Drew Newmeyer, sophomore defenseman, leads the fight at Oceanside Arena in Tempe, AZ on Oct. 30, 2014.?? (Photo by Stephanie Specht)ASU hockey lost just two times in the entire 2013-14 season en route to a national title that established the team as the country's best.
This season, the team has played stiff competition and has just one loss. Although some around the ACHA view this year's team as less talented than last year's, head coach Greg Power sees it a different way.
“I think we are playing at about 50 percent capacity right now, so if we are 11-1 against top competition, playing half as well as I expect to be, come nationals, I like our chances," he said last week.
Despite the detractors, I have to agree with Powers.
With one loss, the team currently ranks third in the nation in points with 26.
The two teams ahead of ASU, Adrian College (14-0) and Central Oklahoma (16-0), have both allowed more goals than the stingy Sun Devil defense.
So far this season, ASU has gone toe-to-toe with the nation's best and hasn't backed down.
The Sun Devils played then-No. 6 Minot State twice on the road and won both games, edged then-No. 5 Oklahoma twice on the Sooners home ice, edged then-No. 9 Liberty at home and most recently swept No. 25 Colorado in two games at home, outscoring the visiting Rams 15-2.
ASU's only loss came at the hands of Central Oklahoma, and the Sun Devils will have a chance at revenge, hosting the undefeated Bronchos in Tempe for two games in early January.
Throughout that difficult schedule, we've seen all sorts of games from ASU.
There have been comebacks, overtime thrillers, impressive blowouts and hard-fought narrow victories.
When you take a look at ASU's body of work and consider that there are still 24 games remaining in the regular season, it is hard not to be impressed.
For a team that, according to its coach, is underperforming its full potential, one can only imagine just how good it can be.
Critics may say that this year's bunch haven't been as flashy or as potent as it was a year ago, but there are different reasons to love ASU's current trajectory.
True, not every game has been a blowout, but that isn't to say ASU hasn't been beating down opponents. If anything, the variety in ASU's contests speaks to the team's ability to adjust to the situation and play well regardless of the opponent.
There is a long way left to go in this season, but if ASU continues to show the toughness and adaptability it's exhibited so far, there is no reason to believe this season's team is any worse than its predecessor.
Reach the sports editor at icbeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @ICBeck21
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @statepresssport
