Arizona State earns more respect in NCHC preseason media honors for 2025-26

The Sun Devils will look to follow up their outstanding debut season in the toughest conference in college hockey
Western Michigan v Arizona State
Western Michigan v Arizona State | Zac BonDurant/GettyImages

We are officially Noah Powell days until puck drop at Mullett Arena.

That's 15 days for those unfamiliar with our roster.

This week, the NCHC released the preseason media poll and all-conference team for the 2025-26 season, and the Sun Devils will begin the year with some added respect to the name.

A far cry from last season's poll, NCHC media members slot the Sun Devils in at No. 4 in the preseason poll. Last year's defending conference and national champion Western Michigan opens as the preseason favorite to repeat, after being voted to finish in 6th place last season.

This conference is stacked, there is no arguing it. All four teams in the Top 4 were participants in the final Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul this past March, and look to be the final four remaining in the NCHC tournament this season.

Cullen Potter continues to be the standard bearer for the Sun Devils as he was named to the preseason all-conference team, a first in program history. He is joined by forwards Sam Harris (Denver) and Max Plante (Minnesota-Duluth), Eric Pohlkamp (Denver) and Gilbert native Jake Livanavage (North Dakota) on defense, and goaltender Hampton Slukynsky (Western Michigan).

The Sun Devils will open the season on October 3rd at 7:00pm when they play host to freshman phenom Gavin McKenna and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

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