Arizona State's 2024-25 hockey season was one to remember even if it ended prematurely. The Sun Devils went 21-14-2, finished second in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in its first year as a member but fell just short of an NCAA Tournament bid.
The team finished 16th in the all-important PairWise rankings, leaving it with only one path to the national postseason - win the NCHC Tournament outright. Unfortunately, ASU fell 4-2 to rival Denver in the Frozen Faceoff semifinal in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 21.
That being said, this year's team had some serious talent and multiple players received the recognition they deserved with conference awards. On top of that, three departing seniors signed contracts with professional teams in recent days.
Goalie Luke Pavicich (13-9-0) signed with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears on Tuesday, entering the Tampa Bay Lightning organization. Defenseman Noah Beck (5 goals, 28 assists, 33 points), who was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2020, decided to instead sign as a free agent with the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. His fellow blue liner Ty Murchison (0 goals, 4 assists, 4 points) signed on Wednesday for the team that drafted him in 2021, the Philadelphia Flyers.
Congratulations @luke_pavicich on starting your professional career 😈 #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/4dAjvfgkQs
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 25, 2025
OFF TO THE BIG SHOW 🤩
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 25, 2025
The Sharks have signed defenseman Noah Beck to a one-year, entry-level contract starting in the 2025-26 season. pic.twitter.com/cMQbf6JVub
There’s a new heavy hitter on the @NHLFlyers 😤@TyMurchison, the Defensive Defenseman of the Year, signed a two-year, entry-level contract beginning the 2025-26 season #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/u3im2ht3J4
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) March 26, 2025
Only two Sun Devil hockey alums have played in the NHL: Goalie Joey Daccord (Ottawa Senators and Seattle Kraken) and forward Josh Doan (Arizona Coyotes and Utah Hockey Club).
Four Sun Devil hockey players enter the NCAA transfer portal
The team also endured some hard losses on top of the jubilant ones this week. Four Sun Devils entered the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday, including goalie Gibson Homer who split starts with Pavicich throughout the season.
Homer started 15 of his 17 appearances, earning an 8-5-2 record and saving 91.9 percent of shots that made it to his crease. Both that and his 2.56 goals allowed average are better than Pavicich but the latter did play six more games.
Forwards David Hymovitch, Cole Gordon and Charlie Schoen will also be looking for new homes. Both Hymovitch and Schoen played on head coach Greg Powers' fourth line combination and are likely looking for more playing time elsewhere. All three combined for just 19 points total on the season.
The 2025-26 Sun Devil hockey squad will look a lot different from this year's but if Powers' recruiting prowess has proven anything in the past, it's that he knows how to put a team together.