GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Arizona State men's hockey team returns to action after a week off for a two-game series at Gila River Arena in Glendale against a familiar rival and the last program to move to the Division I ranks. Live coverage of Friday's match-up will be televised on Pac-12 Arizona and on TSN and the TSN Go App.
The Devils (2-6-2) and the 2017 Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions (5-7-0) duel in the desert will be a clash of top-ranked recruiting classes. According to a national hockey recruiting site, NeutralZone.net, ASU's nine freshmen ranked No. 9 in the country directly ahead of Penn State's 10th-ranked class.
"Penn State has quickly turned itself into a nationally prominent program," said ASU head coach Greg Powers. "This is a tremendous opportunity for all hockey fans in the Valley to see a great Big Ten program on our home ice out at Gila River Arena in what should be a great environment. This will be a tremendous challenge for our team, and we look forward to meeting it head-on."
This time last season, the Devils traveled to Happy Valley for their first matchup since both teams elevated their programs from the club level to NCAA Division I. Then-No. 10 Penn State ran away with two big wins that weekend, 7-4, 8-0.
Penn State would go on to win the Big Ten Championship and advance to the quarterfinals of the 2017 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship before falling to eventual national champion Denver, 6-3.
The history between the Nittany Lions and the Sun Devils stretches back to 2012, when the two met in Penn State's hybrid season, and ASU still played in the ACHA. In that contest, the ASU club team defeated NCAA Division I Penn State, 3-1.
Though currently unranked, Penn State started the season ranked No. 15 and reached as high as No. 10 by week two. Through six weeks of the season, the Nittany Lions have stumbled down the polls after losses to Clarkson – who started the season unranked and is now up to No. 8 – a split against then-No. 7 Minnesota, an overtime loss to unranked American International, a split with vote-receiving Michigan and unranked Mercyhurst, and finally being swept by No. 6 Notre Dame last weekend.
The Nittany Lions have been without one of their top players, Denis Smirnov, who was drafted by the Colorado Avalance in the 6th round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Last year, Smirnov netted a hat trick in game one against the Sun Devils, followed by a goal and an assist in game two. Smirnov has missed the previous two series with an undisclosed injury. It is unknown whether Smirnov will return to the lineup this weekend.
His partner in crime, forward Andrew Sturtz, will however be playing as the current points leader for Penn State with seven goals and seven assists in 11 games. In 2016-17, Sturtz also had a big performance in game one against ASU, netting two goals and adding an assist.
In that first game, the Sun Devils rattled off four goals on returning goaltender Peyton Jones. Four different freshmen accounted for the goals, including Jakob Stridsberg, Tyler Busch, Brett Gruber and Steenn Pasichnuk.
Despite the record, ASU's start to the season also has not been as light as maybe once anticipated. The Sun Devils have suffered two ties, two one-goal losses and two empty-net losses so far this season – all being a few small bounces from additional tallies in the win column.
Last weekend, the Devils enjoyed a 'bye week' after splitting a home series against Alabama-Huntsville. ASU ended its losing streak with help from leading scorer Jakob Stridsberg's two goals in a 3-2 win on Friday night. With a chance to collect the first home sweep in program history, the Devils were unable to come away victorious in a 3-1, empty-net loss.
Puck drop on Friday is set for 8:05 p.m. (MST) on Pac-12 Arizona, with Saturday's scheduled for the regular 7:05 p.m. (MST). Tickets are available here for $15 or by calling 480-563-PUCK.
The Devils (2-6-2) and the 2017 Big Ten Champion Nittany Lions (5-7-0) duel in the desert will be a clash of top-ranked recruiting classes. According to a national hockey recruiting site, NeutralZone.net, ASU's nine freshmen ranked No. 9 in the country directly ahead of Penn State's 10th-ranked class.
"Penn State has quickly turned itself into a nationally prominent program," said ASU head coach Greg Powers. "This is a tremendous opportunity for all hockey fans in the Valley to see a great Big Ten program on our home ice out at Gila River Arena in what should be a great environment. This will be a tremendous challenge for our team, and we look forward to meeting it head-on."
This time last season, the Devils traveled to Happy Valley for their first matchup since both teams elevated their programs from the club level to NCAA Division I. Then-No. 10 Penn State ran away with two big wins that weekend, 7-4, 8-0.
Penn State would go on to win the Big Ten Championship and advance to the quarterfinals of the 2017 Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship before falling to eventual national champion Denver, 6-3.
The history between the Nittany Lions and the Sun Devils stretches back to 2012, when the two met in Penn State's hybrid season, and ASU still played in the ACHA. In that contest, the ASU club team defeated NCAA Division I Penn State, 3-1.
Though currently unranked, Penn State started the season ranked No. 15 and reached as high as No. 10 by week two. Through six weeks of the season, the Nittany Lions have stumbled down the polls after losses to Clarkson – who started the season unranked and is now up to No. 8 – a split against then-No. 7 Minnesota, an overtime loss to unranked American International, a split with vote-receiving Michigan and unranked Mercyhurst, and finally being swept by No. 6 Notre Dame last weekend.
The Nittany Lions have been without one of their top players, Denis Smirnov, who was drafted by the Colorado Avalance in the 6th round of the 2017 NHL Draft. Last year, Smirnov netted a hat trick in game one against the Sun Devils, followed by a goal and an assist in game two. Smirnov has missed the previous two series with an undisclosed injury. It is unknown whether Smirnov will return to the lineup this weekend.
His partner in crime, forward Andrew Sturtz, will however be playing as the current points leader for Penn State with seven goals and seven assists in 11 games. In 2016-17, Sturtz also had a big performance in game one against ASU, netting two goals and adding an assist.
In that first game, the Sun Devils rattled off four goals on returning goaltender Peyton Jones. Four different freshmen accounted for the goals, including Jakob Stridsberg, Tyler Busch, Brett Gruber and Steenn Pasichnuk.
Despite the record, ASU's start to the season also has not been as light as maybe once anticipated. The Sun Devils have suffered two ties, two one-goal losses and two empty-net losses so far this season – all being a few small bounces from additional tallies in the win column.
Last weekend, the Devils enjoyed a 'bye week' after splitting a home series against Alabama-Huntsville. ASU ended its losing streak with help from leading scorer Jakob Stridsberg's two goals in a 3-2 win on Friday night. With a chance to collect the first home sweep in program history, the Devils were unable to come away victorious in a 3-1, empty-net loss.
Puck drop on Friday is set for 8:05 p.m. (MST) on Pac-12 Arizona, with Saturday's scheduled for the regular 7:05 p.m. (MST). Tickets are available here for $15 or by calling 480-563-PUCK.