TEMPE – The Arizona State and Colorado College hockey programs, in conjunction with Ed Robson and his family, have established the Ed Robson Cup, a traveling trophy awarded annually to the winner of the regular-season series between the Sun Devils and Tigers beginning with the 2026-27 season.
Ed Robson, the namesake of Robson Arena on the campus of Colorado College, began his illustrious hockey career at CC, where he was also active in baseball alongside his studies, earning his B.A. degree in business and banking in 1954. Following graduation, Robson joined the United States Marines. During a five-year tour, Robson was granted leave to play hockey for Team USA in 1955 and the next year, 1956, was selected to become a member of the U.S. Olympic hockey team. Robson closed out his last three years completing flight school and flying Marine helicopters in Hawaii.
“The creation of the Robson Cup is a really meaningful moment for our program,” Arizona State Athletics Director Graham Rossini said. “Ed Robson’s connection to ASU spans more than four decades, and his impact across this university and the state is hard to overstate. In hockey, competing for a Cup carries a different level of pride and tradition, so it feels right that his name is tied to something our teams will battle for every year. We have a great deal of respect for Colorado College, and we’re excited to build this into something that grows in significance over time.”
Robson began his real estate career with Coldwell Banker in 1960 and joined the Del Webb Corporation shortly thereafter. In 1972, he started Robson Resort Communities. His homebuilding enterprise has grown to a legacy of adult communities in Arizona and Texas. Currently, more than 50,000 homeowners call a Robson Resort Community home, and more than 100 awards and accolades have been bestowed over the past five decades.
”We are so excited to honor Ed and Karrin Robson and their family for the tremendous support over the years,” CC Vice President and Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine said. “With Arizona State joining the NCHC and knowing we will be playing them every season, it’s a perfect opportunity to embed gratitude alongside competition. We look forward to strengthening this West Coast rivalry.”
Robson and his late wife, LaNelle Beck Robson, who graduated from CC in 1958, had five children together, including CC alumnus Steve Robson ’79. Today, Ed is married to Karrin Taylor Robson, a graduate of Arizona State, earning a B.A. degree in political science and history, as well as a Juris Doctorate degree. Karrin is the founder and president of a prominent land-use firm, Arizona Strategies; she has been influential in shaping the state’s real estate and economic development environment.
She also served on the Arizona Board of Regents, which is responsible for the governance of the state’s public universities. Ed and Karrin have been very generous donors to both Colorado College and Arizona State.
“This is a tremendous honor and opportunity for our program to play for a trophy and develop a rivalry with a historic program like Colorado College that has been around for almost 100 years,” Arizona State head coach Greg Powers said. “The Robson family means so much to both institutions and so it’s only fitting that this trophy is named after Mr. Robson.”
A past member of the Colorado College Board of Trustees, Robson was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters from CC in 2014 and is also a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
“As we announce the creation of the Ed Robson Cup, we are filled with gratitude for Ed and Karrin, whose unwavering support and dedication have been instrumental in revitalizing our hockey program,” Colorado College head coach Kris Mayotte said. “This trophy represents Ed’s incredible legacy and the commitment to excellence he and his family have instilled in our program. In celebrating the competition this cup embodies, we look forward to our match-up with Arizona State growing into an exciting and passionate rivalry. As we honor Ed’s contributions, we embark on this thrilling journey ahead, forever thankful for the foundation he has helped build in our program and community. “
The team that secures the most points against each other in the regular season (three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout loss and zero points for a regulation loss) will win the Ed Robson Cup. In the event of an even split of the points available during the regular season, whether they play two games or four games, the team currently in possession of the Cup will retain it.
The Cup will not be awarded initially until one of the teams wins it outright. CC and ASU are scheduled to play two games against each other, Dec. 4-5, in Tempe, during the 2026-27 season.