The ASU hockey roster is a melting pot of players from all around the world. However, the player from one of the warmest climates stands out.
Ben Kevan, a freshman forward, skated into the rink at Mullett Arena as one of the youngest players on the roster with an NHL logo next to his name. He is just one of five Sun Devils who have been drafted to play on professional ice.
Kevan, 18, comes from unconventional beginnings for a hockey player. While his hometown of Fairfield, CA, has produced some professional athletes, Kevan would be the first from his city of 122,000 to skate on NHL ice if he eventually suits up in the pros.
"Fairfield is a small city and I know a lot of people over there are cheering for me," Kevan said at the NHL Draft in June. "I'm really happy to be the first player to do something like this, and I hope that many kids follow and hopefully surpass me."
Despite growing up in Fairfield and spending some time playing in Los Angeles, Kevan moved to Des Moines, Iowa, to play two seasons in the United States Hockey League, where he stayed with a billet family.
Billet families are host families for young athletes moving to new areas. Kevan, who was 16 when he moved to Iowa, gave credit to his billet family for who he is today.
"When I moved to Des Moines, I got to meet my billet mom, Kelly," Kevan said. "She did such an amazing job helping me grow as a man and as a person."
While his family in Des Moines helped Kevan shape his character, a coaching staff with belief in him also brought him growth.
Kevan had 100 points across two seasons in the USHL, which led Des Moines head coach and general manager Matt Curley to fully buy into Kevan's future.
"I don't know if there is a player out there that approaches the game like Ben," Curley told USHL.com. "His belief in his ability is unparalleled and is shown with both his success on the ice and growth off the ice. And while it has been incredible to watch his growth these past few years, the scary part is that he is just getting started."
His work through developmental systems paid off in June, when he heard his name called at the NHL Draft. While Kevan committed to ASU in 2023, the New Jersey Devils selected him with the 63rd pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
With Kevan officially being part of an NHL organization, it was gratifying to see where his work brought him.
"I'm super proud of it and I just can't wait to get going," Kevan said. "I was fortunate to get picked by (the New Jersey Devils) ... I can really keep up with a lot of their players, especially with the way I skate, the way I can play and the way that people can play off me."
The NHL allows players to spend time in developmental systems after being drafted to continue to grow their skills. College hockey, being one of these systems, is what Kevan opted for.
Since becoming a Sun Devil, Kevan has appeared in all six of ASU's games so far this season and scored two goals, alongside being selected for the all-tournament team at the Ice Breaker Tournament.
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Kevan, part of a large influx of young talent to ASU's hockey roster for the 2025-26 season, was slowly phased into the rotation by ASU head coach Greg Powers. However, after impressing his coach, Powers already plans to increase Kevan's usage.
"You look at a Carmelo (Crandell) and a Ben Kevan, they already went on a power play tonight, and you're going to see them on power plays," Powers said after a win against Notre Dame, where Kevan scored his two goals. "I wanted them to focus on their 5-on-5 game, and then we can layer onto it. And they did that ... I thought the young guys were really good tonight."
A player like Kevan selecting ASU is a sign of a healthy program. With his adjustment to college hockey all but complete, it's apparent that ASU's pitch to Kevan has paid off.
"The buy-in that they had, not just with me, but everyone they've ... talked to, I think that's something that's really special about them," Kevan said. "I really wanted to win a national championship with Coach Powers and Coach Dana (Borges) and all those guys."
Edited by Jack McCarthy, Henry Smardo and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at aswift10@asu.edu and follow @alexswiftsports on X.
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