ASU Men’s Hockey: Sun Devils bring in nation’s No. 3 recruiting class

(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)

Over the course of the last two years, Arizona State’s hockey program has demonstrated marked signs of improvement. In 2018-2019, it qualified for its first NCAA Tournament berth and would have almost certainly done the same this year if not for the abrupt end to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sun Devils took another big step towards their future strength and stability by hauling in the No. 3 ranked 2020 recruiting class in the nation, according to the NeutralZone.

“When you add, on paper, the most talented recruiting class yet with everything we’ve returned, we are going to have a really good hockey team,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “We couldn’t be more excited about the talent, the experience, and the depth.

The class features five forwards, a defenseman and a goaltender. Two of ASU’s incoming players are NHL draft picks.

“It’s really the first year that our staff feels like we are completely built in every way,” Powers said. “Every position we have depth, we have guys that can do so many different things, and the options are going to be endless.”

Goaltender Cole Brady, a 2019 fifth-round pick (127th overall) by the New Jersey Devils is one of three 4.25-star recruits to sign with the Sun Devils this year, according to the NeutralZone.

Last season, as a member of the Fargo Force in the United States Hockey League, Brady went 21-12-5 with a 2.79 GAA, a .903 save percentage and recorded two shutouts. Brady will join current ASU goaltenders, junior Evan DeBrouwer and sophomore Justin Robbins, in 2020.

At 6-foot-5, the Pickering, Ontario-native will become the tallest goaltender in ASU history.

“Cole is a special talent,” Powers said in a release. “He’s a big and very cerebral goaltender. He’s developed a very high compete level over three years of junior hockey.

“Cole Brady is a huge, imposing guy in net.”

A 2018 fourth-round selection (98th overall), forward Ryan O’Reilly joins the Sun Devils after originally committing to Denver in 2017. When he signed, O’Reilly became the highest overall draft pick to join ASU in the history of its program.

O’Reilly tallied 52 goals and 46 assists in 152 games across three USHL seasons with the Madison Capitols, Fargo Force and Green Bay Gamblers.

“Ryan is a very high-end talent,” Powers said. “He’s big and he can flat out score. I don’t think we’ve had a player with his physical make-up yet and we’re thrilled he chose to be a Sun Devil.”

Forward Matthew Kopperud joins the Sun Devils after back-to-back 40-plus point seasons with the Merritt Centennials (BCHL) and the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL). The Denver, Colorado-native completed his first year in the USHL with 16 goals and 24 assists in 43 games.

“Matthew Kopperud is a kid who loves to score,” Powers said. “He’s willing to pay the price and go to the dirty areas unlike so many players today who don’t. Since the inception of our program, he’s made it clear that he wanted to be a Sun Devil and that’s the kind of kid we want.”

Following the losses of centers Tyler Busch and Brett Gruber following the 2019-2020 season, the Sun Devils needed to insert more depth at the position into their roster. Former North Dakota commit forward Michael Mancinelli could strengthen the position for the Sun Devils.

One of two Northville, Michigan natives joining the program, Mancinelli tallied 16 goals and 26 points in 45 games last year as a member of the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL. Mancinelli dawned an “A” on his jersey with the Buccanneers last season.

In 2018, the 4.25-star recruit played for Team USA at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Mancinelli does not turn 19 until June 28, making him one of the youngest players in ASU’s signing class.

“Michael Mancinelli is a really strong two-way center,” Powers said. “He’s exceptional in the dot. He’s another kid who prides himself on playing the right way in every zone.”

The second memeber of the recruiting class from Northville, Michigan, forward Benji Eckerle posted a career-high 14 goals and 19 assists with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL last season.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward grew up playing for Compuware Bantams in Michigan – one of the top youth programs in the country – with fellow signee, Mancinelli.

“Benji does it all,” Powers said. “He can play any position up front and can really skate. He is responsible in his own end and has really developed a really good offensive game throughout his career. He’s also an incredibly high-character kid and will really add value to our culture inside the room.”

Defensman Carson Kosobud is ASU’s lone addition to its blueline. The Phoenix-born player moved to Minnesota for high school, similar to ASU junior forward Demetrios Koumontzis.

Kosobud played at Moorhead High School and committed to ASU during his senior season in April 2017. That same year, he helped lead Moorhead to the Minnesota 2A state hockey championship.

Kosobud tallied four goals and 13 assists in 57 games for the Penticton Vees (BCHL) during the 2019-2020 season.

Kosobud’s speed and skating ability could aid ASU’s defense followig the departure of Brinson Pasichnuk, who graduated and agreed to terms with the San Jose Sharks in March.

“Carson Kosobud is a big, elite-skating two-way defenseman who I think people are going to like how physical he is,” Powers said.

The Sun Devils added five former USHL players this year, bringing their total to 17 alumnis of the league since it made it first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018-2019.

“The USHL is the strongest,” assistant coach Alex Hicks said. “You can play in that league and you can definitely come and play at our level. You can see players in the BCHL and the NAHL that do really well and score a lot of goals and then just don’t translate at a higher level in the NCAA. There’s no real perfect science to it, with the exception of who can play and put up points in the USHL.”

In addition to their incoming crop of freshmen, the Sun Devils also landed two players off the trasnfer market.

Senior forward Sean Dhooghe announced his decision to to tranfer to ASU from Wisconsin in March. Dhooghe played 28 games last year for the Badgers and tallied five goals and 14 total points before suffering a knee injury which prevented him from finishing the season.

As a sophomore, Dhooghe played in all 37 of Wisconsin’s games and led all Badger skaters with a career-high 15 goals and 26 points. He racked up 16 total points in the same amount of games in 2017-2018 as a freshman.

“Dhooghe is going to be one of the fan favorites right away,” Powers said. “It’s not a misprint. He is 5-foot-3, but he plays like he is 6-foot-5.”

Boston College transfer forward Chris Grando is eligible to play in the 2020-2021 season after transferring to ASU last year. Grando scored nine goals and 16 assists in two seasons with the Eagles.