by Lochlan McTeague, Cronkite News
October 31, 2025
TEMPE – Reset time.
Through six games, the Arizona State hockey team has stumbled to a 2-4 start after Augustana University recently swept the Sun Devils in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to round out non-conference competition.
The Sun Devils blew a multi-goal third-period lead for the third time this season in the game one loss. In game two, coach Greg Powers felt as if they truly were outplayed for the first time this season.
The team was awarded a bye week and used it to reset before beginning its second season in the NCHC.
“The bye came at a really good time to get our guys reinvigorated and focus on what we’re calling a new start to the season,” Powers said.
ASU begins conference play in Oxford, Ohio, against the undefeated Miami Ohio RedHawks Friday. After a 3-28-3 season, the RedHawks are the only undefeated Division I team in college hockey.
In five of their six victories, the RedHawks have netted five or more goals. Last season, they failed to score five or more goals across all competitions. Second-year head coach Anthony Noreen leads Miami Ohio. The RedHawks feature just five returning players from last year’s roster and have completely flipped the script.
“It doesn’t matter who you play,” Powers said. “Going 6-0 is really hard to do. We’ve never been 6-0.”
Despite the two teams going in seemingly opposite directions, the Sun Devils remain optimistic because of two big additions to the lineup. Sophomore defenseman Brasen Boser and freshman forward Jack Beck will make their season debuts.
Boser was an anchor on the back end last season, appearing in every game across all competitions during his freshman season. Powers has been eager to get him back in the lineup.
“We don’t expect him to be Superman back there, but he’s going to make a big impact,” he said.
The other new addition, Jack Beck, was ordered by the NCAA to sit out the first six games following his unconventional commitment to ASU in early September.
“It’s been tough watching in the crowd, but I’m excited to get out there and try to help the team win,” Beck said.
Powers described Beck as “dialed in every way” ahead of his first collegiate game. Beck was skating with sophomore Cullen Potter and Senior Johnny Waldron.
This weekend is especially unique for Waldron, as he returns to Oxford after transferring to ASU last spring. Waldron spent three years with the RedHawks, collecting 56 points in 93 games, and finished in a tie for the team lead in points last year.
“I think we’re going to get the best possible effort out of him this weekend,” Powers said. “We want to make sure we put him in a position to succeed.”
With 11 freshmen and 17 newcomers, the growing pains have been evident from the start. On three separate occasions, the Sun Devils have had the lead heading into the third period and haven’t come away victorious. Boser and the rest of the veterans feel their record doesn’t reflect their effort.
“We know we’re a better team than 2-4,” Boser said. “All we can do is learn from those games and move forward.”
Last season, the Sun Devils began 3-7-1 and 0-3 in NCHC play. While expectations are higher and the roster has never been deep, Powers remains confident that this group can turn things around.
“It’s always a bummer when you don’t get off to that start you want, but we have an opportunity to start much better than we did last year,” Powers said.
The team’s second season in the NCHC won’t be an easy one either. The conference has produced seven of the last nine national champions, and the Sun Devils play 18 games against teams currently ranked in the top 20.
“We still play good teams out of conference, but from now on every night it’s the best of the best,” Boser said.
Despite the team wanting better results, Powers is determined to maintain a positive outlook heading into what he calls a new season.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be perfect, but the silver lining is that with such a young, talented group, we’re still right there.”
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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‘New start to the season’: ASU hockey looks to turn the page after struggles
Lochlan McTeague, Cronkite News
October 31, 2025
TEMPE – Reset time.
Through six games, the Arizona State hockey team has stumbled to a 2-4 start after Augustana University recently swept the Sun Devils in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to round out non-conference competition.
The Sun Devils blew a multi-goal third-period lead for the third time this season in the game one loss. In game two, coach Greg Powers felt as if they truly were outplayed for the first time this season.
The team was awarded a bye week and used it to reset before beginning its second season in the NCHC.
“The bye came at a really good time to get our guys reinvigorated and focus on what we’re calling a new start to the season,” Powers said.
ASU begins conference play in Oxford, Ohio, against the undefeated Miami Ohio RedHawks Friday. After a 3-28-3 season, the RedHawks are the only undefeated Division I team in college hockey.
In five of their six victories, the RedHawks have netted five or more goals. Last season, they failed to score five or more goals across all competitions. Second-year head coach Anthony Noreen leads Miami Ohio. The RedHawks feature just five returning players from last year’s roster and have completely flipped the script.
“It doesn’t matter who you play,” Powers said. “Going 6-0 is really hard to do. We’ve never been 6-0.”
Despite the two teams going in seemingly opposite directions, the Sun Devils remain optimistic because of two big additions to the lineup. Sophomore defenseman Brasen Boser and freshman forward Jack Beck will make their season debuts.
Boser was an anchor on the back end last season, appearing in every game across all competitions during his freshman season. Powers has been eager to get him back in the lineup.
“We don’t expect him to be Superman back there, but he’s going to make a big impact,” he said.
The other new addition, Jack Beck, was ordered by the NCAA to sit out the first six games following his unconventional commitment to ASU in early September.
“It’s been tough watching in the crowd, but I’m excited to get out there and try to help the team win,” Beck said.
Powers described Beck as “dialed in every way” ahead of his first collegiate game. Beck was skating with sophomore Cullen Potter and Senior Johnny Waldron.
This weekend is especially unique for Waldron, as he returns to Oxford after transferring to ASU last spring. Waldron spent three years with the RedHawks, collecting 56 points in 93 games, and finished in a tie for the team lead in points last year.
“I think we’re going to get the best possible effort out of him this weekend,” Powers said. “We want to make sure we put him in a position to succeed.”
With 11 freshmen and 17 newcomers, the growing pains have been evident from the start. On three separate occasions, the Sun Devils have had the lead heading into the third period and haven’t come away victorious. Boser and the rest of the veterans feel their record doesn’t reflect their effort.
“We know we’re a better team than 2-4,” Boser said. “All we can do is learn from those games and move forward.”
Last season, the Sun Devils began 3-7-1 and 0-3 in NCHC play. While expectations are higher and the roster has never been deep, Powers remains confident that this group can turn things around.
“It’s always a bummer when you don’t get off to that start you want, but we have an opportunity to start much better than we did last year,” Powers said.
The team’s second season in the NCHC won’t be an easy one either. The conference has produced seven of the last nine national champions, and the Sun Devils play 18 games against teams currently ranked in the top 20.
“We still play good teams out of conference, but from now on every night it’s the best of the best,” Boser said.
Despite the team wanting better results, Powers is determined to maintain a positive outlook heading into what he calls a new season.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be perfect, but the silver lining is that with such a young, talented group, we’re still right there.”
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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