Sophomore forward Cullen Potter will undergo season-ending surgery due to a hit he took during a Jan. 10 game against Miami (OH), head coach Greg Powers announced Tuesday morning, per Sun Devil Athletics.
When a hit against the RedHawks saw him struggle to get off the ice, ASU fans feared that the injury would be long-term. That fear became reality after Powers announced that Potter will undergo surgery on Thursday, Jan. 22, with a three-to-four month recovery period, thus ending his season.
"Huge loss for us," Powers said. "Heart goes out to the kid because he was playing so well. We have to, and we'll always do what is best for our players long-term."
This injury piles onto ASU's already hurt roster. Since December, ASU has picked up a long list of injuries, primarily one that also ended freshman forward Jack Beck's season.
READ MORE: Strong goaltending leads injury riddled ASU hockey to series split against Miami
Potter burst onto the scene during his freshman season. He tallied 22 points in 35 games and earned a spot on the NCHC all-rookie team. Following his freshman season, he was selected 32nd overall in the NHL draft by the Calgary Flames.
His sophomore season saw a slow start, tallying five points in his first nine games. After that, he caught fire, racking up 21 points in the following 15 games. After a Jan. 2 game that saw him record his first college hat trick, he was named the NCHC forward of the week.
Despite the injuries this season, the Sun Devils have built a winning record. Since December, ASU is 5-3, including wins against then-No. 5 Minnesota Duluth and then-No. 8 Dartmouth.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time, with a series against No. 4 North Dakota set for Jan. 23 and 24. Powers looks at the evidence to give him confidence through Potter's absence.
"It's been a tough month and a half from an injury standpoint, but from a results standpoint it's been our best month and a half," Powers said. "It speaks to the depth that we have. It speaks to the belief that we have in every guy in that room to step up in moments when we're short-handed."
Edited by Niall Rosenberg, Jack McCarthy and Pippa Fung.
Reach the reporter at aswift10@asu.edu and follow @alexswiftsports on X.
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