Conference Independent Colors Maroon, Gold | Location Tempe, Arizona | |
University Arizona State University Head coach Greg Powers
1st year, 0–0–0 Arena Oceanside Ice Arena/Gila River Arena
Capacity: 840/17,125 | ||
The Arizona State Sun Devils ice hockey team is the second of only two NCAA Division I ice hockey programs located in the United States sun belt (the other being Alabama–Huntsville).
Contents
ASU announced plans to transition their ACHA men's hockey program to an NCAA varsity program on November 18, 2014. The Sun Devils continued play in the ACHA in 2014–15, played a hybrid schedule in 2015–16 with a mix of NCAA and ACHA competition, will play as a Division I independent in 2016–17, and plans to join a conference in 2017–18. The Big Ten Conference, National Collegiate Hockey Conference, and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association have been seen as potential landing spots for Arizona State.
History
Hockey began as a sport at Arizona State in the fall of 1973 with ASU students gathering at Tower Ice Plaza in Central Phoenix to play pick up hockey amongst each other. As collegiate club hockey evolved throughout the country, so did hockey at Arizona State. By the late 80’s ASU was fielding a full-fledged Ice Hockey Team competing in Division II of the ACHA. In 1993, General Manager Mike Hoffarth led the program to achieving ACHA Division I status propelling the Sun Devil Hockey Program into the national spotlight by qualifying for the ACHA Division I National Tournament just two years later in the 1995–96 season. Then Head Coach, Gene Hammett would lead the program to three straight National Tournament appearances from 1995–1998. ASU has qualified for 10 ACHA Division I National Tournaments since competing at the Division I level in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, and developed 12 ACHA Division I All-Americans. In the 2013–2014 season the team won its first National Championship. In the 2015-2016 NCAA hockey season ASU played their first split schedule between ACHA Division 1 and NCAA Division 1 teams, marking their first transition year to become a full-time NCAA Division 1 hockey team. Player Hall of Fame Inductees
Steve Hammett, Forward 1994–1998: Inducted 2009
Greg Powers, Goaltender 1995–1999: Inducted 2009
Adam Blossey, Defense 2001–2005: Inducted 2009
Tony Bonacorso, Defense 2004–2008, Inducted 2010
Ian Smith, Forward 1999–2003, Inducted 2010
Executive Hall of Fame Inductees
Gene Hammett, Head Coach 1992–2000: Inducted 2008
Mike Hoffarth, General Manager 1988–1999: Inducted 2008
Don Mullet, Donor: Inducted 2008
John Wold, Head Coach, General Manager, Oversight Committee 2001–present: Inducted 2009
Wayne Reid, Assistant Coach, Director of Hockey Ops, Oversight Committee 1992–present: Inducted 2009
National Tournament Appearances
1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98*, 2000–01*, 2003–2004, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–15
Final Four appearances: 2013, 2014, 2015
ACHA Division I All-Americans
Steve Hammett, Forward: 1997–98
Greg Powers, Goaltender: 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99
Ian Smith, Forward: 2000–01, 2001–02 (Team USA, World University Games 2002)
Nils Satterstom, Forward: 2000–01
Adam Blossey, Defense: 2003–04, 2004–05 (Team USA, World University Games 2005)
Tony Bonacorso, Defense: 2006–07, 2007–08 (Team USA, World University Games 2008)
Joe Schweiger, Forward: 2008–09 (Eastern Michigan), 2009–10, 2010–11
Mark Schacker, Goaltender: 2010–11, 2011–12
Kale Dolinski, Forward: 2012–13
Colin Hekle, Forward: 2012–13
Ryan Clark, Defense: 2012–13
Joe D’Elia, Goaltender: 2012–13
Arena
For their first season, the Sun Devils will continue to call Oceanside Ice Arena home but will also play multiple games at Glendale's Gila River Arena, home of the NHL's Arizona Coyotes. Following the Sun Devils' move to the NCAA, Oceanside underwent extensive renovations that expanded the capacity to 840 and gave the facility a facelift in ASU colors.
The future home facility had been uncertain as ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson continued to weigh options, including further renovations to Oceanside Ice Arena or some other off-campus location. Eventually, ASU joined the ownership of the Coyotes in that team's plans for a new arena. In November 2016, the Coyotes announced plans to build a new arena in Tempe, with the project also including a secondary 4,000-seat arena that would be home to the Sun Devils. The new arena was seen as aiding the Sun Devils' bid to join an established hockey conference; the lack of a dedicated arena was reportedly one issue that led the NCHC to turn down a membership bid from ASU earlier in the year.
2016–17 roster
As of January 3, 2017.
Head coach
As the Sun Devils enter their first season of NCAA competition, Greg Powers will enter his sixth season as the team's head coach. Powers put together a 164-27-9 record during his five years as the head man behind the Devils' bench in the ACHA including a dominating 39-1-0 record against rival Arizona. Prior to taking over as the head coach, Powers spent two seasons as an assistant coach for ASU. Powers is also a former member of the team having played four seasons as a goaltender for the Devils from 1995-96 to 1998-99, earning All-American nods as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2009.