ASU Hockey: Sun Devils Travel to Colgate for Important Series
ASU hockey goes on the road for the third-straight series as the Sun Devils travel to the east coast to take on the Colgate Raiders.
Arizona State (1-4-1) is coming off its first tie of the season. The Sun Devils look to improve their record after a positive outing against Nebraska-Omaha last Saturday.
“We don’t change anything or approach anything differently, we just embrace the opportunity to go and get a couple of big road wins and that’s what we’re going to do,” Powers said.
Colgate (2-2-2) is also fresh off a tie last Saturday. The Raiders have not won a game since Oct. 6, the same day the Sun Devils earned their one and only victory this season.
The two teams split last year’s two-game series when Colgate visited Tempe. The Sun Devils prevailed in the first game 5-4 and the Raiders stole the second, 3-2.
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ASU travels to Hamilton, N.Y., this year to play in a brand-new, 2,222-seat arena. Colgate Hockey’s Class of 1965 Arena was completed before the beginning of last season in 2016.
The Raiders are coached by Don Vaughan who is in his 25th season as head coach. He holds the record for most wins in program history and Powers expects him to have his team ready to go.
“They are very aggressive,” Powers said. “They fore-check really hard. They just play so hard and they come at you in waves.”
Colgate is averaging 2.5 goals per game this season. The Raiders’ power play is an abysmal two-for-28 (7.1%) which ranks third-to-last in NCAA Divison-I.
The Sun Devils are not far ahead at three-for-28 (10.1%). Special teams will be a point of emphasis for both teams in the series.
“Our power play has to be better,” sophomore defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk said. “We are right there. We are doing everything right, we’re just not finding the back of the net. But that is going to come.”
Colgate’s Nick Austin leads the team in points with five (three goals, two assists). ASU junior defenseman Jakob Stridsberg mirrors the same numbers and sits atop the leader board in goals for the Sun Devils.
Sophomore goaltender Colton Point is the go-to goaltender for the Raiders. The Dallas Stars draft pick is currently 2-0-2 with a .949 save percentage and 1.68 goals against average this season.
ASU’s top net minder is sophomore Joey Daccord. He has started five games and faced 174 shots already while mainting a .902 save percentage.
“I like getting a lot of shots,” Daccord said. “You’re engaged the whole time and once the shot total starts racking up, you are kind of like ‘Oh, I’m going to tonight, I’m feeling pretty good’.”
The captains line continues to be the main scoring source for the Sun Devils. Dylan Hollman, Anthony Croston and Louie Rowe each have five points tying the team-high.
A key for ASU is to get off to a hot start right away. The Sun Devils have scored first in only one of their six games this year.
“We want to play downhill. It’s just a mindset,” Powers said. it’s an approach to trying to get out ahead and not chasing your tail.”
Next: ASU Hockey: Forming Stronger Bonds on the Road
Puck drop is at 7 p.m EST (4 p.m. MST) on Friday. The action will continue in game two on Saturday at 4 p.m. (1 p.m. MST).