(Photo: Kyle McCartney/WCSN)
In 2015, Arizona State Men’s Hockey made the unprecedented jump from the club level to Division I. In the short time since the transition, the Sun Devils have quickly turned themselves into a powerhouse with hopes of a national championship on the way soon.
This weekend in Tempe, ASU faces a team that is in a similar position as the Sun Devils were six years ago.
The St. Thomas Tommies have made the jump to the top from Division III in 2021-22 and face ASU for a two-game set this weekend.
ASU head coach Greg Powers and St. Thomas head coach Rico Blasi have grown close over the years as the Sun Devils and Tommies have experienced similar paths as a program. Powers is doing anything he can to put the new program on the right track to success.
“It’s all about giving back and helping these new programs flourish and grow and [it’s about] supporting them,” Powers said. “It’s not always about them coming to you, you need to go to them. That’s how these new programs grow.”
St. Thomas made history last Saturday against Ferris State as it picked up its first D1 win.
“A brand new program can beat anyone any given night,” Powers said. “That’s what we did and St. Thomas did that last weekend.
“It’s all about not getting too low. That was the hardest thing for us.”
The Sun Devils are back home for the Tommies series after a series split against Colgate last weekend in New York.
ASU avoided a sweep thanks to an overtime goal from senior defenseman Tim Theochardis in the second game. The Sun Devils played much better on Saturday following their 8-3 loss Friday night.
“We felt like we were the better team on Saturday and we got rewarded with a win,” Powers said.
The Sun Devils scored four of their seven goals over the weekend on the power play. ASU currently leads the nation in power-play goals – a unit led by sophomore forward Matthew Kopperud (who doubles as the nation’s current leading scorer), senior forward Jack Becker and freshman forward Josh Doan. All three players are top five in the country in power-play goals.
“Everybody on the ice can score a goal anytime,” Kopperud said. “Becker can score down low and Doaner can score anywhere. We know that there’s always someone on the ice who is going to score.”
The Sun Devils are looking to keep their red hot power play going this weekend. St. Thomas’ penalty kill is at 62% this season – the fifth-worst mark in the country.
ASU is looking to be over .500 for the first time since the beginning of the season, and hopes celebrating Halloween can follow two wins against the Tommies.
“They’re a young team with a lot of energy and nothing to lose and that’s dangerous,” Powers said. “They’re a good hockey team and they’re better than what we were in our first year.”
