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ASU Hockey: Sun Devils faced with challenging schedule

By Chase Drieberg

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil stands on the court during a first-round game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the USC Trojans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 11, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. USC won 67-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 11: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil stands on the court during a first-round game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the USC Trojans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 11, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. USC won 67-64. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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ASU hockey gets their 2018-19 season underway Saturday and for the Sun Devils, they will play a tough schedule featuring nine ranked opponents.

Ohio State, Penn State, Princeton, Boston College, Cornell, Boston U. and Minnesota, all have two things in common. For one, they are all ranked in the top 20 of the NCAA College Hockey pre-season polls. Secondly, they will all play Arizona State this season.

Entering their third full season in the NCAA, the Arizona State Sun Devils show no intention of looking back. For the second straight season, they will play arguably one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

The number of ranked opponents and storied college hockey programs that the Sun Devils will play is daunting. However, as Coach Greg Powers explained, “our guys will have seen it all, they won’t be intimidated by anything”.

When a program is new to the NCAA and attempting to establish themselves as a legitimate college hockey program, you would think they would want to play the best of the best.

After all, that is the only way to improve, and eventually work your way into the national rankings. Whilst, using that success to attract top recruits to the program. Powers reiterated this in his interview saying “our philosophy is we want to play top teams.” That is exactly the cards which the Sun Devils have been dealt this season.

The most exciting incoming class in program history could not have come at a more opportune time for ASU.

They will need the offensive prowess of players like Demetrios Koumontzis, Austin Lemieux and P.J. Marrocco.

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Meanwhile, the defense led by Josh Maniscalco and Jarrod Gourley will solidify what is widely considered the Sun Devils strength.

If Arizona State hopes to remain relevant this season and continue to take steps forward, these players will need to have an immediate impact in the lineup. With the caliber of teams they will face-off against this season, this group will need to step up and lead the way.

Beyond playing some of the most prestigious college hockey programs, Arizona State will also take the ice against some of the best players in the NCAA. Oliver Wahlstrom (Boston College), Jack McBain (Boston College), Joel Farabee (Boston U.), Dante Fabbro (Boston U.) and Max Vérronneau (Princeton) are some of the notable players the Sun Devils will face.

Arizona State will have their hands full against the ranked opponents they play, and it would be considered a success if they could come out of every series with a split; however that would be an unrealistic expectation. Although, Powers told media, “we expect to win every night…every game is a playoff game for us.”

There is merit to playing such a strong schedule, especially for a young program. The common phrase in sports is “you play up to your competition, you play down to your competition.”

This season the Sun Devils will have to play up to their competition if they are to have a chance to compete on a nightly basis and surprise a few of their opponents.

Many of the Sun Devils will have Jan. 25 and 26 circled on their calendars. That weekend they will get to play at Agganis Arena against one of the college hockey powerhouses, Boston University.

Last season, ASU was a few bounces away from an upset in a very rough and penalty filled series. Returning players will be looking for redemption and seem to be equipped better than ever to do so.

If there was one series fans could hope for a sweep, or the best chance to upset a ranked opponent, they should look no further than November when the Sun Devils travel to Penn St.

After losing their top goal scorer, Andrew Sturtz, to the NHL and top defenseman Trevor Hamilton graduated, the Nittany Lions appear to be in somewhat of a rebuild.

Moreover, junior goalie Peyton Jones will be returning for his third season as the starter and his play has been nothing but inconsistent, which has held Penn St. back from competing and playing for a National Championship the last couple of seasons.

ASU will have to battle and come together as a team to take another step in the “Tradition” building process.

The first year the Sun Devils will have the opportunity to play a schedule of their choice is still a season out. Therefore, Arizona State must remain focused on competing each night against whichever college hockey power is on the opposite bench.

As captain Brinson Pasichnuk put it, playing so many ranked teams have the players “excited to play each and every night.”

Freshman Koumontzis added, “I like that we can be the underdog in most series and upset these teams.”

A NCAA tournament berth may be out of the question for this season, but I do believe going .500 is a realistic goal for this team. Given the schedule they have been handed, that would be a considerable achievement and quite frankly, a success.

Next. ASU Hockey: Sun Devils welcome Alaska Fairbanks for season opener. dark

The Arizona State Sun Devils will undoubtedly be ready to go this weekend, as they continue their quest of writing the “Tradition” and solidifying Arizona State as a legitimate college hockey program.