(Photo: Travis Whittaker/WCSN)
For the No. 20 Arizona State Sun Devils and No. 4 Denver Pioneers, the fun started a bit early. Both team’s twitter accounts took their jabs at each other Thursday, just 24 hours before this matchup’s second ever series clash.
The series sets itself up to be the biggest of the season for the Sun Devils, as they’ll finish their two game set Saturday with a game at Gila River Arena — home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.
“I have mixed feelings about playing out [at Gila River Arena],” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “We’re doing it because of TV, but we enjoy playing at [Oceanside Ice Arena]. It’s our home.”
For junior forward and team points leader James Sanchez, being afforded the opportunity to play at Gila River Arena represents a taste of something new.
“It’s always cool to play in those types of places,” Sanchez said. “It will be exciting.”
The last time Sanchez played a game at Gila River Arena, he was a Michigan Wolverine, and scored an assist en route to a 4-1 win over the Sun Devils.
“It was funny,” Sanchez said. “At the time, obviously it was just like ‘Yeah, score. Whatever.’ But now that it’s here, it’s funnier. We don’t bring it up, really.”
The Sun Devils are 1-10-1 in all NCAA games played at Gila River Arena and look to turn the tide.
On the flip side, the Pioneers look to put themselves back on track after going 1-3-2 in their last six games — including losses to No. 1 Minnesota State, No. 3 North Dakota and No. 17 Western Michigan.
One thing the Sun Devils will have to focus intently on, is the junior defenseman and captain Ian Mitchell.
When Mitchell scores a point on the ice, the Pioneers are 8-0-0 and only 1-3-2 when he does not.
The Sun Devils will have to combat a high octane offense with plenty of scoring depth, as DU currently tallies eight players with eight or more points this year.
ASU only has four.
“They’re deep and balanced,” Powers said. “It’s going to be a great challenge and we’re excited to take it on.”
The Sun Devils will be looking to put an end to Denver’s 19 straight non-conference game unbeaten streak (17-0-2).
“It’s a big test for us,” senior forward and co-captain Tyler Busch said. “Any time you got a top-ten team and a big established program like [Denver,] it’s pretty easy to get up for these games.”
Arizona State is in search to continue solidifying the second line again following the dismissal of freshman left winger Logan Jenuwine.
“The nice thing about last weekend was that we got [Brett] Gruber back,” Powers said. “To get a kid who has been a top-6 guy in Brett [is great.]”
One thing is certain, though; ASU will have to rely on its top line of Sanchez, junior Johnny Walker and sophomore Demetrios Koumontzis to produce in both games.
The top line has combined for 37 points and 36.6% of the team’s offensive production.
To top things off, the Sun Devils will don their new “storm” grey uniforms Friday.
“They’re pretty sick,” Sanchez said. “Jon [Laughner] (ASU equipment manager) is a wizard with all that stuff.”
