Arizona State Men’s Hockey Falls to Denver in NCHC Semifinals

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona State University men’s hockey team saw their historic playoff run come to an end Saturday, as they fell 4-2 to the University of Denver in the semifinal of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff.

The Sun Devils, who swept Minnesota Duluth in the quarterfinals, entered the game determined to make a statement in their first-ever NCHC playoff appearance. The team faced a tough challenge against the Pioneers, who had previously lost three out of four matchups to ASU this season.

In front of a supportive crowd at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Pioneers took the early lead, scoring two goals in the first period by sophomore defenseman Boston Buckberger and forward Sam Harris. ASU struggled with nerves initially, but quickly regrouped to challenge the Pioneers’ defense.

“We came out flat, but we pushed back and got back in it,” said ASU forward Artem Shlaine. “We believed we could come back and win, and we showed that we can compete with any team.”

The turning point came in the final minute of the second period, where ASU tied the game 2-2 after Ryan Kirwan’s goal and Shlaine’s late equalizer. However, the Pioneers quickly regained control of the match in the third period.

Denver’s Carter King connected with Aidan Thompson for a critical goal, giving the Pioneers the lead once again. Connor Caponi sealed the victory with an empty-netter in the last minute, sending the Sun Devils home.

With the loss, Arizona State’s hopes of reaching the NCAA Tournament now hinge on winning the NCHC championship. They previously finished the regular season 19-13-2, showing substantial growth since being predicted to finish eighth in preseason polls.

“It feels disappointing, but I’m proud of what we accomplished this season,” said ASU head coach Greg Powers. “We’ve built a foundation here, and this is just the beginning for our program.”

Denver, advancing to their second straight conference title game, maintains a solid position for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, currently ranked ninth in the PairWise rankings. As they prepare to face the winner of the matchup between North Dakota and Western Michigan, their focus remains on extending their successful season further.

“We learned from our previous games against ASU and executed our game plan better this time,” said Denver head coach David Carle. “We know how competitive our league is, and every game matters moving forward.”

While the Sun Devils’ quest for the championship fell short, their presence in the playoffs marks a significant moment in the team’s history. As they aim to build on this year’s success, the future appears bright for ASU hockey.