Hockey Announces 2024-25 Captains Group

Tempe -- Sun Devil Hockey announced its captains group to include five returners from the 2023-24 season, including two four-year Sun Devils and the sole skater to spend all five collegiate years in maroon and gold. The four players repping the "A" are graduates Ty Jackson, Lukas Sillinger, and Benji Eckerle with senior Ty Murchison. After spending one season as an alternate captain, Ethan Szmagaj will don the "C" across his chest as the ninth captain in program history.

Ethan Szmagaj, D
This is the second letter Szmagaj has worn during his time at ASU. He previously was named an alternate captain for the 2023-24 season, the then first letter of his collegiate career. Last season, he led the team in blocks with 58 through 38 games as well as finished the year with his single season career best plus/minus at +6. 

Ty Jackson, F
After missing half his senior season for injuries, Jackson returns for his fifth year and his first year as an alternate captain. After being out for over 60+ days, he returned to the lineup on Feb. 9-10, 2024 and immediately put up a four-point weekend against Alaska with one goal and one assist on each night of the series. 

Lukas Sillinger, F
A second-year alternate captain, Sillinger returns for his fifth collegiate hockey season after a stellar performance in 2023-24. Last season, he was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top collegiate player in the country. He was second in the NCAA for assists (37) and lead the ASU team in points with 48 (11G, 37A) as well as tied for ninth-most points in the country. His 48 points set a new program for points in a single season. 

Benji Eckerle, F
This is the first season that Eckerle will don the "A" for the Sun Devils. He finished last season as one of the team's top-five point scorers with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points. He also finished only six games as a minus out of 38 games in the 2023-24 season. He is the only player on the team to have skated at Arizona State for five full seasons (freshman in 2020-21).

Ty Murchison, D
This is the first letter that Murchison has worn while at ASU and he joins as the only defensive player of the alternates group. In the 2023-24 season, Murchison played in all but one game throughout the entire season and finished the year with seven points. He completed the season with a +7 plus/minus, the best in his collegiate career.