(Photo:Allyson Cummings/WCSN)
The No. 2 Sun Devils (14-1) have won their last six games and look to extend that streak as they head out east this weekend.
First up are the Rutgers University Ice Knights on Friday. At 3-7, the Ice Knights have had a slow start to their season. Currently 2-6 in ESCHL play, the Ice Knights split their last series with No. 14 University of Delaware. Forward Andrew Koslov, Rutgers’ points leader, had two points in the win but has yet to notch his first goal of the season.
Goalies Connor Lam and Brian Lilien have split time between the pipes, with both allowing over an average of four goals per game. Between the two, they’ve allowed 50 goals through 11 games.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Sun Devils head to New York to face the No. 5 Stony Brook Sea Wolves (11-1). Off the stick of forward Ryan Cotcamp, the Seawolves swept the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen last weekend.
Cotcamp leads the team with 26 points and has a point in all but two of the Seawolves’ games this season. Trailing him is forward Nick Barbera with 19 points, 3 power-play goals and 3 game-winning goals.
In the last five games, ASU forward Ryan Belonger has amassed eight points and emerged as the Sun Devils’ points leader with 23 points in 15 games. Scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Colorado, he also found the back of the net against Colorado State in an 8-0 drubbing.
Forward Eric Rivard and defenseman Drew Newmeyer are also having breakout seasons, both netting two goals in Saturday’s 7-2 win against Colorado State. Both Sun Devils are projected to surpass their numbers from the 2013-2014 season and continue to be assets on the ice.
Friday’s puck drop is at 7:30 MST against Rutgers. Puck drop against Stony Brook is 7:30 MST on Saturday and 3:00 MST on Sunday. The Seawolves provide a live broadcast here: http://stonybrookhockey.com/seawolves-hockey-live/.
Three things to watch for:
- Jarrod Levos played at forward yet again this past weekend and notched his first point with an assist against Colorado State. It will be interesting to see whether he’ll play forward or defense this weekend.
- Assistant coach Alex Hicks noted that Ed McGovern is a defenseman to keep an eye on. He’s been great defensively but has also been a surprise offensively with six goals and four assists.
- Ryan Belonger has been getting better and better as the season’s gone on, and Hicks stated he’s “leading the way” now that he feels more at home.
You can reach Zuriel on Twitter @zurieloving or by email zloving@asu.edu.
