYS HOT
Entering the month of February, the Sun Devils jumped five spots to move to 31st in the country with 2.72 goals after posting eight goals against St. Thomas last weekend. Sophomore goaltender TJ Semptimphelter kept a clean sheet off against the Tommies, including his fifth shutout of the year to move him into a tie for second in the nation in shutouts. Semptimphelter ranks second in the nation in saves with 837 and boasts a save percentage of .918 which ranks 25th in the country.
ASU Series History Against Alaska Fairbanks (4-4-1):
T, 1-1 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 26, 2022
L, 2-3 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 25, 2022
L, 3-4 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 5, 2022
L, 3-5 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 4, 2022
W, 4-0 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Nov. 9, 2019
L, 3-4 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Nov. 8, 2019
W, 5-0 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Oct. 7, 2018
W, 3-0 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Oct. 6, 2018
W, 2-1 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Oct. 10, 2015
QUOTES:
Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers:
On having a successful weekend coming away with two wins:
"It was one of those stretches where a four-game losing streak felt like a 14-game losing streak… It was one of those stretches, but we got through it. I thought we played really well Friday against St. Thomas, I thought we were dominant. We're still struggling to score like we want but we put up eight (goals) which is a step in the right direction over the course of the weekend. But we're still banged up, we lost Kopperud again, Timmy (Lovell) is still out, which are two monster losses for us."
On having tangible goals over the next 12 games:
"The goal is to win every game. One at a time because I know we're capable of doing that. I think we still have an opportunity to have a positive outcome on the season as a young program. It's understanding and being able to convey the message to a young group. Look, the majority of this team is back, we can do one of two things, we can finish strong or ride momentum into the offseason which is what the plan is. Or you can mail it in, and that's not an option."
On traveling to Alaska and braving the cold:
"We're excited to go up. We're only going up with 12 forwards and six defensemen since it's all we got. But we're excited to go up with no extra players, no staff, just get up, get in and get out. Business trip."
On Jack Jenson's return to the lineup:
"We missed him so much. He's like a heart and soul sandpaper guy with size and speed, the ability to finish. He's a glue guy we just haven't had. He missed two months and that hurt us badly. We're undersized without him and when he comes back and he's engaged and he's playing the way he can, he's big and heavy and fast and plays with pace. He's tough to play against and always above pucks. He's a good player, a really good player and now he's six games in and starting to feel it again. He's starting to look like himself. So I hope he has a really strong finish, he's only a sophomore so he'll have a huge role next year."
ASU (13-16-0) has played Alaska Fairbanks (13-9-2), a fellow independent, more than any other opponent in its NCAA era. But on this trip, the Sun Devils fly to Alaska hungry for the chance for vengeance against Alaska Fairbanks (13-9-2) after failing to defeat the Nanooks in any of the four games last season. This weekend's series is February 3-4 and starts a four-game home-and-home series with the Nanooks traveling to Tempe on February 24-25. For both matchups, puck drop is at 9 p.m. MST on FloHockey for a pay per view fee.
This is the first road trip in over a month for ASU and is the first of two trips to Alaska as the Sun Devils close out the road schedule at Alaska Anchorage, another independent, on March 3-4.
The Nanooks have won eight of their last ten contests, which featured two ranked wins in the last month. Most notably a 3-1 win over then-No. 1 Denver on Jan. 6 and a win over then-No. 19 Notre Dame on Dec. 31. Alaska ranks eighth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 2.24 goals a game.
Both sides have evenly split the all-time series with four wins apiece, including a tie in their most recent meeting. The Sun Devils won four of the first five games against the Nanooks, but Alaska now boasts four-straight wins in the all-time series after handing ASU three losses and a tie in 2021-22.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Despite the slightly varying records, the stat lines for each team are eerily similar. Where ASU's penalty kill outshines Alaska, the Nanooks have the up on faceoff percentage and goals against average. Both teams score about 2.7 goals per game, carry around a nine percent shots percentage, and boast a power play unit with around a 17 percent success rate.
The ASU penalty kill unit has been ruthless, ranking ninth in the country, keeping an 85 percent success rate in 108 opportunities. Senior Robert Mastrosimone continues to lead the team in points (29), goals (9), assists (20), shots (113), and game-winning goals (3). ASU scored at least three goals in three-straight games.
FORECAST IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Thursday: 10° high, 1° low
Friday: 7° high, -1° low
Saturday: 5° high, -4° low
Sunday: 4° high, -9° low
MIGHTY MASTRO
The forward keeps coming through in big moments for the Sun Devils. Mastrosimone added an assist and a goal to his season tally last weekend against St. Thomas, making it four-straight games with at least a point. His goal came in overtime for his third game-winning goal of the season, which is tied for 12th in the country. While leading the team in all offensive aspects, the senior transfer ranks first in the nation in shots with 113. His 20 assists rank him in a tie for 12th in the country.
ALEX THE GREAT
Freshman forward Ryan Alexander shines in the New Year, notching three goals and an assist in the month of January. He's compiled his second three point streak of the season which has included two goals and an assist. Alexander ranks second on the team in goals with eight this season.
SEMPTIMPHELTER STAYS HOT
Entering the month of February, the Sun Devils jumped five spots to move to 31st in the country with 2.72 goals after posting eight goals against St. Thomas last weekend. Sophomore goaltender TJ Semptimphelter kept a clean sheet off against the Tommies, including his fifth shutout of the year to move him into a tie for second in the nation in shutouts. Semptimphelter ranks second in the nation in saves with 837 and boasts a save percentage of .918 which ranks 25th in the country.
ASU Series History Against Alaska Fairbanks (4-4-1):
T, 1-1 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 26, 2022
L, 2-3 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 25, 2022
L, 3-4 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 5, 2022
L, 3-5 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 4, 2022
W, 4-0 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Nov. 9, 2019
L, 3-4 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Nov. 8, 2019
W, 5-0 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Oct. 7, 2018
W, 3-0 vs. Alaska Fairbanks - Oct. 6, 2018
W, 2-1 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Oct. 10, 2015
QUOTES:
Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers:
On having a successful weekend coming away with two wins:
"It was one of those stretches where a four-game losing streak felt like a 14-game losing streak… It was one of those stretches, but we got through it. I thought we played really well Friday against St. Thomas, I thought we were dominant. We're still struggling to score like we want but we put up eight (goals) which is a step in the right direction over the course of the weekend. But we're still banged up, we lost Kopperud again, Timmy (Lovell) is still out, which are two monster losses for us."
On having tangible goals over the next 12 games:
"The goal is to win every game. One at a time because I know we're capable of doing that. I think we still have an opportunity to have a positive outcome on the season as a young program. It's understanding and being able to convey the message to a young group. Look, the majority of this team is back, we can do one of two things, we can finish strong or ride momentum into the offseason which is what the plan is. Or you can mail it in, and that's not an option."
On traveling to Alaska and braving the cold:
"We're excited to go up. We're only going up with 12 forwards and six defensemen since it's all we got. But we're excited to go up with no extra players, no staff, just get up, get in and get out. Business trip."
On Jack Jenson's return to the lineup:
"We missed him so much. He's like a heart and soul sandpaper guy with size and speed, the ability to finish. He's a glue guy we just haven't had. He missed two months and that hurt us badly. We're undersized without him and when he comes back and he's engaged and he's playing the way he can, he's big and heavy and fast and plays with pace. He's tough to play against and always above pucks. He's a good player, a really good player and now he's six games in and starting to feel it again. He's starting to look like himself. So I hope he has a really strong finish, he's only a sophomore so he'll have a huge role next year."