Defender Drew Newmeyer skates with the puck at a home game. ASU hockey starts its season Friday at Oceanside Ice Arena. (Photo by Mario Mendez)When ASU hockey takes the opening face-off of the 2014-15 season, expect the Sun Devils to turn up the heat inside Oceanside Ice Arena.
ASU opens its season this Friday against Niagara and will try to simply repeat what it did last year: win an ACHA national title.
Entering the season ranked No. 1 in the ACHA rankings puts a target on ASU's back, coach Greg Powers said, but it is not uncommon for a program that has become one of the nation's best during his tenure.
"For a few years now, we have been considered a heavy favorite and top program, so we are completely comfortable with the target on our back," Powers said.
The Purple Eagles enter the 2014-15 season as no slouch, having claimed the Northeast Collegiate Hockey League (NECHL) title in 2013 and returning their offensive and defensive players of the year.
The 6-5 championship win over Canisius College was the first in school history, after the Purple Eagles made it to the championship game six previous times during coach Larry Brzeczkowski's tenure. It also wrapped up a 9-2-0 record during the second semester, with the team reeling off a nine-game winning streak to end the season.
Niagara junior forward Patrick Gregory, who was named the team's offensive player of the year after last season, returns for his junior season after tallying 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) through 23 regular season games.
On the defensive end, the Purple Eagles bring back defensive player of the year from 2013, sophomore goaltender Mike Parda. Parda went 9-7 last season with a 2.85 goals against average and posted one shutout through 16 regular season games.
Leadership should not be a question for Niagara, as they return senior defenseman Max Hyland, who had 12 points in 24 regular season games for the Purple Eagles. Hyland is expected to take over the primary captaincy from forward Erik McKown, whom Niagara lost to graduation, along with senior defenseman Pat Ryan, sophomore forward Dallas Szustak, and sophomore defenseman Seth Gustin.
The Sun Devils drop the puck on their 2014-15 season against Niagara on Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m. from Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at fardaya@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @fardaya15
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Note: All Niagara stats are according to the official team site.
