Four-Week Road Stretch For Hockey Begins at #14 Providence

PROVIDENCE, RI – From the New England coastline, the Arizona State ice hockey team (1-2-1) ventures out on the beginnings of a four-week road trip starting against the No. 14 Providence Friars this weekend, Oct. 18-19, at Schneider Arena. Both games are available to stream on ESPN+ or on the airwaves with Fox Sports 910. 

ASU competes in its final two non-conference matchups commencing at Providence before traveling to Northern Michigan next weekend (Oct. 25-26). After an off-week over Halloweekend, the Sun Devils once again return to mountain heights at Colorado College for ASU's first conference games in program history. 

The Sun Devils look to make a strong presence on the road with the Pairwise rankings in mind, especially since the Pairwise system looks at road wins favorably when deciding the NCAA Tournament field. 

HOW TO WATCH
Friday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. AZT/7 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Fox Sports 910AM or the iHeart radio app

Saturday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. AZT/4 p.m. ET
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Fox Sports 910AM or the iHeart radio app

In recent seasons, ASU improved against ranked opponents to reach an even split against those recognized by the USCHO.com Poll in 2023-24. Statement wins against teams like then-No. 9 Providence and then-No. 2 Denver pushed the envelope on ASU's postseason hopes last year. Coming off of a series split (0-1-1) with No. 10 Michigan, the Sun Devils look to showcase their resiliency, skill, and offensive power against traditionally ranked programs.

SERIES HISTORY
The Sun Devils and Friars have only met three times since ASU's promotion to NCAA Division I. Most recently, Providence came to Mullett Arena for the first two-game series between the programs in November 2023.  ASU looked to improve the 0-1-0 series record during the top-15 tilt with the Sun Devils ranked 13th and the Friars ranked ninth. Providence and ASU battled through a full 60 minutes and needed overtime to break a 3-3 tie. ASU's Dylan Jackson scored the game-winner with assists from Ty Jackson and Tim Lovell. Former Sun Devil TJ Semptimphelter made 38 saves through nearly 64 minutes of play. The next night, Dylan Jackson once again ended up on the scoresheet, tallying the game's opening goal and what would eventually become ASU's sole goal of the night. The Sun Devils came away with a series split

ASU'S WATCHLIST

• Bennett Schimek makes his return to former team Providence this weekend. The forward is off to a hot start at ASU as the team's leading goal scorer. He is tied at second in the NCAA in total point scoring (4G, 3A, 7PTS)
• College hockey's leading point scorer Noah Beck is a 2.00 point per game player with one goal and seven assists through four games. He looks to extend his four-game point scoring streak at Schneider Arena.
• Top draft prospect Cullen Potter continued to impress in his introductory games to college hockey with four points (2G, 2A), including the game-tying goal against No. 10 Michigan with only 44 seconds left in regulation. Potter went on to score the sole goal in the shootout after ASU finished with a 3-3 tie against the Wolverines last Saturday night.

FAMILIAR FOE
Junior forward Bennett Schimek returns to Schneider Arena to face his former team for the first time since transferring to the desert this off-season. The Minnesota native skated for the Friars for two seasons, collecting 37 points from 19 goals and 18 assists. He wasted no time adjusting to his new team, scoring his first career hat trick in his first appearance in the maroon and gold during the season opener at the Air Force Academy. With four goals and three assists, Schimek boasts a 1.75 points per game average and a 1.00 goals per game average. His seven points this season is tied at second among all skaters in the NCAA. 

On the opponent bench, former Sun Devil alternate captain Ryan O'Reilly sits now donning the Friar logo. O'Reilly skated at ASU in 125 games through four seasons and earned an undergraduate degree from the university. He had the third-most game-winning goals in program history (7),  

NCAA LEADER
Graduate transfer Noah Beck is off to a hot start in his final year of college hockey. The defenseman spent four years at Clarkson with big sophomore and junior seasons including 20-plus points in each. In his first year at ASU, Beck leads team, and the nation, in points with eight (1G, 7A) through four games. 

WIZARDING WORLD OF CULLEN POTTER
Four games into his college hockey career, Potter is already scoring highlight reel goals and actively assisting teammates on the scoresheet. He completed his first collegiate two-point night versus No. 10 Michigan on Saturday with one goal and one assist. His goal that gave ASU the shootout victory does not count towards his NCAA record. Can he reach the point-scoring prestige of the likes of ASU greats Josh Doan and Johnny Walker from their rookie years? Doan set the ASU program record for points by as a freshman with 37 in 2021-22. Walker previously held the record with 24 points in his first year during the 2017-18 season. 

NETMINDERS
Gibson Homer and Luke Pavicich both spent time between the pipes this season. Homer made three starts for a 1-1-1 record including a season-high 36-save loss against No. 10 Michigan. Homer's career high single game saves is 39 at Alaska Anchorage on March 8, 2024. Pavicich made his first start for the maroon and gold at Air Force in game two with 29 saves in a 4-3 overtime loss. 

CONTENDING IN THE CONFERENCE
The Sun Devils are still riding advantages of the high-powered offensive showing from opening night at Air Force where ASU tied a program record for most goals scored in a game (8). Since then, with No. 10 Michigan in town last weekend, the team tallied seven goals across the next three games played to reach 15 goals through four games to lead the NCHC. On the flip side, ASU also leads the conference in goals allowed at 12 through the four games. 

ASU's 36 shots on goal against No. 10 Michigan on Friday's 4-1 loss ranked sixth in conference standings for most shots on goal in a game so far this year. 

Cullen Potter leads the NCHC in shots followed by teammates Bennett Schimek, Ryan Kirwan, and Noah Beck who own the second, third and fourth spots in the conference, respectively.