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Feelin' 22! Hockey Hosts No. 9 Cornell on New Year's Weekend

by thesundevils.com
Dec 30, 2021

TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State men's ice hockey team rings in the New Year and embarks on the second half of the season as host to the No. 9 Cornell Big Red on New Year's weekend. The series on Saturday, Jan. 1, and Sunday, Jan. 2, starts at 7:05 p.m. on both nights and airs for free on the ASU Live Stream. 

ASU (10-10-0) looks to get back in the win column and capitalize on the home ice advantage against No. 9 Cornell (9-1-1) at Oceanside Ice Arena. This weekend is the only home series for the Sun Devils the entire month of January as the team hits the road at Boston University, RIT, and No. 1 Minnesota State over the next four weeks. ASU hosts Lindenwood for two exhibition games on Jan. 21-22, which will not count toward season stats or records. 

TUNE IN
Watch: ASU Live Stream
Follow along live: @SunDevilHockey
Live Stats: Game One | Game Two
 
The Sun Devils continue to produce a high-scoring offense as their 71 goals on the season rank seventh in the nation - the only teams ahead of ASU are either ranked in the USCHO.com Poll or receiving votes. ASU scored five or more goals six times this season and lit the lamp at least twice every night except for one all season. 

On the special teams' side, ASU's 20 power play goals rank fourth in the nation. The penalty kill squad also presents goal-scoring generation with five shorthanded to lead the NCAA this year. 

Freshmen Ty Murchison and Ethan Szmagaj led the offense in game one at CC before the holiday break. Murchison notched his first multi-goal game, and Szmagaj netted his first collegiate goal. Graduate Jack Becker had a big night with three assists to become only the second ASU player this season with three apples in a single game (Josh Doan (3A) vs. UMass-Lowell on Oct. 2, 2021). His three points also made him the fourth Sun Devil to tally a three-point game this year. 

Matthew Kopperud (11G, 13A) and Colin Theisen (12G, 12A) are tied for the team lead in scoring with 24 points apiece. Theisen is one of only seven players in the country who have scored two shorthanded goals this season. That mark ties him at third in ASU's career shorthanded goals with fellow graduate forward Willie Knierim. The program record is held by Dylan Hollman (2016-19) and Anthony Croston (2015-19) with three career SHG. 

Theisen shined at CC, extending his point-scoring streak to four games with three goals in two nights in Colorado Springs. In game one, he netted back-to-back empty net goals to put the exclamation point on ASU's 5-2 win. The next night, he came out of the gates sprinting and etched the quickest goal from the start of the game for the Sun Devils this season - just 79 seconds into play (and shorthanded). 

Last Time: Sun Devils vs. Big Red
Three seasons ago, the duo met for the first and only time. Then ASU led the nation in wins, ranked No. 13 in polls, and boasted a 16-7-1 record while Cornell placed at No. 17 with a 7-5-1 record. Both teams continued onto postseason - it was ASU's first time making a postseason berth in program history. This time around, things are slightly different as the Big Red owns the No. 9 spot in the USCHO.com polls and enjoys a 9-1-1 record on the 2021-22 season, including an eight-game unbeaten streak dating back to Nov. 6. 

History (2 games)
L, 1-6 - #13 ASU at #17 Cornell (Jan. 11, 2019)
L, 2-3 - #13 ASU at #17 Cornell (Jan. 12, 2019)

Career and Season Stat Notables

  • JOHNNY WALKER
    • With 117 points and 68 career goals, Walker holds reign over both all-time categories
    • He also leads the game-winning goals (7), power play goals (24), and shots (510)
    • His 128 games played ranks fourth in ASU history
  • JACOB WILSON
    • The fifth year claimed the all-time career record for most games played by a skater with 138. 
    • His 60 penalties and 164 penalty minutes both rank second in the all-time career records. 
    • The 43 points and 34 assists both rank third in career points and assists by a defenseman, respectively. His assists rank seventh amongst all skaters and points rank ninth. 
    • His nine goals by a defenseman rank fourth in all-time record
  • DEMETRIOS KOUMONTZIS
    • With 47 career points, Koumontzis ranks seventh in all-time program records
    • His 15 career goals ranks 10th, 32 assists rank ninth, four game-winning goals rank fourth, three PPG rank 10th
  • COLIN THEISEN
    • Theisen's two shorthanded goals ranks third in program history and ties with Willie Knierim
    • His 24 points this season ties in single season records with Matthew Kopperud at No. 9
    • With 12 goals, he ranks seventh in single season
    • Theisen has played an incredible 164 career games between his four years at Notre Dame and graduate year at ASU
  • JOSH DOAN
    • At the midway point of the season, Doan is one assist away from tying the single-season record for assists by a freshman. The record is held by Demetrios Koumontzis and Josh Maniscalco with 16 assists. 
    • Doan's 20 points rank third in single-season point scoring by a freshmen. First place is held by Johnny Walker who notched 24 points as a rookie.
    • His three PPG is tied for ninth in a single season with graduate forward Jack Becker
    • With 15 assists, he ranks 11th in single season asssits amongst all skaters
  • MATTHEW KOPPERUD
    • With 24 points so far this season, Kopperud has outpaced his rookie campaign of 20 points. The mark ties at ninth in single season with teammate Colin Theisen
    • His eight PPG this year rank second in single season PPG. Just one behind the record held by Johnny Walker from 2018-19 with nine. 
    • Eleven goals this season is No. 9 in all-time single season rankings. Just two away from his 13 goals from last season
  • TIM LOVELL
    • The defenseman is taking over the offensive single season rankings for defenseman, placing seventh in goals by a defenseman (4), eighth in points by a defenseman (14), seventh in assists by a defenseman (10)

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