TEMPE – The new kids on the block battle the blue bloods of college hockey as the Arizona State ice hockey team (1-1-0) hosts the Michigan Wolverines (1-1-0) in the Sun Devils' home opener on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12, at Mullett Arena.
On Friday, Oct. 11, puck drop is slated for 3:30 p.m. MST to allow fans to attend both the home hockey and football games in Tempe. Sun Devil Football kicks off against the Utah Utes at 7 p.m. MST on Friday from Mountain America Stadium. On Saturday, Oct. 12, ASU returns to normal puck drop time slot with a 5:00 p.m. start time at Mullett Arena.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the pregame show courtesy of Gus Farwell. The Sun Devil Football letterwinner will sing God Bless America on Friday and the National Anthem on both nights.
How to Watch
FRIDAY, OCT. 11 - 3:30 PM
Stream: NCHC.tv
Radio: Fox Sports 910 or on the iHeart Radio App
SATURDAY, OCT. 12 - 5:00 PM
Stream: NCHC.tv
Watch: Fox 10 Xtra (Channel 45, Cable 9)
Radio: Fox Sports 910 or on the iHeart Radio App
PARKING
Please note, because there is a Sun Devil Football game in the evening, 6th Street between Rural Road and Packard Drive will be closed. All Sun Devil Hockey guests will be directed to park in the Novus Parking Garage instead of the Packard Parking Structure. Guests can enter the Novus Parking Garage off of University Drive, Rio Salado Blvd or 6th Street from the West, from Veterans Way.
HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN
Michigan holds a 6-0-1 record over ASU who will look to collect its first win over the maize and blue in program history. During the 2020-21 abbreviated season due to COVID-19, ASU spent the entire hockey season on the road competing in the Big Ten. In Oct. 2020, ASU also opened its season against then-No. 12 Michigan, ultimately suffering a series sweep. In the final of the four games from Yost Ice Arena, ASU collected a 1-1 tie, the first non-loss against Michigan ever.
SUN DEVIL NOTES
MARGIN OF VICTORY
On opening night, ASU put on a show-stopping performance with an 8-1 victory over Air Force. The eight goals tied a program high for goals scored in a single game - a feat the Sun Devils have accomplished five times over the decade-long history. With only one goal allowed, ASU set a new high for margin of victory at seven. The previous high was six vs. Lindenwood on Feb. 17, 2023.
NHL DEVILS
Joey Daccord signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $5 million and begins next season. The 28-year-old goalie could have been an unrestricted free agent after this season. He's in his second full season in the NHL after going 19-18-11 with a 2.46 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and three shutouts in 50 games (46 starts) for Seattle in 2023-24.
Former Sun Devil Hockey captain Josh Doan made the NHL opening day roster for the Utah Hockey Club's inaugural season in Salt Lake City. Doan spent one season with the AHL Tucson Roadrunners and made his NHL debut for the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on March 27, 2024.
Forty-eight skaters from the NCHC made NHL rosters. Along with those 48, another 12 alumni of NCHC teams, who didn't play in the NCHC (two of which are Daccord and Doan), landed a spot on opening-night rosters. In all, a total of 60 alumni from NCHC teams will begin the 2024-25 season on NHL rosters.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Junior Bennett Schimek and graduate Noah Beck made the most of their debuts in the maroon and gold over the opening weekend at Air Force. Schimek and Beck won the KJ Branding NCHC Forward and Defenseman of the Week, respectively. Additionally, they are the first players in Sun Devil history to earn performance recognition from the conference.
Schimek notched a six-point weekend in a split at Air Force, including his first career hat-trick in the 8-1 victory. The Providence transfer ended his weekend with four goals, two assists, six shots on goal and a +3 plus/minus.
Beck was named NCHC Defenseman of the Week after his stellar weekend on both ends of the ice, collecting five points and a +5 plus/minus. In Friday's win, the Clarkson transfer paced the team with three assists on the night, including the lone assist on Schimek's first short-handed goal. Beck notched an additional two assists in Saturday's overtime loss, bringing him to five assists on the weekend in the 1-1 series split.
LET THEM COOK
Special teams contributed to five out of the eight goals on Friday night and set a new record 40 minutes into the season as ASU scored three short-handed goals, the most in a single game in program history. Junior transfer Bennett Schimek netted two of the three, becoming the first player to score multiple short-handed goals in a single game for the Maroon & Gold.
NCAA LEADERS
Bennett Schimek is tied for the NCAA lead in points with six (4G, 2A). Noah Beck is tied for third with five points (5A). The mark also leads all collegiate defensemen in point scoring. Gibson Homer boasts one of the best save percentages in college hockey at .964 (tied fourth). His 1.00 goals against average is also tied at four.
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Gibson Homer started at the crease for the Sun Devils on Friday night at Air Force. The redshirt junior allowed one goal and earned a .964 save percentage. Both his goals against average and save percentage rank top-five in the nation. The next night, transfer Luke Pavicich took the helm and finished with four goals against, including overtime. The senior made 29 saves for a .879 save percentage.
YOUNG GUN
Rookie Cullen Potter got the monkey off his back immediately - scoring his first collegiate goal in his first NCAA game on Friday night at Air Force. He became the XX skater in ASU history to score in their first collegiate game. The highly touted ASU rookie is the second-youngest player in the NCAA. The U.S. National Development Program product is 17 years old and turns 18 on Jan. 10, 2025. He's only seven days older than the youngest player in college hockey (Sascha Boumedienne, Boston University).
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Players Mentioned
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#31 Gibson Homer
- G
- 6' 5"
- Junior
-
#2 Noah Beck
- D
- 6' 3"
- Graduate Student
-
#23 Bennett Schimek
- F
- 6' 0"
- Junior
-
#1 Luke Pavicich
- G
- 6' 2"
- Senior
-
#12 Cullen Potter
- F
- 5' 9"
- Freshman
Players Mentioned
-
#31 Gibson Homer
- 6' 5"
- Junior
- G
-
#2 Noah Beck
- 6' 3"
- Graduate Student
- D
-
#23 Bennett Schimek
- 6' 0"
- Junior
- F
-
#1 Luke Pavicich
- 6' 2"
- Senior
- G
-
#12 Cullen Potter
- 5' 9"
- Freshman
- F