(Photo: Travis Whittaker/WCSN)
Arizona State – an independent program – watched every league in the country pivot to conference-only schedules as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s grip on the world. The Sun Devils’ players began their academic semester without a hockey season in place and head coach Greg Powers was left scanning the nation for an opportunity for his team to play.
For a while, they appeared out of luck.
“Two and a half to three months ago, we still didn’t know what it would look like or if it would be possible as an independent,” Powers said on Nov. 10.
Late September, though, brought intensifying discussions with the Big Ten and on Oct. 6, the Sun Devils’ scheduling agreement with the conference was announced. That caveot to the agreement? ASU would play all seven schools four times in a 28 game regular season in which every game would take place on the road.
On Nov. 14 and Nov. 15, No. 18 ASU puts its plan in action, taking on No. 12 Michigan in a two-game set to open a season unlike any other.
“It’s a much different sense of enthusiasm,” Powers said. “The main message we’ve tried to drive home is that we should just enjoy being able to play.”
ASU enters this season with perhaps more questions than last as it faces the daunting task of replacing its top two defensemen from the past two seasons: Josh Maniscalco and Brinson Pasichnuk.
“There’s no sugarcoating it, when you lose two kids that signed a NHL contract, it’s not ideal,” Powers said. “But we’re happy for them.”
Powers said that he’s confident that the program will make up for the losses.
“We really like the way guys look back there,” he said. “We’re deep and talented. Tanner Hickey is a really good hockey player. We’re really happy with how he looks so far. Jack Judson looks incredible. Jacob Wilson is a horse. Jarrod Gourley is a horse. Gvido [Jansons] looks incredible. We are eight deep.”
ASU will be down one of their replacements immediately though, as sophomore defenseman Jacob Semik is suspended after a misconduct in the Sun Devils final game of the 2019-20 season against Wisconsin on Feb. 22.
For the second consecutive year, ASU has been host to a preseason goaltender competition. Competing for the starting role were junior Evan DeBrouwer, sophomore Justin Robbins and freshman Cole Brady, the New Jersey Devils 2019 fifth-round selection.
Powers likened the freshman’s personality to former ASU goalie and current Ottawa Senators prospect Joey Daccord’s.
“He gets better everyday,” Powers said of Brady. “He came in already good. He’s just adjusting to the level of play, and he’s doing it quickly. There’s been days where he’s been our best goalie.
“He’s big, he’s smooth, he loves to compete and loves to win. He has a moxy to him that I love in goalies.”
The Sun Devils’ starter in 2019-2020, DeBrouwer played well last season after taking over for Daccord, but slipped a bit before the NCAA cancelled all athletic events due to COVID-19.
Robbins served as a reserve behind DeBrouwer last year and made one appearance but suffered a season-ending injury early on in the campaign.
Powers said he knows who will take the ice first Saturday, but did not disclose it.
“You’ll find out,” Powers said. “We have three guys that can win us games. I really believe that.”
The Wolverines were able to return to their typical success in 2019-20 after a down year in 2018-19. Michigan – like ASU – was likely to find itself in the NCAA Tournament had it been played.
The Wolverines lost their top three goal-scorers, senior forwards Jake Slaker, Will Lockwood and Nick Pastujov, but return highly-touted sophomore defenseman Cam York – a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019.
York isn’t the only big name on the roster. Michigan also features sophomore forward Johnny Beecher, the Boston Bruins’ first-round pick in 2019, and freshman forward Brendan Brisson, the No. 29 overall selection by the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Entry Draft in June.
“They’re a handful,” Powers said of the Wolverines. “It’s going to be fun. They have a ton of talent.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s unlikely ASU will be playing in front of any fans this season, an impact Powers said will be immediatley felt in an empty Yost Arena.
“That’s the best atmosphere in college hockey and it’s going to be empty,” he said.
Still, a lack of energy isn’t expected. ASU’s players, coaches and staff have waited too long for this. Powers mentioned that the Sun Devils are just lucky to be here, and that they must savor the experience.
“If they’re not ready to go and play hard Saturday, I don’t know if they’ll ever be,” he said.
