No. 5 Penn State hockey’s quest for a Big Ten championship and repeat trip to the Frozen Four begins this weekend with a pair of games against No. 14 Arizona State. Two of the sport’s youngest programs
will meet for the ninth and tenth times overall. These will be the first two meeting between Penn State and Arizona State with both teams ranked in the USCHO poll.
How to Watch
Who: Arizona State Sun Devils
When: Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4
Where: Mullett Arena, Tempe, AZ
Time: 10pm (Friday), 8pm (Saturday)
TV: NHL Network (both games), NHL Youtube (Friday link, Saturday link)
Radio: Penn State Sports Network
Projected Lineup
Gavin McKenna-Reese Laubach-Aiden Fink
Matt DiMarsico-Charlie Cerrato-JJ Wiebusch
Shea Van Olm-Luke-Misa-Lev Katzin
Dane Dowiak-Nic DeGraves-Ben Schoen
Mac Gadowsky-Nolan Collins
Jackson Smith-Jarod Crespo
Carter Schade-Casey Aman
Kevin Reidler
Josh Fleming
Opponent Preview
Much like Penn State, Arizona State has had the same coach since becoming an NCAA program. Greg Powers enters his 11th season at the helm looking to build on last year’s 21-14-2 campaign. The Sun Devils missed the NCAA Tournament despite finishing second in the NCHC regular season standings last season.
With the top two goal scorers and four of the top five overall point scorers gone, Arizona State has questions on offense. Former Penn State forward Ryan Kirwan (26 goals in 2024-25) and Artem Shlaine (17 goals) combined for one-third of the team’s total scoring last year, leaving massive shoes to fill.
Sophomore Cullen Potter (13 goals) is poised for a breakout season after being drafted in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Calgary Flames. Kyle Smolen (12 goals and 18 assists) returns following a solid sophomore season, and the Sun Devils added NHL prospects Noah Powell (transfer from Ohio State) and Benjamin Kevan to their arsenal. Additionally, Bennett Schimek (15 goals in 2024-25) transfers in from Providence as another top scoring threat. The Sun Devils were fifth nationally in scoring (3.7 goals/game) and tied for ninth in shots on goal per game (32.8) a year ago. Make no mistake, this offense will be a problem for Penn State to stop.
The defense is certainly questionable after an average 2024-25 season. Arizona State allowed a shade over 30 shots on goal per game (30.3), good for just 36th in the NCAA, and the defensemen combined for just 13 goals. Noah Beck is gone, but the Sun Devils return most of their blue line and add Justin Kipkie, who scored nearly a point per game in the CHL last season. This unit will need to improve for Arizona State to be an NCAA Tournament team.
Arizona State is not returning any production at goaltender, with Gibson Homer transferring to North Dakota and Luke Pavicich graduating. Bentley transfer Connor Hasley will be the likely starter in net tonight. Hasley recorded a .925 save percentage and 1.96 GAA with Bentley last season.
Arizona State had the best power play in the NCAA last year, converting at 29.6%, and the penalty kill tied for 12th at 83.5%. Discipline will be of utmost importance to the Nittany Lions this weekend. Penn State will need to handle the puck well on the power play, as the Sun Devils had seven shorthanded goals last season.
News & Notes
- Keaton Peters will be out for the season after suffering a knee injury. Nic DeGraves will most likely take his place on the third line, but Peters will be a massive loss in Penn State’s bottom six.
- The Pairwise ranking system is no more. Starting this season, the selection committee will use the NCAA Percentage Index. NPI is slightly different than the former Pairwise system, but the idea is about the same. The rankings usually start to take shape in December, once the teams have played enough games for the data to be meaningful.
- In an interesting twist, winger Jack Beck joined Arizona State after a stint in the ECHL and AHL last year. He will not be eligible for the first six games of the season.
- Penn State is 7-1 against Arizona State all-time and 2-0 in Tempe.
- Penn State opens the season on the road for the third straight year and the sixth time in program history. The Nittany Lions are 3-2 all-time in season openers on the road.
- Head coach Guy Gadowsky begins his 14th season at Penn State and 26th season coaching an NCAA team.
Prediction
Penn State has more continuity and a deeper roster on paper, although Arizona State’s offense can certainly match the Nittany Lions. Both teams have a new goaltender. It will be a tough road environment for Penn State in the first games of the season, and there will certainly be some early-season hiccups, but the road team should prevail to start off on the right foot.
Penn State 5-3, 4-3
