(Photo: Sammi Maxwell/WCSN)
When matched against the tough odds of being an independent program, every game counts. Additionally, having a fancy number next to your team is never an easy task, given the perceived added pressure. That didn’t seem to make a difference for No. 18 Arizona State Men’s Hockey on Friday and Saturday, as they completed the sweep in a dominant 5-1 victory over Northern Michigan. Saturday’s victory extends ASU’s best start in program history to 4-0.
“It’s grit. We were older, bigger, faster, and we just have a little more inner belief,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said.
In what Powers described as a team win, the biggest highlight of the night was senior forward Matthew Kopperud’s power-play goal in the middle of the second period, setting the record for most power-play goals in program history.
“It feels good to beat Johnny Walker,” Kopperud said. “He’s a close friend of mine, and I know I’m going to get a text from him pretty soon.”
“That’s what he does, and he probably should have had three more,” Powers said. “He’s off to a really good start, playing the best hockey he’s played in the three years he’s been here.”
“It’s nice to be healthy again for the first time pretty much,” Kopperud added, who missed all but six games last season due to injury.
Following Friday’s 3-2 victory, the Sun Devils ranked 28th in the country in power play percentage, only converting on three of 18 attempts. In Saturday’s series finale, however, ASU converted half of their six power play opportunities, with sophomore forward Charlie Schoen and junior forward Dylan Jackson joining Kopperud on the score sheet for the first time this season. Overall, the Sun Devils were the more dominant team offensively, doubling the Wildcats in shots 33-17 while holding their opponents to under 10 shots in every period.
On the other side of the ice, the penalty kill unit has proved to be ASU’s biggest strength this season, as it only allowed one power-play goal and just the second power-play goal allowed this season. Defensively, as a whole, the Sun Devils showcased their ability to transition and clear out of the zone efficiently.
“We really limited their chances,” Powers said, commending his team’s efforts in holding the Wildcats to just three goals after a 10-goal weekend in Duluth last weekend. “It was a really good defensive effort, which was a huge focus this offseason.”
After the game, Powers spoke extensively about the team’s willingness to buy into the culture, one he had not seen in years past, largely due to the completion of Mullett Arena.
“For seven years, [everyone] left to go home because they didn’t want to train at Oceanside, and I don’t blame them. Players build a culture in college hockey over the summer. If you have a player-led culture, then you have something, and that’s what we have.”
From here, the undefeated Sun Devils will hit the road for the first of just five times this season, putting even more pressure and a big opportunity to boost their postseason resume early in the season. They will face a future conference opponent, Miami (OH) (3-1).
“We have to win on the road and make the most out of [those opportunities] this year,” Powers said. “We’ve never played them, and we’re excited to go there.”
