No. 12 ASU hockey is in a heated battle for first place in its inaugural National Collegiate Hockey Conference season after splitting a two-game series against then-No. 19 Colorado College on Jan. 24 and 25 at Mullett Arena.
ASU is in third place with 28 points, one behind second-place Omaha and two behind first-place No. 3 Western Michigan. No. 5 Denver, the reigning national champion, is eight points behind ASU at 20 points.
The Sun Devils have won 11 out of their last 13 games including nine conference wins. The team's only losses during that stretch came against then-No. 14 North Dakota and the previously mentioned Tigers.
Before their win against Colorado College on Jan. 24, the Sun Devils were ranked first in the NCHC with Western Michigan hot on their tail. Unfortunately for ASU, Western Michigan beat Miami University to catch up on points.
ASU took down the Tigers in game one to reclaim first place — for one day. Head coach Greg Powers said the competition against Western Michigan for the top spot motivated the team.
"We're taking it one at a time," Powers said in an interview with Sun Devil Source. "We knew Western Michigan won tonight and we want to stay in first place."
In game two, Colorado College pulled off an impressive 5-4 comeback victory on Jan. 25 to knock the Sun Devils out of first place. ASU is still in the thick of the race for the number one seed in the NCHC tournament.
Powers said the team is focusing on the future and looking to reclaim its spot at the top.
"We want to win the league," Powers said in an interview with Sun Devil Source. "We think that we have a team that's good enough to win this league, and for us, it's all about just keeping our foot on the gas and not letting anybody catch us."
The team's success can be largely attributed to its depth scoring. Senior captain Ethan Szmagaj said the team is more motivated every game.
"We're not to be looked over," Szmagaj said in an interview with Sun Devil Source. "Our squad is deep, and we're ready to play every game. It's just building momentum every game."
The Sun Devils have been on top of their game in division play but slightly dropped from 11th nationally to 12th.
If the NCHC playoffs started today, ASU would face No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth in the quarterfinals. If the NCAA playoffs started today, the Sun Devils would likely be among 16 teams chosen to compete given their high ranking.
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However, if ASU wins the NCHC conference championship, the team will be heading to the NCAA playoffs with an automatic bid.
Sophomore forward Cole Gordon said that the team's strong work ethic is essential to their recent success.
"It's tough," Gordon said in an interview with Sun Devil Source. "The NCHC is such a great division, and we practice hard throughout the week, and we mentally prepare every week and try to get ready to go. I think it kind of shows every week ... we have been on our toes every time."
Edited by Jack Barron, Sophia Braccio and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporter at The Gbarberi@asu.edu and follow @Giobarberio1 on X.
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Giovanni is a sophomore studying history. This is his third semester with The State Press.