The hits just keep on coming for the Sun Devils, as Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald brought some unwelcome news to hockey fans ahead of a key series.
Arizona State F Cullen Potter expected to be out for the rest of the season after suffering an upper-body injury on this hit against Miami. Potter had 10 goals and 17 points in his last 11 games. He's a first-round pick of the Calgary Flames. pic.twitter.com/IUUIg6Yd5v
— Brad Elliott Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) January 20, 2026
Cullen Potter was officially ruled out for the rest of the season with an upper-body injury after taking this hit from Kocha Delic late in last Saturday's 1-0 win over Miami at Mullett Arena. The play was reviewed for a potential major penalty, but no penalty was assessed.
This latest punch is a major blow to a Sun Devil team that has been battling a rash of injuries in recent weeks. Potter joins Jack Beck who was announced to be out for the season two weeks ago after undergoing season-ending surgery. Sean McGurn and Anthony Dowd recently made returns from their respective injuries and will hopefully be close to 100% as the Sun Devils return to play this week. Johnny Waldron and Lincoln Kuehne missed both games of the Miami series, and co-captain Bennett Schimek was out of the lineup for Saturday's game, leaving no healthy scratches available to Arizona State for any further injuries.
The new House Settlement instituted a hard cap of 26 players on the hockey roster, which Arizona State is bound to after opting in this fall. Losing two of their biggest producing players places a lot of strain on a roster that was widely considered by Coach Powers to be the deepest roster he's had since moving to the Division 1 level.
Prior to his injury, Potter recorded points in 6 of his last 7 games, finishing with a scoring line of 12 goals and 14 assists for a career high of 26 points in 24 games this season.
Cullen Potter is not on the ice for team practice. Bennett Schimek is in a non-contact uniform
— Colgin Hirschel (@ColginHirschel) January 20, 2026
Former Sun Devil Hunter Mullett is practicing with the team. https://t.co/5vu8npk1Gf pic.twitter.com/Udwsm0dauX
At the time of this writing, Bennett Schimek is practicing in a non-contact jersey, with Hunter Mullett rejoining the team in today's practice. The status of Johnny Waldron and Lincoln Kuehne aren't known at this point, something Coach Powers will likely address in tonight's edition of Hell Frozen Over on Fox Sports 910 Phoenix.
The Sun Devils return to the ice this weekend hosting the No. 3 (NPI) North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Games will be Friday night at 7pm and Saturday night at 5pm.