ASU Hockey: Sun Devils host Michigan State for first-ever meeting

ASU hockey is on the brink of being ranked for the first time in program history. Now, the Sun Devils welcome another Big Ten opponent to Tempe in Michigan State.

The Sun Devils (7-3-0) are off to a historic start. The team got on a plane back to Arizona last Saturday night with high emotions after pulling off a major upset over then-No. 6 Penn State.

Sophomore Johnny Walker became the hero after burying a breakaway opportunity to lift the Sun Devils to a 4-3 overtime victory. On Monday, the latest USCHO poll was released and ASU was given 85 votes, just one shy of being in the top 20.

“There’s teams in the top 20 that are below .500 and ranked above us, so that’ll dig at anyone,” Walker said. “I don’t think anyone on our team is really excited about that.”

If eyes weren’t already on Tempe beforehand, last Saturday’s win over a top-ten team for the first time ever definitely reeled in national attention.

“I think it’s great that people are recognizing us,” ASU coach Greg Powers said about the rankings. “At the end of the day, we generally don’t care. We’re just taking it game by game like we have to put us in this position. We’re focused on one thing and that’s Michigan State on Friday night.”

It will be the inaugural series between the two programs. The Spartans are not far behind in the rankings as they received 35 votes.

“All the Big Ten teams are very talented, very good,” Powers said. “(MSU head coach) Danton Cole has done an amazing job with that program in just over a year. He’s got it going in the right direction.”

The Spartans (4-2-0) have won their last three out of four games, including a sweep against then-No. 8 Cornell. MSU split in its series against Ferris State last weekend.

Junior forward Taro Hirose is leading the way for the Spartans. The assistant captain has four goals and eight assists through his team’s six games.

Between the pipes  will most likely be junior John Lethemon against ASU. He holds all four wins for the Spartans and has a .919 save percentage.

MSU junior center Patrick Khodorenko was named Big Ten First Star of the Week after last weekend. He recorded a hat trick in Friday’s game and now leads the Spartans with five goals that have all come on the power play, which is tied for second-best in the country.

The top spot belongs to ASU’s Walker. He is the nation’s leading goal-scorer with 11 goals, six of them coming on the power play.

Walker has had the hot hand all season so far. The sophomore has tallied a point in all but one game, and he has seven goals in the last three games for ASU.

Senior forward Dylan Hollman is on a tear as of late. The former Sun Devil captain is on a five-game goal streak, and has already doubled his season-high goal total just 10 games into the season.

“He’s just going out and having fun, playing hard, and he’s reaping the rewards,” Powers said. “And I think he will continue to do that.”

Hollman netted three goals against PSU last weekend as he continues to mesh well with line mates Anthony Croston and PJ Marrocco.

“I wanted to be on a line that plays against the other team’s top line,” Hollman said. “Make sure we’re sound defensively, then any offense we can add is a bonus.”

As the competition gets tougher from week to week, the Sun Devils embrace the challenge.

“Our guys know they can skate with anybody,” Powers said. “I think the expectation every night is to go in and get a win, no matter if we are playing here or wherever.”

ASU and MSU will face off in the two-game series at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. Puck drop for both games is set for 7:05 MST and can be viewed on the Pac-12’s ASU Live Stream.

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.