ASU Hockey 2018-19

[Willie D]

OK, boys n girls. Time for us to start with a modicum of respect for the ASU Ice Devils, still playing mostly at Oceanside until Uncle RayRay builds them a new rink on campus (wonder whatever happened to baseball lol).

The season started off with two wins against Alaska. At home, so the boys didn't have to sing that Johnny Horton song. But NOW the #1 ranked Ohio State *uckeyes come rolling into town this weekend. This could be a really good set of games, or someone is going to leave with their gonads slung over their shoulders.

 

[Dback Jon]

Tall order to beat the Buckeyes.

 

[Willie D]

Early season rankings:

1. Ohio St.
2. Notre Dame
3. Minnesota - Duluth (last year's winner)
4. Providence
5. St. Cloud St.
6. Minnesota
7. Cornell
8. Boston
9. Michigan
10. Denver

I never understood why the NCAA schedules so many ASU away games in December & January. It should be the opposite--they should be scheduling 7 billion home games at Oceanside then. Imagine telling some freezing winger from Western Michigan that they're headed out to Tempe for the weekend. What a way to lull a team into complacency LOL.

And they should have the team introductions at Big Surf!!!

 

[Willie D]

Some games of note in this season @ Oceanside:

Nov 9 vs. #9 Michigan
Dec. 28 vs. #17 Clarkson
Jan. 4 & 5 vs. #12 Boston College

...and a ton of away series including Penn State, Harvard, Princeton, Boston U, Cornell and Minnesota.

 

[Willie D]

Ice Devils complete a two-game split against #6 Penn State. Including a 4-3 OT win in Happy Valley. Now 6-3, I believe the Devils are turning some heads. Next up is a home set vs. Michigas States.

 

[Willie D]

Look who's sniffing the top 20 in hockey. Yep...1 vote behind Wisconsin.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Dback Jon]

That’s a big step

 

[Willie D]

Michigan State in town this weekend for a set @ Oceanside. Sparty vs. Sparky.

Old Time Hockey!!

 

[AZCB34]

I may have to check these guys out. Schedule looks brutal. Gonna start keeping an eye on this team.

 

[Willie D]

Update on the way back home to Scottsdale: Ice Diablos take both games from Sparty. I hope they enjoyed the extensive tanning time, 'cause it's gonna be a long trip back to East Lansing

Oh...and in game one, the Ice Devils got two assists from a freshman named "Lemieux."

If you don't remember that name, recall the 5 greatest hockey players of all time:

1. The Great One
2. Mr. Hockey
3. Gentleman Jean
4. Super Mario
5. The Golden Jet

Yeah, babe, great game!

 

[Ronin]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Willie D]

I don't want to overstate this, 'cause Michigan State has had a few down years, but they have won the Frozen Four 3 times.

Other teams they overtook in the rankings: Minnesota (6 titles), Wisconsin (6), Lake Superior St. (3), Boston College (5), Boston U. (5), and Michigan Tech (3). That's some pretty serious lumber!

Speaking of Boston, next weekend is a trip for a pair vs. Harvard.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Willie D]

Podcast with ASU head coach in charge:

https://www.uscho.com/podcasts/2018...n-devils-hockey-on-uscho-spotlight-episode-6/

 

[Willie D]

Ice Devils split the series with Harvard, winning in OT tonight. This was a pretty chippy series with Sparky's frisky pitchfork earning two 10-minute misconduct penalties and a slew of others. They'll need those guys when they head to UN-Omaha next weekend.

Year-end Desert Classic will feature ASU and heavyweights Clarkson, Duluth and Mankato. Looks like the games will be broadcast on Pac-12 Network.

 

[Willie D]

Since our last update :

Devils dropped a deuce in Omaha, losing both to Nebraska. But a nice rebound this last weekend in New Jersey, sweeping Princeton.

ASU now.#15.in the coach's poll, #9 RPI and #7 SOS.

Next up: Colorado College comes.to Tempe this weekend.

 

[Dback Jon]

Since our last update :

Devils dropped a deuce in Omaha, losing both to Nebraska. But a nice rebound this last weekend in New Jersey, sweeping Princeton.

ASU now.#15.in the coach's poll, #9 RPI and #7 SOS.

Next up: Colorado College comes.to Tempe this weekend.

Colorado College is struggling a bit this year, but traditionally a power

 

[Willie D]

Colorado College is struggling a bit this year, but traditionally a power

Must be the tremendous stress of taking one class at a time.

FWIW...top five:
1. St. Cloud St.
2. Massachusetts
3. Mankato St.
4. MN-Duluth
5. Quinnipiac

Pretty MN heavy. That's a hunk hunka mullets, eh?

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

 

[Willie D]

ASU sweeps Colorado College last weekend in Tempe, including a hay trick by Johnny Walker (not the Scotch). Devils now #13 nationally

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Willie D]

By comparison, ASU hockey at #13 is ahead of:

Men's swimming #14
Wrestling #15
Women's hoops #17
Men's hoops #18
Women's track #23
Gymnastics #23

Next will be the Desert Hockey Classic, which has caught the attention of even the staid east coasters.

https://www.uscho.com/2018/12/17/th...te-arizona-states-success-against-nchc-teams/

 

[Dback Jon]

Desert Hockey Classic hosted by Arizona State, which will feature four ranked teams: Minnesota State (8), Minnesota Duluth (3), Arizona State (13), and Clarkson (18).

 

[Willie D]

Desert Hockey Classic hosted by Arizona State, which will feature four ranked teams: Minnesota State (8), Minnesota Duluth (3), Arizona State (13), and Clarkson (18).

It's an odd year when the 3 ranked teams from the land o' lakes are from St. Cloud, Mankato and Duluth, and not Minneapolis.


Game 1 starts TONIGHT at 4:30 p.m. with Duluth playing Mankato. ASU's game vs Clarkson starts 7:30 p.m., and will be broadcast live on PAC-12 Network. Saturday's games will also start @ 4:30 & 7:30, teams TBD. ASU's game will be on Pac-12AZ.

Or you can hoof it out to Gila River Arena.

Podcast previewing the games in Glendale with ASU coach Greg Powers (his bit starts around 14:00): https://www.uscho.com/podcasts/2018...nt-preview-uscho-game-of-the-week-epidode-11/

 

[Willie D]

Well, what can ya say. ASU did what other ASU teams traditionally do: lose to the teams you should beat, and beat the teams you should lose to. The Desert Hockey Classic started with ASU losing to #19 Clarkson 0-3 with a poor power play and penalty kill. They rebounded by defeating #3 Mankato State in a shootout. The NCAA will record it as a tie, but that's just jibber jabber.


Losing to Clarkson involves no shame. Located in upstate NY, they like their hockey enough to award an honorary doctorate to Frank Zamboni (you know the name).

As it stands now, ASU is still #13 in the USA Today hockey poll, and #8 in the USCHO RPI rankings. NCAA.com did its first bracket analysis of the Frozen Four and predicted ASU as a #3 seed in the NE region, playing Mankato St. once again.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey...ckey-2019-frozen-four-tournament-bracketology
https://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey...ckey-2019-frozen-four-tournament-bracketology
Next pair for ASU is at home against Boston College this weekend, also at Gila River Arena. Then a long roadie vs the academic skools. Old time hockey, eh?

 

[Willie D]

With the homestand over, ASU swept Boston College both games 5-2 and 2-0. Game one was a come-from-behind affair, but in both the Devils finally got the penalty kill to work. Goalie Joey Daccord stood on his tongue all weekend, especially in front of the 2,900 at Gila River Arena on Saturday.

https://www.uscho.com/2019/01/07/th...eaks-snapped-sun-devils-sweep-boston-college/

ASU stays at #13 in the polls, sandwiched between Bowling Green and Western Michigan. F Johnny Walker is 1st in the NCAA with 18 goals on the season, and Daccord is 4th in goals against.

Next weekend: a trip to Ithaca, NY for two games against Cornell.

 

[Willie D]

Chances of ASU making the 16-team hockey postseason:

https://www.uscho.com/2019/01/08/tm...nament-chances-team-usas-world-junior-silver/

 

[AZCB34]

Chances of ASU making the 16-team hockey postseason:

https://www.uscho.com/2019/01/08/tm...nament-chances-team-usas-world-junior-silver/

Sounds like they have their work cut out for them