(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)
This weekend will mark the first time this season that the Sun Devils will not face an opponent ranked in the USCHO.com top-20 poll.
Arizona State (2-11-0) will play host to Rensselaer Polytechnic (2-11-1) at Oceanside Ice Arena for two games on Friday and Saturday. Last season, the Sun Devils traveled to Troy, N.Y. for two games with Engineers – they fell by a combined margin of 9-2.
This is the first time Arizona State will play an opponent that they have already seen before, who also boasts a similar record.
“We are really happy about being home for a few weeks,” head coach Greg Powers said. “This is kind of our first true home stand of sorts with playing the next 4 games all in Tempe and we are looking forward to it. RPI is a very good program and we are thankful that they are coming in on Thanksgiving weekend to play us. Obviously, success against a program of their caliber would be a huge building block for our young program.”
Graduate transfer Robbie Baillargeon will lead the way for Arizona State entering the weekend – he boasts a total of 10 points on the season, six by way of goals scored.
Still, the biggest surprise for this team has been the return of a familiar face.
Sophomore Jordan Masters – last season’s points leader – made his return against New Hampshire two weeks ago and hasn’t missed a beat.
The forward has tallied two goals and an assist in four games, adding another weapon for Powers on the offensive end of the ice.
In the East Coast Conference, RPI holds a 1-5-0 record – its only win against Brown (1-5-0) – and is currently riding a six-game losing streak, having been outscored 23-7 during that span.
RPI will present the most formidable matchup for Arizona State in terms of overall record before hosting Colgate (3-6-4) in Tempe for the team’s first real home stand of the season against another unranked opponent.
