Sophomore goalie Robert Levin and sophomore defenseman Troy Hoban defend ASU’s net, crushing U of A 7-0 on Jan. 30, 2015 at Ocean Side Arena in Tempe. (Kat Simonovic/ The State Press)ASU hockey has discussed potential plans with the Arizona Coyotes and Gila River Arena, the Coyotes' home arena, about a joint application for the NCAA Frozen Four in the near future.
ASU hockey has had a very eventful season, from the announcement about becoming an NCAA Division 1 team to potentially playing certain home games at Gila River Arena during their hybrid season. The excitement continues as the team discusses a potential joint application for the NCAA Frozen Four in the future.
The soonest that the city of Phoenix would be able to submit a bid would be for the 2019 Frozen Four.
Anderson said ASU is interested in the 2019 or 2020 Frozen Four 2015: Boston 2016: Tampa 2017: Chicago 2018: Minnesota 2019: Phoenix?
— Justin Emerson (@J15Emerson) February 5, 2015
Phoenix has been a growing attraction for major sporting events in recent years. Beginning with hosting Super Bowl XLII in February 2008, the city has helped host the NBA All-Star Game, MLB All-Star Game and has recently hosted Super Bowl XLIX.
Phoenix will host the College Football Playoff in 2016, and will be host for the NCAA men's basketball Final Four in 2017.
Some of the changes to the ASU hockey team have been completely confirmed while others are still being discussed. It is clear that Oceanside Arena is not suitable for NCAA home games and Greg Powers himself has said they are not a permanent home for the team.
There has been talk about the Sun Devils playing their home games at Gila River Arena, but this is not a done deal as Anthony LeBlanc, Co-owner, President, and CEO of Arizona Coyotes, emphasized last week.
"We have had discussions with ASU about having the Sun Devils play some home games at Gila River Arena," LeBlanc said to NBC Sports' Pro Hockey Talk. "We would be trilled to have them play at our venue, but it would be premature to state anything definitively at this time”.
The Sun Devils have been in frequent contact with the Arizona Coyotes and are working on a joint application to bring the NCAA Frozen Four to Gila River Arena in the future.
"The Coyotes have had recent discussions with Arizona State University concerning the potential for games to be played at Gila River Arena as early as next year and have also focused upon a joint application to host a NCAA Frozen Four tournament," said Rich Nairn, Senior Director of Media Relations for the Coyotes, in an email to the State Press.
Senior Coyotes officials will join ASU officials in Boston at TD Garden for the Frozen Four this April, Nairn said.
ASU hockey is going through some big changes ever since announcing they would be the next NCAA Division 1 hockey team for the 2016-17 season.
