TEMPE -- To onlookers delight, a new rivalry is developing in the NCAA Division I Hockey landscape. There is no love lost between two independent teams in the West, Arizona State (15-18-0) and Alaska Fairbanks (18-10-2), who complete a home-and-home series this weekend at Mullett Arena.
The Sun Devils have played the Nanooks more than any other opponent in its NCAA era - 11 times in eight years. After ASU's trip to Fairbanks two weeks ago, Alaska owns the all-time record between the two programs, 4-6-1. It's a deficit the Sun Devils look to remedy on Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25.
Puck drop on Friday at 7 p.m. MST and Saturday at 5 p.m. MST. Friday's showdown will air on Pac-12 Arizona, while Saturday's will stream for free via the ASU Live Stream. Both games hit the airwaves on Fox Sports 910, home of Sun Devil Hockey.
With both teams being an independent, the want and need to win is high. ASU is currently riding a four-game winning streak at home after posting 13 goals against Lindenwood last weekend, including a record setting 8-2 win over the Lions.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Forwards Ty and Dylan Jackson had a stellar weekend against Lindenwood. Combining for nine points, the duo accounted for three goals and six assists. Ty Jackson was able to achieve a rare four assist game and added a single goal over the series against Lindenwood. Dylan Jackson had his first two-goal game of his Sun Devil career, with his second career multi-point game in the historic 8-2 win against the Lions.
THE HOMETOWN KID
Scottsdale native Josh Doan has found recent success on the ice with eight points in the last five games, including three multi-point games in the last five. In the series against Lindenwood, Doan found the back of the net twice and obtained his first two-goal game since Jan. 29, 2022 against Minnesota State. The last time the captain faced Alaska, he finished the weekend with a goal and an assist. In fact, everytime Doan has faced the Nanooks, he has tallied at least one point.
ASU Series History Against Alaska Fairbanks (4-6-1):
L, 1-2 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 3, 2023
L, 2-5 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 4, 2023
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
ASU LAST FOUR GAMES
Feb. 18 - W, 5-3 vs. Lindenwood
Feb. 17 - W, 8-2 vs. Lindenwood
Feb. 4 - L, 2-5 at Alaska Fairbanks
Feb. 3 - L, 1-2 at Alaska Fairbanks
ASU NEXT FOUR GAMES
March 3 - at Alaska Anchorage
March 4 - at Alaska Anchorage
March 10 - Long Island
March 11 - Long Island (Senior Night)
QUOTES:
Arizona State Defenseman Ty Murchison:
On the upcoming matchup against Alaska Anchorage:
"They're a good team, they're in a good spot for the tournament with hopes to get in. We want to be known as the only independent that gets into the tournament so it's a big weekend for us and for them. They should be good games."
On embracing the spoiler role:
"I think with it being the last few games of the season we want to end it right. Obivously if we can end their hopes that would be great. We're just mainly focused on sending off our older guys the right way and building toward next year."
On getting back to .500 on the season:
"I think it's keepingthe guys engaged, coach has done a good job fo that lately even with our hopes being out of the tournament. It's huge for them if they beat us but it's big for us to win these games to make sure they don't get to the tournament."
On the momentum last weekend to carry over into this week:
"Yes, when you put up numbers like that it's a confidence booster. All the guys are feeling good and confident going into this weekend."
On the end of season goals:
"Yes definitely, I think our goal is to win all six games. We have the ability too. It starts on Friday night so we're focused on that and we'll build off that."
On the season overall with six games to go:
"We've had high hopes coming in. It's been pretty disappointing with how the season has gone. There's alot of things we can take from it going into next year. We'll have a good squad next year and there's time we can take from it. We got a lot fo good guys that's coming back but we're focusing on send guys off the right way."
Arizona State Goaltender TJ Semptimphelter:
On facing Alaska again within a three week span:
"It was my first time going up to Alaska and playing in that barn it was very historic. They're a good team and that's why they're in the top-20 this year. We're excited to play another great opponent down here on this stretch. They're going to come out hard, we know they have some tournament chances. For us it's just another step to develop this team and get ready for next year."
On goals for the remainder of the season:
"We're all competitors and everyone wants to win every single game. We owe it to the seniors who are moving on and have been through it. They've put their blood, sweat and tears into this program with guys like (Demtrios Koumontzis), (Chris Grando) and the ones who have extra years. We owe it to them to make the last six games memorable an get them wins to make it special so that's what we're focusing on. It starts on Friday against Alaska."
The Sun Devils have played the Nanooks more than any other opponent in its NCAA era - 11 times in eight years. After ASU's trip to Fairbanks two weeks ago, Alaska owns the all-time record between the two programs, 4-6-1. It's a deficit the Sun Devils look to remedy on Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25.
Puck drop on Friday at 7 p.m. MST and Saturday at 5 p.m. MST. Friday's showdown will air on Pac-12 Arizona, while Saturday's will stream for free via the ASU Live Stream. Both games hit the airwaves on Fox Sports 910, home of Sun Devil Hockey.
With both teams being an independent, the want and need to win is high. ASU is currently riding a four-game winning streak at home after posting 13 goals against Lindenwood last weekend, including a record setting 8-2 win over the Lions.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Forwards Ty and Dylan Jackson had a stellar weekend against Lindenwood. Combining for nine points, the duo accounted for three goals and six assists. Ty Jackson was able to achieve a rare four assist game and added a single goal over the series against Lindenwood. Dylan Jackson had his first two-goal game of his Sun Devil career, with his second career multi-point game in the historic 8-2 win against the Lions.
THE HOMETOWN KID
Scottsdale native Josh Doan has found recent success on the ice with eight points in the last five games, including three multi-point games in the last five. In the series against Lindenwood, Doan found the back of the net twice and obtained his first two-goal game since Jan. 29, 2022 against Minnesota State. The last time the captain faced Alaska, he finished the weekend with a goal and an assist. In fact, everytime Doan has faced the Nanooks, he has tallied at least one point.
ASU Series History Against Alaska Fairbanks (4-6-1):
L, 1-2 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 3, 2023
L, 2-5 at. Alaska Fairbanks - Feb. 4, 2023
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
ASU LAST FOUR GAMES
Feb. 18 - W, 5-3 vs. Lindenwood
Feb. 17 - W, 8-2 vs. Lindenwood
Feb. 4 - L, 2-5 at Alaska Fairbanks
Feb. 3 - L, 1-2 at Alaska Fairbanks
ASU NEXT FOUR GAMES
March 3 - at Alaska Anchorage
March 4 - at Alaska Anchorage
March 10 - Long Island
March 11 - Long Island (Senior Night)
QUOTES:
Arizona State Defenseman Ty Murchison:
On the upcoming matchup against Alaska Anchorage:
"They're a good team, they're in a good spot for the tournament with hopes to get in. We want to be known as the only independent that gets into the tournament so it's a big weekend for us and for them. They should be good games."
On embracing the spoiler role:
"I think with it being the last few games of the season we want to end it right. Obivously if we can end their hopes that would be great. We're just mainly focused on sending off our older guys the right way and building toward next year."
On getting back to .500 on the season:
"I think it's keepingthe guys engaged, coach has done a good job fo that lately even with our hopes being out of the tournament. It's huge for them if they beat us but it's big for us to win these games to make sure they don't get to the tournament."
On the momentum last weekend to carry over into this week:
"Yes, when you put up numbers like that it's a confidence booster. All the guys are feeling good and confident going into this weekend."
On the end of season goals:
"Yes definitely, I think our goal is to win all six games. We have the ability too. It starts on Friday night so we're focused on that and we'll build off that."
On the season overall with six games to go:
"We've had high hopes coming in. It's been pretty disappointing with how the season has gone. There's alot of things we can take from it going into next year. We'll have a good squad next year and there's time we can take from it. We got a lot fo good guys that's coming back but we're focusing on send guys off the right way."
Arizona State Goaltender TJ Semptimphelter:
On facing Alaska again within a three week span:
"It was my first time going up to Alaska and playing in that barn it was very historic. They're a good team and that's why they're in the top-20 this year. We're excited to play another great opponent down here on this stretch. They're going to come out hard, we know they have some tournament chances. For us it's just another step to develop this team and get ready for next year."
On goals for the remainder of the season:
"We're all competitors and everyone wants to win every single game. We owe it to the seniors who are moving on and have been through it. They've put their blood, sweat and tears into this program with guys like (Demtrios Koumontzis), (Chris Grando) and the ones who have extra years. We owe it to them to make the last six games memorable an get them wins to make it special so that's what we're focusing on. It starts on Friday against Alaska."