(Photo: Kylee Meter/WCSN)
University of Alabama-Huntsville sophomore defenseman Tanner Hickey announced his decision to transfer to Arizona State on Tuesday.
Hickey entered the transfer portal after Alabama-Huntsville eliminated its hockey program on May 22 due to COVID-19-related budget cuts and became the first Division I program to eliminate its hockey team since Wayne State in 2008.
“Thanks to Coach Corbett, the staff and my teammates at UAH for an unforgettable year, hard to see it end this way,” Hickey said in a tweet. “Nevertheless, I’m excited and grateful to announce my commitment to continue my education and hockey career at ASU.”
Hickey led all Charger defensemen with three goals and seven assists in 30 games last season.
Over the course of a four-year career with Spruce Grove Saints of the American Junior Hockey League, the Leduc, Alberta-native registered 19 goals and 41 assists in 132 games. There, Hickey was teammates with current ASU defenseman Jarrod Gourley and won the Doyle Cup in 2017-2018.
Hickey joins a well-fortified group of blue-liners at ASU. The program is expected to return eight defensemen from last season: sophomores Jacob Semik and Jack Judson, juniors Connor Stuart, Joshua Maniscalco and Jarrod Gourley and seniors Max Balinson, Jacob Wilson, Gvido Jansons. ASU’s only departure, Brinson Pasichnuk, graduated and agreed to terms of a deal with the San Jose Sharks in March.
The Sun Devils also added freshman defenseman Carson Kosobud as part of their No. 3-ranked 2020 recruiting class, according to the NeutralZone.
