Arizona State Becomes Official Member of the NCHC Today

In Colorado Springs, nearly twelve months following the original announcement, Arizona State University has officially joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The NCHC had previously disclosed on July 5, 2023, that the Sun Devils would be welcomed as the Conference’s latest member. However, as of today, July 1, 2024, ASU has attained full membership status and voting privileges.

The inclusion of Arizona State expands the NCHC to a nine-team league, representing the first expansion since its inception in the 2013-2014 season. The Conference is expected to expand to 10 teams upon the official entry of the University of St. Thomas on July 1, 2026. Presently, the NCHC membership comprises Arizona State University, Colorado College, the University of Denver, Miami University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University, and Western Michigan University.

https://twitter.com/SunDevilHockey/status/1807670724326469768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1807670724326469768%7Ctwgr%5Efbecbd77128710cf8e58bd817036550a244ea890%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthesundevils.com%2Fnews%2F2024%2F7%2F1%2Fice-hockey-arizona-state-becomes-official-member-of-the-nchc-today.aspx

“The NCHC is thrilled to officially extend a warm welcome to Arizona State University as part of our membership,” expressed NCHC Commissioner Heather Weems. “Over the past year, we have had increased interactions with ASU coaches and administrators, and we continue to be impressed by their men’s hockey program and their dedication to success. As evidenced by their performance last season, they will immediately contribute to our existing rivalries and elevate the competitiveness of the NCHC.

“I would also like to extend a special welcome to the ASU students and all Sun Devil fans,” added Weems. “Our students and fans are the lifeblood of our NCHC programs, and we are certain that you will bring your own enthusiasm and intensity to the ice this season and in the years ahead.”

Coming off a record-breaking 24-win season (24-8-6) in the 2023-24 campaign, including a 3-2-2 record against NCHC teams, the Sun Devils are poised for a challenging non-conference schedule in 2024-25. This schedule includes hosting Michigan for a series and playing against Providence. ASU will kick off their first conference games on November 8-9 at Colorado College, before hosting Omaha at Mullett Arena on November 15-16 for their inaugural home conference series.

“We have put in tremendous effort to reach this pivotal moment as a program. The 2024-25 season signifies Chapter Two of Sun Devil Hockey at the NCAA level as we compete in the top conference in college hockey,” noted Sun Devil Hockey head coach Greg Powers. “I extend my gratitude to our former players and all those who laid the groundwork to bring us to this juncture. I also extend my thanks to the NCHC and its members for embracing ASU. We are fully committed to competing for the Penrose Cup every day.”

“Today marks a significant milestone for Sun Devil Hockey, ASU fans, and the hockey community in the Valley of the Sun as we officially join the NCHC. We have diligently worked to expand our program and secure conference membership, fulfilling one of the primary goals set almost a decade ago when we announced the introduction of Division I hockey at ASU,” expressed Sun Devil Athletics Athletic Director Graham Rossini. “As part of the NCHC, we are dedicated to enriching the student-athlete experience and advancing ASU’s Novus Innovation Corridor as we extend our presence into a new region of the country. We are excited to be part of the premier college hockey conference, competing alongside some of the finest college hockey programs in America, and we eagerly anticipate the next chapter of Sun Devil Hockey.”

https://twitter.com/SunDevilHockey/status/1807821171343384908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1807821171343384908%7Ctwgr%5Efbecbd77128710cf8e58bd817036550a244ea890%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthesundevils.com%2Fnews%2F2024%2F7%2F1%2Fice-hockey-arizona-state-becomes-official-member-of-the-nchc-today.aspx

In April, the NCHC unveiled its 2024-25 conference schedule, which introduces a record-breaking 108-game lineup where each team will play 24 conference games vying for the Penrose Cup. The NCHC’s innovative scheduling approach involves a new nine-team structure comprising three three-team pods organized by geography. Each team is guaranteed home and away series against the other two teams within their respective pod each season, totaling eight games. The pods are as follows: Arizona State, Colorado College, and Denver; Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota, and St. Cloud State; and Miami, Omaha, and Western Michigan.

Arizona State is promptly eligible for the NCHC Tournament and the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If the Sun Devils secure a top-four finish in the NCHC for the 2024-25 season, they would have the privilege to host a quarterfinal series at Mullett Arena. The victorious teams from the quarterfinal series will then advance to Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn., for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff scheduled for March 21-22, 2025. Starting in 2026, the NCHC playoffs will transition to all campus sites.

Mullett Arena is the official home venue for Sun Devil Hockey at ASU, boasting a seating capacity of 5,000 for hockey games, with additional features such as state-of-the-art locker rooms, a training facility, and a strength and conditioning room, following a $19.7 million expansion by the NHL. The arena saw an average of nearly 4,800 fans per home game last season, ranking 13th nationally in capacity percentage.

Fans eager to watch the Sun Devils in their inaugural NCHC season can tune in via the Conference’s digital platform, NCHC.tv. NCHC.tv offers an extensive lineup of over 170 live games and events for the 2024-25 season, encompassing all home non-conference and exhibition games, as well as every conference game (home and away), except those broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network. ASU supporters can secure access to the Sun Devils’ home non-conference matches and most conference games for the upcoming season by subscribing to NCHC.tv before prices increase in September.

The NCHC has celebrated six NCAA National Championships within its first 11 seasons (across 10 tournaments), with Denver (2017, 2022, and 2024) securing three titles, including the most recent season. Minnesota Duluth (2018, 2019) clinched two championships, and North Dakota (2016) claimed the NCHC’s inaugural national title. NCHC teams have collectively made 14 Frozen Four appearances in conference history, earning 39 NCAA Tournament berths in total. Notably, Arizona State secured its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 2019.

The 2024-25 season commences on Saturday, October 5, with all nine NCHC teams in action, including Arizona State’s debut at Air Force in the first of two visits the Sun Devils will make to Colorado Springs. The race for the Penrose Cup kicks off on November 8, featuring four conference series, with ASU embarking on its second journey to Colorado Springs to face Colorado College in its inaugural NCHC series.