TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Hockey will open its third NCAA Division I season, as they host University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass) on Friday and Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. (AZT) at Oceanside Ice Arena.
The last time UMass and Arizona State met, the Sun Devils collected their first sweep of the 2016-17 season and first road sweep in program history. The victories in Amherst (4-1, 4-1) also contributed to the Devils' longest win streak in program history, at three games.
"Our guys are just excited to get going for real this weekend and to do it at home for the first time in a few years is a great opportunity," said head coach Greg Powers. "UMass is a completely different team than we saw last year and we know how prepared and excited they are to kick off a new era for their program, so we will have to be ready to play and we will be."
In the 2016-17 Hockey East playoffs, the Minutemen lost to No.10/11 Providence in the opening round to end their season with an overall record 5-29-2.
Like ASU, UMass boasts a top-10 recruiting class as well in 2017, as NeutralZone.net ranked the Minutemen's class at No. 3 in the country. A highlight of that class is Colorado Avalanche draft pick Cale Makar, a 70-plus point defenseman from the Alberta Junior Hockey League that was selected fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Also on the Minutemen's blue line is Mario Ferraro, who was selected 49th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2017.
The series against the Minutemen is the first of a 34-game schedule during which the Devils will face five of the current top-20 ranked hockey programs in the nation, according to USCHO.com, including four participants from the 2017 NCAA tournament.
The 2017-18 season is bound to a big one for the young program in more ways than one. The Devils boast their largest roster in the past three seasons with a team of 28, featuring ten new faces. The roster also caters to Powers expectation of "hard and heavy" play as the average size of a Sun Devil skater is 6-foot-1, 195 pounds.
The nine freshmen combined for the 9th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to NeutralZone.net, the first time the program has netted such recognition. The 10th addition, forward Gage Hough, is a graduate transfer from UMass-Lowell.
Limited tickets still remain for both nights, and can be purchased here.
STUDENT BUS SCHEDULE
5:40pm - 1111 S. McAllister Ave.
5:47pm - 555 E. Veterans Way (Departs at 5:52pm)
5:57pm - Arrives at Oceanside Ice Arena
IF STUDENT TICKETS REMAINING, THE BUS WILL MAKE A 2ND TRIP (Please check our Twitter for updates)
6:18pm - 1111 S. McAllister Ave. (Departs at 6:31pm)
6:36pm - 555 E. Veterans Way (Departs at 6:42pm)
6:47pm - Arrives at Oceanside Ice Arena
POSTGAME
9:30pm - Departs Oceanside Ice Arena
9:44pm - Arrives at 1111 S. McAllister Ave.
10:07pm - 2nd Trip Departs Oceanside Ice Arena
10:21pm - Arrives at 1111 S. McAllister Ave.
The last time UMass and Arizona State met, the Sun Devils collected their first sweep of the 2016-17 season and first road sweep in program history. The victories in Amherst (4-1, 4-1) also contributed to the Devils' longest win streak in program history, at three games.
"Our guys are just excited to get going for real this weekend and to do it at home for the first time in a few years is a great opportunity," said head coach Greg Powers. "UMass is a completely different team than we saw last year and we know how prepared and excited they are to kick off a new era for their program, so we will have to be ready to play and we will be."
In the 2016-17 Hockey East playoffs, the Minutemen lost to No.10/11 Providence in the opening round to end their season with an overall record 5-29-2.
Like ASU, UMass boasts a top-10 recruiting class as well in 2017, as NeutralZone.net ranked the Minutemen's class at No. 3 in the country. A highlight of that class is Colorado Avalanche draft pick Cale Makar, a 70-plus point defenseman from the Alberta Junior Hockey League that was selected fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. Also on the Minutemen's blue line is Mario Ferraro, who was selected 49th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2017.
The series against the Minutemen is the first of a 34-game schedule during which the Devils will face five of the current top-20 ranked hockey programs in the nation, according to USCHO.com, including four participants from the 2017 NCAA tournament.
The 2017-18 season is bound to a big one for the young program in more ways than one. The Devils boast their largest roster in the past three seasons with a team of 28, featuring ten new faces. The roster also caters to Powers expectation of "hard and heavy" play as the average size of a Sun Devil skater is 6-foot-1, 195 pounds.
The nine freshmen combined for the 9th-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to NeutralZone.net, the first time the program has netted such recognition. The 10th addition, forward Gage Hough, is a graduate transfer from UMass-Lowell.
Limited tickets still remain for both nights, and can be purchased here.
STUDENT BUS SCHEDULE
5:40pm - 1111 S. McAllister Ave.
5:47pm - 555 E. Veterans Way (Departs at 5:52pm)
5:57pm - Arrives at Oceanside Ice Arena
IF STUDENT TICKETS REMAINING, THE BUS WILL MAKE A 2ND TRIP (Please check our Twitter for updates)
6:18pm - 1111 S. McAllister Ave. (Departs at 6:31pm)
6:36pm - 555 E. Veterans Way (Departs at 6:42pm)
6:47pm - Arrives at Oceanside Ice Arena
POSTGAME
9:30pm - Departs Oceanside Ice Arena
9:44pm - Arrives at 1111 S. McAllister Ave.
10:07pm - 2nd Trip Departs Oceanside Ice Arena
10:21pm - Arrives at 1111 S. McAllister Ave.