Sun Devil Hockey has a great friend

TEMPE – Sun Devil Hockey at the Division I level was born just over 11 years ago.

It went from club status at a since-imploded building to playing in a Taj Mahal of college hockey. From playing no home games, to hosting NCHC postseason games. 

It went to the NCAA tournament as an independent -- which is nearly impossible, as in 1991-92 Alaska-Anchorage was the last one -- to having its next NCAA appearance canceled by COVID. 

If a dozen years ago, someone would have said Arizona State hockey has a goaltender in the NHL with his name in the rafters, the person on the street would probably say, “What? Who? What rafters? What building?” 

From the destruction of Oceanside to the eruption of Mullett Arena, Sun Devil Hockey has not stopped climbing. With two former players now active in the NHL, the program having its first-ever first-round pick, and a team that has become the face of desert hockey, the momentum is real. Sun Devil Hockey is full speed ahead with a community that is all-in. 

It all has happened with incredible support from the University, but the next step is crucial. Simply put, more support is needed in college athletics now, and it can be provided in various forms, not just the often-talked-about NIL and facility enhancement conversations.

Because of relationships, winning, a belief in the program, and mainly the head coach, Sun Devil Hockey has a friend who is doing just that and then some.

Meet Mike Friend and his wife, Nancy, who have generously invested in making “The Greg Powers Endowed Men’s Hockey Head Coach” a reality.

“After many discussions with the Sun Devil Club, we were inspired to make a family legacy gift to fully endow the hockey head coaching position because we believe in Coach Powers,” said Friend. “We are proud to be a part of this watershed event as the first athletic head coaching position endowed at ASU, and are honored to have our name associated with the remarkable and extraordinary career of Coach Powers, which is just getting started. There is no Sun Devil Hockey program without him, and we know the best is on the way.”

Mike and Nancy are long-time donors and supporters of Sun Devil Athletics, not just jumping in on the hockey surge. They are also season ticket holders for football and basketball. Mike graduated in 1978 with a BSME (mechanical engineering), and their children Nick and Lindsey are ASU graduates.

“Mike and Nancy Friend have demonstrated a level of commitment that will have a lasting impact on Sun Devil Hockey and our entire athletics department," says Athletics Director Graham Rossini. "Establishing the first endowed head coach position in our history is a meaningful milestone for the ASU Changing Futures Campaign and a clear sign of how our supporters continue to step forward in significant ways. The Friend family’s belief in Coach Powers and in the future of this program strengthens our foundation and helps secure long-term success for generations of Sun Devils to come.”

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But why hockey?

Mike grew up in Michigan and played hockey in his early years – some organized, but mostly just made-up games with his friends – and fell in love with the game while following the Detroit Red Wings. He would frequently go to the historic Olympia Stadium to watch games, as he saw many of the old-time great players such as Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr. In high school, his family moved to Arizona, so he drifted away from hockey, and as a freshman at ASU, he fell in love with football. There was no hockey in Arizona in those days. It seems like a mirage.

When the new Mullett Arena was coming to life three years ago, it got his attention. Season tickets were purchased immediately. Now, for the program, winning the NCHC is a goal. Blue bloods such as Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame are on the home schedule. There truly is not a single aspiration that isn’t attainable for Sun Devil Hockey. 

As Mike says, “it has come full circle as the fun and excitement that I experienced as a kid is now part of my life again.”

“Our program was built on philanthropy and is where it is and exists because of great people like Mike Friend,” notes Coach Powers, who just signed a five-year extension with Sun Devil Athletics through 2030. ”Mike and his family have been and continue to be instrumental in ensuring that Sun Devil Hockey is on solid ground to keep advancing now and into the future. It is truly an honor to have Mike’s support and to have the head coach position for Men’s Ice Hockey be the first endowed head coaching position in Sun Devil Athletics.”

Over the past few years, the Friends have been supporters of the NIL efforts for both football and hockey. This past summer, they wanted to make a more significant long-term gift. Much has been made about supporting student-athletes, which they have and will continue to do.

“We feel blessed and are grateful for the opportunity to make this legacy gift and hope that this will inspire others to consider a similar contribution.”

"Mike and Nancy are exemplar supporters of Sun Devil Athletics and this gift in support of Coach Powers and our hockey program provides another opportunity for us to say thank you," says Scott Nelson, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director and Vice President of Enterprise Development. "It is our shared hope that this gift motivates others and through the life of the Changing Future Campaign we see all head coach positions endowed. There is no more significant way to secure the future of Sun Devil Athletics success."