TEMPE, Ariz. – Big games, bigger moments could be the mantra for the Sun Devil hockey team over the past few seasons as the Sun Devils have won their last four in-season tournaments, including the last two Desert Hockey Classics. The Sun Devils had a chance to extend both of those streaks with a win against Air Force on Saturday night in the 2026 Desert Hockey Classic.
All four lines stepped up to the moment and delivered a third consecutive Desert Hockey Classic championship for Arizona State (11-10-1, 4-5-1 NCHC), beating Air Force (10-8-2) 5-2 (EN).
“It’s a lot to be proud of to win our tournament three years in a row,” Arizona State hockey head coach Greg Powers said. “We’ve been spectacular in the in-season competitions when trophies are on the line, and hopefully that parlays in the postseason.”
As expected, the top line delivered, scoring two goals. Sophomore forward Cullen Potter got the scoring started with his twelfth goal of the season, tying senior forward Cruz Lucius for most on the team. Potter is one goal shy of tying his freshman-year total. Potter has a five-game goal streak
Senior forward Bennett Schimek scored his tenth goal of the season. Potter and Schimek each had an assist as well. Schimek is one assist shy of tying his single-season high of 22, and his 21 this season leads the team.
“They’re (Potter and Lucius) just so talented, so smart when they have the puck, and they’re fast at the same time,” Schimek said. “You can count on where they’re going to be on the ice and know they’re going to make the right play with the puck.”
Lucius had two assists on the night, bringing his point total up to 32, a team high. He needs one goal, three assists and two points to tie his single-season records in those statistics.
Lucius and Schimek lead the NCAA in points this season. The trio of Lucius, Schimek and Potter has more points than any other team’s three best point scorers this season.
“They’re clicking, they’re confident, they’re moving the puck really well,” Powers said. “Tonight maybe was more of what you consider an off night for them and they were still really productive.”
Behind them, it has been a mixed bag of who has scored for the Sun Devils this season. Freshman forward Carmelo Crandall delivered a pair of goals, including the empty net goal. Crandall’s two goals came from two different sets of linemates as senior forward Johnny Waldron left the game early with an injury.
“First goal, I got to give it (the credit) all to Smolen, he found me on the dot and just made a play,” Crandall said. “Shot it backhand, then it went in.”
Sophomore forward Logan Morrell scored as well. Morrell’s goal was on the power play, which was efficient.
The power play went 2-of-4 in the game, with Potter scoring the other power play goal. The power play had gone 11 periods without scoring and went 0/6 in that stretch, with freshman forward Jack Beck due to injury.
The power play units shifted, adding sophomore forward Ty Nash and moving junior forward Kyle Smolen back to the top, creating a line of five forwards with the regular top line. The second power play line featured Morrell with his typical line mates: sophomore forward Noah Powell and freshman forward Sam Alfano, along with a pair of defensemen, freshman Justin Kipkie and sophomore Joel Kjellberg.
“I think both units were clicking,” Schimek said. “They (the second unit) were getting out front, their entries looked good.”
Smolen, who has the team’s most points this season outside of the top line of Lucius, Potter and Schimek, added an assist on the first Crandall goal. Alfano and Powell assisted on the Morrell goal. Powell’s assist topped his career high single-season point total and tied his career high single-season assist total.
The Sun Devils were great on the penalty kill as well, foiling the Falcons’ three attempts on the man advantage.
Senior goaltender Connor Hasley was rock solid, per usual. He let in two goals on 35 shots. The New York Native has a .921 save percentage and a 2.63 goals against average this season.
Hasley took a skate to the head that caused him to stay on the ice for a long moment in the third period. He stayed in the game and seemed to find his footing at first, but settled back in and did not let in another goal.
“Hasley, specifically, he’s been on fire recently,” Schimek said. “We know if we’re gonna make a mistake, we got a solid guy back there, and he allows us to play a lot more free.”
Arizona State won 72.6% of its faceoffs. All four centers (Potter, Smolen, Morrell and freshman forward Braxton Whitehead) won over 60% of their faceoffs. Smolen set his career high in faceoffs won with 15, and Potter tied his career high with 13.
This is the first time all season the Sun Devils have a winning record. They are 8-3 in their last 11 games, with half of those wins coming against current top 10 NPI teams.
“This is gonna be a special one because we’re going to postpone this tournament due to scheduling conflicts that we pushed out when we joined the league (NCHC), we have commitments that we need to honor with teams and different entities,” Powers said. “It’s good to three-peat before we postpone it for a couple of years.”