Sun Devils Dominate Air Force, 8-1, In 2024-25 Opener

(Photo: Marina Williams/WCSN)

Three shorthanded goals, two power-play goals, and a hat trick is one heck of a way to open the 2024-25 college hockey season, and to say special teams shined tonight is an understatement; they were brighter than the red light behind a goaltender.

A new season of college hockey opened up in Colorado Springs for No. 20 Sun Devil Hockey (1-0), and they took every advantage of a chance to finally hit someone else, beating the Air Force Falcons (0-1) by a final score of 8-1. Tonight’s final score marks ASU’s largest margin of victory (7), beating out the last record, which was an 8-2 (6). Eight goals also tie the program record for most goals in a single game — this is the fifth game in which the Sun Devils have scored eight goals.

A new season can always come with a few extra jitters and mistakes, which was clear off the bat for the Sun Devils as they took a total of six penalties during the game. However, scoring three shorthanded goals (the most in a single game in program history) can do the trick to mitigate it but it’s not a recipe for success. They were outshot by the Falcons 28 to 24 and lost in the faceoff circle 36-24; but, the tenacity of Sun Devil Hockey never wavered. 

A big reason ASU was so successful was the play of junior forward Bennett Schimek. The Providence transfer impressed tonight with his first career hat trick, which included the first goal to welcome in the new season. Not long past the halfway point of the first period and during the second penalty kill of the night for the Sun Devils, Schimek lit the lamp and opened up the five-hole of senior goaltender Guy Blessing — a native of Chandler, Ariz. — on a breakaway that only saw him few strides ahead of two trailing Falcons. 

Then, coming down late in the first period, graduate forward Dylan Jackson joined the score sheet to make it 2-0 ASU on a controversial goal. While driving the net, graduate forward Lukas Sillinger was forced into the lap of Blessing after sophomore defenseman James Callahan pushed him into the Falcons goaltender. This contact drew the net off the moorings right as Sillinger’s shot hit the back of the twine. Initially called no goal on the ice, a replay review overturned the goal in favor of the men in white and maroon. 

Schimek found the back of the net (once again shorthanded) for his second of the night just past the five-minute mark of the second period, giving ASU a 3-0 lead, but Air Force only a few minutes after netted their first and only goal of the night. Senior forward Clayton Cosentio lifted a backhand shot over the right shoulder of redshirt junior Gibson Homer. After that, it was all Sun Devils, scoring five unanswered goals, with the final shorthanded goal coming during the barrage of scoring. 

Among the other standouts were sophomore forward Kyle Smolen, who scored two goals, and freshman forward Cullen Potter, who scored his first collegiate goal. Homer’s dominant win was followed by a strong showing in net, as he turned away 27 shots en route to the win. 

The Sun Devils continue the series with Air Force on Saturday, Oct. 5th at 6:05 P.M. MST.

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