(Photo: Reagan Smith/WCSN)
SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time in ASU Women’s Hockey’s four years as a program, the Sun Devils enter into the Western Women’s Collegiate Hockey League conference tournament not as underdogs, but as one of the top teams and the No. 2 seed.
Fresh off of a program best 15-4-0 season, ASU heads into Salt Lake City with the knowledge that they can beat anyone.
“We have prepared so much for this, and are excited to lay it all on the ice,” sophomore defenseman Sheridan Gloyd said. “No matter how we are viewed, we are going to always give it 110%.”
Senior goaltender and alternate captain Jordan Nash-Boulden noted that although the team’s record says a lot, people shouldn’t be placing the label of “favorites” on the team in lieu of the competition they’ll face over the weekend.
“I know I don’t like to think of us (as favorites) because we can’t expect anything without putting in the work,” Nash-Boulden said. “But we had a good few weeks of practice and finished out the season strong. I think we can beat anyone.”
Same Faces, New Places
ASU kicks off the WWCHL tournament, Friday with the team they opened up the season back in September against Colorado State. In the two-game series against CSU, the Sun Devils outscored the Rams 14-2 in 5-1 and 9-1 victories.
In the second game of the series, sophomore forward Danielle Dupont netted four goals and an assist for a five point game and the highest single-game scoring performance in program history.
That was five months ago, though. Now, they’ll be playing a CSU team who, much like ASU, has evolved into a program that has evolved as the season went on, finishing 10-10-0.
“I think (that first series means) nothing,” senior forward Erin Rawls said. “It’s a clean slate. We have to go in there like we don’t know this team. Because, really, we don’t.”
Colorado State however, looks to use ASU as a springboard board to gain back momentum after they finished the regular season with a 4-2 loss to Denver.
Home Town Challenge
Saturday, the Sun Devils face off against the hosts, Utah in the second game of bracket play. Much like CSU, ASU handled Utah with little problem, outscoring the Utes 17-1 with a 11-0 shutout from sophomore goaltender Macy Eide in the second game of the series.
Utah’s has been one of extremes, to say the least. In their first year as a program, the team has dealt with its share of blowout losses, but has also tasted success in securing series sweeps against teams such as Grand Canyon.
Although the Utes finished the season 6-13-0, the Sun Devils will have to adapt to a team that is playing with no pressure with a hometown crowd in support. ASU is no stranger to hosting a tournament as underdogs, hosting the WWCHL tournament in Vegas, last year.
The Sun Devils know how it feels to be in the Utes’ shoes. “It’s a confidence booster (for them),” Rawls said. “In Vegas we were underdogs and we took it to some teams and really surprised some people. I think that they have a bit of a roll going that we have to work against.”
Getting Ready
In the days leading up to the 11 hour bus ride to Salt Lake City, the captains were called upon to take a heavier role in team practices. The day of the trip, it was up to the captains themselves to plan out and execute the morning skate for the day.
“I felt like it was a good time for us to prepare and get each other ready,” sophomore forward Abby Steinman said. “The fact that we’re actually getting ready, led by each other, it’s good stuff.”
For the first time all season, the team traveled by bus, something that ASU head coach Lindsey Ellis will hope, in turn, will humble and get the team even closer together.
“I think it’ll be good in terms of bonding,” Ellis said. “We haven’t had a trip in months, so I think it’ll be good for them.”
The team is confident heading into the tournament, but they know keeping a level head is key to finding success.
“You never know, it’s anyone’s game,” Steinman said. “We have to go in blinded, like we don’t know any team.”
