(Photo Courtesy – Haley Rogalski)
Six days ago, senior forward Robert Mastrosimone scored a breakaway goal with seconds left in overtime to defeat then-No. 2 Minnesota and seal what head coach Greg Powers called a “benchmark victory” for Arizona State Men’s Hockey (8-7).
If that phrase sounds familiar, it’s because Powers also used it to describe his squad’s come-from-behind upset of then-No. 6 North Dakota in late October.
The Sun Devils will have two more opportunities to earn yet another program-defining win when they visit the Mile High City to face No. 1 Denver (10-4) – who they haven’t beaten in the last four meetings – this weekend.
Defeating the reigning national champions on the road will be an uphill battle for ASU, especially given the history between the two teams. The Pioneers boast a 6-1-1 all-time record against the Sun Devils and have never lost to Powers’ group in Magness Arena.
Denver has already had numerous tests through the early stages of the season, squaring off with powerhouses like Massachusetts, St. Cloud State and North Dakota. So far, the Pioneers are 6-3 against top-20 opponents this year, a big reason for their No. 1 spot in the latest USCHO poll.
However, this year’s ASU squad has proven it can compete with college hockey’s strongest programs. Look no further than last weekend, when the Sun Devils split a back-and-forth two-game set with the Golden Gophers.
ASU was the beneficiary of many strong individual performances against Minnesota, highlighted by the play of Mastrosimone. The first-year Sun Devil enjoyed a one-goal, three-assist outburst on Saturday, increasing his season points total to a team-leading 16.
Freshman forward Ryan Alexander has also proven a major contributor of late. The Toronto native notched three goals last weekend and even spent time alongside Mastrosimone and sophomore forward Josh Doan on ASU’s first line. Alexander has displayed an uncanny ability to crash the net and put home rebounds, which compliments the Sun Devils’ ‘hard and heavy’ mantra.
Starting in all 15 of ASU’s contests thus far, it’s likely that sophomore goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter will once again get the nod between the pipes in Denver. Semptimphelter has tallied the third-most total saves in the nation with 438 while posting a .918 save percentage and 2.59 goals against average.
The Sun Devils’ goaltender will have his work cut out for him against a highly talented Pioneers’ offense. Denver’s two key playmakers are sophomore forward Massimo Rizzo and senior forward Casey Dornbach, who have 14 and 11 assists respectively through 14 contests.
With 12 goals in 14 games, sophomore forward Carter Mazur has established himself as the Pioneers’ primary goal scorer this season. Mazur possesses a dangerous shot and has no problem finding open ice, so keeping him in check will be a key focus for ASU.
In net, Denver is led by senior goaltender Magnus Chrona, a seasoned veteran who has played in 95 contests over the last four years. Chrona’s numbers – a .908 save percentage and 2.33 goals against average – are strong, but the Pioneers’ defense has been stout across the board this season, conceding the fifth-fewest goals against per game in the country.
The Sun Devils have faced many challenges in 2022-23, and Denver may very well be the toughest draw yet. But with two wins over top-10 teams already this season, ASU has embraced the underdog role and won’t be taken lightly by the Pioneers.
Friday and Saturday’s games can be viewed on NCHC TV.
