(Photo: Allyson Cummings/WCSN)
The 13-0-0 Sun Devil hockey team heads into the Halloween weekend facing another pair of WCHL opponents: Colorado and Colorado State.
Unlike the familiar faces of the Blue Hens and Ice Jacks last week, both the Buffaloes and Rams are the new kids on the Division 1 block.
No. 18 CSU is the first foe scheduled to hit the ice at Oceanside Arena on All Hallows Eve. After a grueling road trip against last year’s ACHA national champions, Minot State, the Rams hope to prove they can skate with Division 1 caliber players.
Rams’ goalie Alex Steidler and forward Collin Abitz have been key components in keeping the team a contender against their rugged opponents. In their first DI victory against their in-state rivals, Abitz netted a goal and Steidler stopped 15 out of 17 pucks to seal a 3-2 victory in overtime.
The freshman forward leads the team in goals (4) and overall points (10) and is averaging a point per game. Steidler comes to Tempe having allowed 3.32 goals per game.
“[CSU’s] a good team. They’ve got an incredibly tough schedule — so that has a lot to do with their record,” Coach Powers said. “They’re going to work really hard… If you let them hang around, you could get hurt.”
On Friday and Saturday, it’s CU’s turn to make the trip down to the desert. The 1-4-0 Buffaloes are in rebuilding mode, hiring Eric Ballard as the new head coach late this offseason. With 17 freshmen in the lineup and their leading goalie allowing 4.47 goals per game, CU faces a tough task in stopping an ASU bench that runs deep in offensive firepower.
“They’re in for a long year, but I think they knew that coming in. I think they’ll build a good program out there,” Powers said.
Freshman forward Eric Rivard will make his debut Thursday after missing time due to an upper body injury. The former Soo Eagle is someone that Sun Devil fans should be excited about: He talleid up 24 goals, 39 assists for a total of 63 points last year.
Fellow freshman teammate Ryan Ostertag will also hit the ice tomorrow, while Zackary Holstrom will be out of the lineup due to illness.
In net, Coach Powers said that both goaltenders looked really good in practice. He named Joe D’Elia to be the man in the cage against Colorado State and Robert Levin to start on Friday against Colorado.
Levin continues to hold the top slots on the ACHA leaderboards in save percentage (.97) and goals against average (.75).
No matter whom he puts between the pipes, it looks like the Rocky Mountain State’s hockey teams are going to get tricks instead of treats from ASU.
The puck drops at 8:00 P.M Thursday and 7:30 P.M on Friday and Saturday. Watch the live broadcast at http://cronkitesports.com/live-broadcasts
