In the first 15 games of the season, the Sun Devil defenseman scored zero goals. In the past four games, there have been four goals, including the first collegiate goal from three players.
Arizona State hockey (9-9-1, 4-5-1 NCHC) dominated No. 8 Dartmouth (11-2, 6-0 ECAC) 5-1 (EN) in the first game of the Ledyard Bank Classic on Saturday. Senior defenseman Tucker Ness scored his first collegiate goal in the second period, giving the Sun Devils the lead, which they would never look back from.
Freshman defenseman Justin Kipkie scored his second career goal in as many games. The Alberta native scored his goal with less than a second remaining in the game.
Senior goaltender Connor Hasley had another great performance in net, stopping 22 of 23 shots he faced. The 23 shots were the fewest shots on goal that an opposing team has put up against the Sun Devils since October 31st against Miami (OH).
Hasley is 7-5 this season with a .921 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average.
Sophomore defenseman Brasen Boser recorded an assist in the game and is one assist shy of his total from his freshman season.
The first and third lines produced the majority of the scoring. On the first line, sophomore forward Cullen Potter logged a goal and a pair of assists. The Flames' draft pick has seven goals on the season, and the Sun Devils have won in every game he has found the back of the net.
Potter’s linemates of senior forwards Cruz Lucius and Bennett Schimek both added to their triple-digit point careers. Lucius had two assists, and Schimek had one, as the two are in contention for the Hobey Baker award given to the best player in NCAA hockey.
Sophomore forward Noah Powell had the first goal of the game. He has set his career high in goals (three) and tied his career high in points (five) this season.
Sophomore forward Logan Morrell had a two-point game. His goal was the empty net goal.
Freshman forward Braxton Whitehead recorded his first career NCAA point with an assist.
The Sun Devils' penalty kill was effective, killing both of the Big Green power plays. Opponents have scored 18.8 on the power play this season.
The Arizona State power play went 0-2 on the night. Part of the reason that it could not score was that injuries shook up the group. Freshman forward Jack Beck missed his third straight game due to injury. Beck has been playing on the top power play line, and sophomore defenseman Joel Kjellberg has taken his place.
Junior center Sean McGurn has been on the second power play line, but with his injury, freshman forward Carmelo Crandall has jumped into the role. Junior defenseman Anthony Dowd missed his second straight game due to injury. He has spent time on the power play on occasion.
All three are battling undisclosed injuries, and their timetables are all unknown. The Sun Devils' depth has taken a hit recently as it appears that forward Justin Cloutier and defenseman Austin Zemlak have departed the team. Junior forward Tony Achille was the only healthy scratch in the game, and he has yet to play this season.
Arizona State won 29 of the 57 face-offs in the game, without one of its best face-off men, McGurn. Morrell and Whitehead both won more than they lost. Whitehead set his career high in face-offs won in a game with six.
This is the first time since the Ice Breaker Tournament that Arizona State has been at .500. The Sun Devils will take on the Big Green in the second game of the Ledyard Bank Classic on Sunday at 1 P.M. MST in an attempt to have a winning record for the first time this season.