With a spot in the national championships possibly on the line, the ASU ice hockey team will face its toughest challenge of the season when the No. 12 Ice Devils take on the No. 16 UA Ice Cats in a two-game series, with the finale Saturday at the new Glendale Arena.
With only 12 teams qualifying for the Division I American Collegiate Hockey Association championship tournament, ASU is right on the bubble. Head coach Mike De Angelis believes this weekend's series against UA will prove his team is ready for the March tournament in Iowa.
"With Parents' weekend and the emotions of the game, I don't think the guys will have to be told to get up for that game," De Angelis said.
ASU opens up the series at Oceanside Arena at 8 p.m. on Friday, and move West to Glendale for Saturday's meeting at 1:30 p.m. For most of the players, playing in a professional arena is a completely new experience. And meeting their archenemies makes the experience even sweeter.
"It's always exciting when we get in a big place like that, especially because it is a new arena," said team captain Adam Blossey. "It's even better because it's UA."
The two teams have already met four times this season, all of which were in Tucson. ASU is 1-2-1 against the Ice Cats. All four games have been winnable for the Ice Devils, but with the series switching to the Valley, De Angelis feels the tables have turned and the momentum is on ASU's side.
"We've played very well against them in all four games," De Angelis said. "They certainly aren't going to lie over against us.
"I think we are a better team then we were a month-and-a-half ago when we last saw them," De Angelis added.
In his first season as ASU's coach, De Angelis and assistant coach Jamie Baker have helped turn the Ice Devils from a group which was infamous for its dirty play, to a team that plays a more disciplined style of hockey.
Convincing the Ice Devils to buy into their philosophy wasn't tough with the resume the two coaches brought with them. De Angelis appeared in three Olympics, and Baker played in more than 400 games at the professional level, including an extended stay in the NHL in the early 1990's
The players still have their mean streak, but the team has decreased its number of penalties, something De Angelis thinks is the reason for the team's improved record.
"Accountability is a big word that we use," De Angelis said. "It's something we've preached the whole year and the guys are working so hard. The effort is there, and the talent is there."
Tickets for tonight's game can be bought at the door. Prices are $3.50 for students and youth and $5 for adults. For Saturday's contest in Glendale, tickets can be purchased through J&J Distributing at (480) 894-9691. The Glendale ticket also is good for that night's game featuring the Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars.
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
