Arizona Coyotes: Partnership With ASU Hockey

As Youth Hockey Grows In The Valley, Arizona Coyotes Agree To Host ASU Hockey Games

You knew it would happen, right? The youth hockey programs have been growing like Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cups of late, so it’s no surprise that the ASU Sun Devil Athletic Department announced today a partnership with the Arizona Coyotes to play six hockey games at Gila River Arena. Four games will be ASU games, while two others will be NCAA games.

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"“We are proud to be hosting a couple of ASU’s marquee match-ups and a first of its kind NCAA D-1 hockey tournament in the Southwestern United States,” said Coyotes Co-Owner, President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc. “Gila River Arena is one of the best hockey venues in the entire NHL and we are excited to have the Sun Devils play in our home. The Sun Devils will have an enormous positive impact on the growth of hockey in Arizona. We look forward to a long and great partnership with ASU.”"

The reaction from Ray Anderson, Vice President for University Athletics and Athletic Director at Arizona State University echoed how excited the university is to use Gila River Arena to play some games, and give the public in the west valley an opportunity to watch ASU hockey.

"“The Phoenix community has embraced Sun Devil Hockey with open arms and the Arizona Coyotes are great ambassadors for the sport of ice hockey in the Valley,” said Ray Anderson. “The partnership between Sun Devil Athletics and the Arizona Coyotes gives our student-athletes the experience of competing in a top-tier NHL facility in Gila River Arena, and the partnership also provides immense exposure for the growth and development for the sport of hockey at all levels in Arizona and on the west coast.”"

The game everyone will be thrilled to attend will be the Sun Devils of ASU hosting the Arizona Wildcats at Gila River Arena on Saturday, October 3rd at 7 p.m. Mark your calendars, if you’ve lived in the valley for any extended period of time you will be aware of the intense rivalry between these two universities when it come to athletics.

Arizona State is the first school from a power-five conference to move to the NCAA level since Penn State joined the NCAA (The Big Ten didn’t officially sponsor hockey until 2013) in 2012, and is one of a handful of schools that supports NCAA D1 ice hockey west of the Mississippi River.

ASU elevated head coach Greg Powers to the NCAA level in the same position. He is in his eighth year overall as a member of the Sun Devil Hockey coaching staff. Powers led the ACHA program to a national title in 2013-14 and has a 164-27-9 record all-time as head coach. Powers is a former ASU goaltender, and is a member of the ASU Hockey Hall of Fame.

Here’s the schedule:

2015-16 Sun Devil Hockey Schedule at Gila River Arena

Saturday, Oct. 3: ASU vs. Arizona (ACHA), 7 p.m.

Desert Hockey Classic

Friday, Jan. 8: UConn vs Michigan Tech, 5 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 8: ASU vs. Yale, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 10: Consolation Game, 12 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 10: Tournament Final, 3 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 28: ASU vs. U.S. National 18-U Team, 3 p.m.

Mark the dates, and get your tickets to support the ASU Ice Hockey Program

Fans interested in ticket information for Sun Devil Hockey games played at Gila River Arena should call 480-563-PUCK (7825) or visit ArizonaCoyotes.com.

Next: Max Domi: Arizona Coyotes Next Rookie Sensation

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