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Nov 19Β β’Β 5 min read
ASU Hockey Just Hit This Major Milestone
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β π GOOD MORNING Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 -- It's pretty darn impressive to see the impact football in Arizona is having on the Big 12. Two members of the ASU football team and one member of the Arizona football team were recognized with weekly awards: ASU Quarterback Sam Leavitt was named the Big 12 newcomer of the week, ASU receiver Jordyn Tyson was named offensive player of the week, and UA cornerback Genesis Smith was named co-defensive player of the week following both teams' victories last weekend. Leavitt threw for three touchdowns en route to his third weekly award, while Tyson caught 12 passes for two touchdowns and 176 yards. The Sun Devils have earned 10 weekly awards so far this season. Smith's recognition marks the Wildcats' fourth-such honor this season after recording seven tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in Arizona's win over Houston. Before we get to the main event, the Suns dropped their fourth straight yesterday in a game where no player scored more than 18 points. Is there cause for concern? We'll dive into that tomorrow. On to the show! π° LEADING OFF Sun Devils Made History at Mullett on SaturdayWhat a road it has been for the ASU men's hockey team -- and it's just getting started. As the Sun Devils begin to get into the teeth of their conference schedule, it's worth looking at the impact they have had in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), which features some of the most prominent powerhouse programs in the NCAA. Recent seasons have produced NHL-caliber players (see: Joey Daccord and Josh Doan), and coach Greg Powers is attracting top-tier talent to Tempe, such as freshman Cullen Potter, who spurned Michigan State to play in the desert. The impressive list of accomplishments continues to grow, and ASU checked another item off its proverbial list this past weekend. β β±οΈ BECOME A DIEHARD TODAY!
Sun Devils Earn Historic Victory in Conference PlayArizona State made history on Saturday. The Sun Devils captured their first-ever conference win as a member of the NCHC, beating Omaha 3-2 at Mullett Arena in an accomplishment that was years in the making. The win came in poetic fashion, too, as Scottsdale native David Hymovitch potted the game-winning goal, a tally that's as symbolic as it is significant considering not only the growth of the ASU program, but also hockey in the desert. The win also highlighted the resiliency of the team, which was without key contributors Dylan Jackson, Cruz Lucius and Charlie Schoen. The Sun Devils were close to earning their first NCHC win in their very first conference game on Nov. 8, but fell in overtime to No. 8 Colorado College after losing a 3-2 lead with 57 seconds to play in the third period. Alas, there was no letdown on Saturday, leading to a milestone moment that feels like it was 10 years in the making, if not more.
"It feels good," head coach Greg Powers said. "It feels good to get three points and climb up the standings, that's what it's all about. I think we played a really solid game, and they got rewarded with the result." Meteoric Rise Through the College RanksIt's easy to be blinded by ASU's overall record of 4-7-1 and 1-3-0 in the conference. That said, it's also important to remember just how far the program has come in such a short amount of time. The Sun Devils elevated the hockey program to Division I status in 2015, and nine years later have started play in one of the most premier conferences in all of NCAA hockey. Consider this: six of the last eight national champions have come from the NCHC. The program's success was the catalyst for the state-of-the-art Mullett Arena, which boasts incredible collegiate facilities and has been a boon on the recruiting trail.
Through their first four games of conference play they haven't looked one bit out of place. "That's four games in a row we've played really, really, good, solid hockey," Powers said. "We're still not beating goalies clean, and it looks like we're finally figuring out we don't have to. Put pucks on pad, go to the net, and that's how we scored all three goals. I'm glad our guys are starting to buy into that." Elite Conference Brings Elite OppositionIt's a good thing, too, because ASU has a date with No. 1 Denver, which also just happens to be the defending national champion, in Colorado this weekend. The Sun Devils are 2-9-1 all-time against the Pioneers, but their most recent win came last season a 6-5 overtime triumph at Mullett Arena. The two ended up splitting the two-game series. Based on what Powers has seen the past few games -- and the fact that Arizona State is slowly but surely getting players back from injury -- ASU can build off its win this past weekend. "We're defensively very structurally sound right now, probably more structurally sound than we've ever been as a program at this level," Powers said. "That's a recipe for success, and now we just have to keep going." Considering what has transpired over the last 10 years, we can't wait to see what the next 10 have in store. Editor's note: Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up for the FREE PHNX Daily here, and don't miss out on free, exclusive content about The Valley's top sports stories every morning! ποΈ ABOUT LAST NIGHT... β½ CIRCLE K CIRCLING BACK π¬ THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID
(results to be posted in Wednesday's newsletter) π GEAR UP π» DON'T MISS OUT |
The PHNX Daily brings you the top sports stories in Arizona every day, delivered right to your inbox! Follow along with all of your beloved AZ sports teams as we bring unique, free content featuring your favorite players, coaches and personalities from throughout the state's sports scene. You can also catch up on the most recent stories from your favorite PHNX writers, check out the most recent podcast from our vast offering of shows, and find all the information needed to see which of your teams are playing on any given day, what time they start, and where you can watch or listen to them. It's all free, delivered to you bright and early each and every morning!