OT: Arizona State University - NCAA D1 Hockey

ClassLessCoyote · Nov 18, 2014

http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/arizona-state-to-launch-division-i-hockey-program-111814

TEMPE, Ariz. -- First-year Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson wants to make a statement about the direction of Sun Devil athletics. His first major move will do just that.

The university is announcing today that it will elevate its national champion club men's hockey team to NCAA Division I status over the next three seasons. Anderson will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. in the Dutson Theater at the Carson Student-Athlete Center.

The move was made possible by private donations of $32 million by a group of hockey supporters, including Don Mullett, the father of former Sun Devil hockey student-athlete Chris Mullett.

"Head coach Greg Powers has built a powerhouse ice hockey program here in Tempe, and because of his work it was probably a matter not of if, but when Sun Devil Hockey would be ready to compete at the highest level," Anderson said in a release. "I am grateful for the generosity shown by our hockey supporters to make this move possible, and I am hopeful that more members of the extended Sun Devils Athletics family will help us grow this program for the future."

Craig Morgan @cmorganfoxaz

The plan is for ASU to play a hybrid schedule in 2015 (mix of DI & ACHA competition), full D1 schedule in 2016, join a DI conference in 2017

Today is a great day for hockey in Arizona and the continuing evolution of the game.

:handclap:

Looked up all the stream options for the away games:

CC96 · Nov 18, 2014

Wow, I couldn't be more excited! Between Austin Matthews being possibly the top prospect in all of hockey for the 2016 draft, and now this, hockey in the state of Arizona is starting to come a long way.

YandlesMother · Nov 18, 2014

Wow... unbelievable. I'll be first in line to get tickets.

ClassLessCoyote · Nov 18, 2014

John Buccigross ‏@Buccigross 2m2 minutes ago

Looks like Arizona St hockey will play at US Airways Arena in Downtown Phoenix

The Feckless Puck · Nov 18, 2014

Historically, I have loathed all things ASU except the Cronkite School and Gammage, but I shall be forced to cheer on the Sun Devils like mad once they get to D1.

Imagine ASU winning the Frozen Four... :amazed:

ClassLessCoyote · Nov 18, 2014

Others have said that perhaps this is the kind of move that will get other Pac-12 Schools to make the jump to NCAA D1.

The UofA has no choice now but to make the jump now seeing that both programs needed each other over the years for any success of their respective ACHA program. It would be a natural rivalry of course and attendance usually reached its peak when these 2 teams play each other.

The good news is the UofA owns the hockey program now and that to me is a telling sign that they're willing to make the jump when the time is right.

ck26 · Nov 18, 2014

This is damn cool.

Austin Matthews drafted 1st overall by EDM, he Wheelers and goes to school, chooses ASU, plays 1 game, hat trick, then he Turrises a trade to the Coyotes then wins a Cup centering Domi and Doan.

Canada explodes.

HAHA, regardless, great news, looking forward to seeing a North Dakota or a St Cloud or a Michigan Tech roll in here.

Plub · Nov 18, 2014

Absolutely awesome. I remember when I was playing travel hockey everyone looked down on ASU because they had that "club" title. Everyone went out of state or played for the Jr. team here. Now ASU will be priority number one, hopefully.

If they can get a D1 program going I hope it really gets youth hockey going even more than it already is. Great news!

Phoenician · Nov 18, 2014

Wish they were going to play at the monster but us makes more sense as it's closer to campus. This is great news overall though!

Coyotes2000 · Nov 18, 2014

Phoenician said:
Wish they were going to play at the monster but us makes more sense as it's closer to campus. This is great news overall though!

If only the Yotes would move back downtown.

rt · Nov 18, 2014

Auston Matthews...Come On Dowwwn!

:sarcasm:

The Feckless Puck · Nov 18, 2014

AZCOYOT said:
If only the Yotes would move back downtown.

Well, now is the time for everyone on the east side to step up and put their words into deeds - support the Devils!

ClassLessCoyote · Nov 18, 2014

Phoenician said:
Wish they were going to play at the monster but us makes more sense as it's closer to campus. This is great news overall though!

AZCOYOT said:
If only the Yotes would move back downtown.

Coyotes are staying in Glendale and ASU will playing in downtown though ASU more than likely will end making a move somewhere in AZ in the near future than the Coyotes will by perhaps playing somewhere on the ASU campus.

Also, unlike the hockey games in Glendale, you won't be able to buy or consume booze at an NCAA sporting event.

The Feckless Puck · Nov 18, 2014

Colt45Blast said:
Coyotes are staying in Glendale and ASU will playing in downtown though ASU more than likely will end making a move somewhere in AZ in the near future than the Coyotes will by perhaps playing somewhere on the ASU campus.

It'd be interesting if a rink eventually goes up near ASU campus - right in the nexus of where everyone always says that the Coyotes arena should have been built.

HeyDuk23 · Nov 18, 2014

From my experience, the thing about alcohol is untrue. Unless it's an ASU specific policy. As a frequent attendee of DU games in Denver, they sell all sorts of alcohol at the games. (at a jacked up price of course)

Dirty Old Man · Nov 18, 2014

zyllyx said:
It'd be interesting if a rink eventually goes up near ASU campus - right in the nexus of where everyone always says that the Coyotes arena should have been built.

hmmmm....Maybe someday, if they make it nice enough... :sarcasm:

(picturing the Ralph sitting right next to Big Surf where Oceanside is now)

(That's it! That's where the Yotes move next - where the drive-in theater sits abandoned now... little training rink right across the street, perfect! :laugh:

Salt River tribe steals thunder from Gila River tribe...)

Gwyddbwyll · Nov 18, 2014

Impressed.

$32M of private donations? Wow. What kind of costs does that cover? Is it administrative? Coaches, equipment, ice time, entry fees? Does that cover say 5 years?

BlazingBlueAnt · Nov 18, 2014

rt said:
Auston Matthews...Come On Dowwwn!

Then because he only plays like half a season against good teams he falls to the late first round and we pick him up. :handclap:

Summer Rose · Nov 18, 2014

HeyDuk23 said:
From my experience, the thing about alcohol is untrue. Unless it's an ASU specific policy. As a frequent attendee of DU games in Denver, they sell all sorts of alcohol at the games. (at a jacked up price of course)

From what I gather it could be an NCAA policy or an ASU-specific policy. I have the following excerpts that could shed some light on the policy

1) Alcohol is not for sale at ASU games at Sun Devil Stadium
2) Alcohol was for sale at Cardinals games when they played at Sun Devil Stadium
3) Alcohol is for sale at USC games at the LA Memorial Coliseum
4) My dad once told me this is because ASU's stadium is "on campus"
5) Alcohol is for sale at DU games (thanks to you for that info)

Would be interested to hear more.

Oh, and this is awesome news.

XX · Nov 18, 2014

Primrose Everdeen said:
1) Alcohol is not for sale at ASU games at Sun Devil Stadium

It's definitely not an NCAA policy. Wisconsin sells alcohol at their football games, along with many others. Wait for the renovations to be finished (they're updating all the concessions). I'm pretty sure I saw a fancy bar like the Cardinals have as part of the plans.

Gwyddbwyll said:
Gwyddbwyll said:

Impressed.

$32M of private donations? Wow. What kind of costs does that cover? Is it administrative? Coaches, equipment, ice time, entry fees? Does that cover say 5 years?

Click to expand...

Either you missed it or the article was updated; it will fund the first ten years of the program, after which ASU will be responsible for picking up the tab.

Sinurgy · Nov 18, 2014

Damn this is exciting news!!!

YotesFan47 · Nov 18, 2014

zyllyx said:
Well, now is the time for everyone on the east side to step up and put their words into deeds - support the Devils!

I will be a season ticket holder next year for both the Devils hockey and football program next year. My life is going to be busy lol.

hbk · Nov 18, 2014

Awesome news. I need to get down to see some games.

ck26 · Nov 18, 2014

Haven't been to one.

11/21/2014 ASU Sun Devils Illinois Tempe, AZ 7:30 PM -:-
11/22/2014 ASU Sun Devils Illinois Tempe, AZ 7:30 PM -:-

... yet.

gphr513 · Nov 18, 2014

Awesome news!

I'm from Minnesota, and a huge college hockey fan. Just coming to see what the attitude around ASU hockey is like, are they well known at all in their current state?

I saw Let's Play Hockey tweet that several other PAC 12 schools are looking at the possibility of going D1 hockey. I would be surprised if ASU would jump in without at least a pretty good feeling that other schools out there would join them.

I wonder if they'll latch on to the NCHC before a PAC 12 conference could get off the ground, makes sense being that CC/DU/UNO are the closest teams to ASU right now. I think it would be tough to stay independent for more than 2-3 years.

It'll be very interesting to see where it goes from here, I'm just thrilled that schools from around the country seem legitimately interested in college hockey :yo:

I hope the Gophers schedule a series out there in January or February some time, that'd be a sweet road trip

OT: Arizona State University - NCAA D1 Hockey

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