Sun Devil Hockey Battles but Falls Short in High-Octane Clash with No. 4 North Dakota
TEMPE - Friday night at Mullett Arena had all the makings of a heavyweight tilt, and it delivered on the drama. Arizona State Hockey went toe-to-toe with No. 4 North Dakota in a fast-paced, physical game, but ultimately came up short in a 7-4 loss that featured a little bit of everything - comebacks, power play strikes, defensive breakdowns, and a whole lot of fight from the Sun Devils.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a lopsided affair despite the final score. ASU clawed back from an early two-goal hole, matched North Dakota punch-for-punch through the second period, and even outshot the Fighting Hawks 34-33. But costly lapses in front of their own net and some untimely penalties proved too much to overcome against one of the nation’s elite programs.
A Wild One from the Start
North Dakota wasted no time setting the tone. Two goals midway through the first period gave the visitors a 2-0 cushion, capitalizing on defensive misreads and net-front confusion from ASU. But the Sun Devils didn’t fold.
In the second period, senior defenseman Tucker Ness got the comeback started with his second goal of the season, and just over two minutes later, freshman forward Carmelo Crandell cashed in on a 4-on-3 power play to tie it up at 2-2. The building was buzzing, and it felt like ASU had seized momentum.
But North Dakota responded like great teams do - quickly and efficiently. Just 46 seconds after Crandell’s goal, the Fighting Hawks retook the lead, 3-2, and carried that into the second intermission.
Trading Blows in the Third
North Dakota struck early in the third to go up 4-2, but again, ASU had an answer. After drawing a cross-checking penalty, freshman defenseman Justin Kipkie blasted home a power play goal to cut the deficit to 4-3.
That’s when things unraveled.
North Dakota responded just 52 seconds later to restore their two-goal lead, then padded it further with another tally less than five minutes later. ASU kept pushing - senior forward Johnny Waldron notched his first goal as a Sun Devil with 3:27 left in regulation - but an empty-netter sealed the 7-4 final.
Plenty of Bright Spots Despite the Loss
While the scoreboard didn’t tilt ASU’s way, this was far from a flat performance. In fact, it was one of the more offensively balanced games of the season. A season-high 12 different Sun Devils recorded a point, showing just how deep this lineup can be when it’s clicking.
Waldron’s third-period goal wasn’t just his first of the season - it was his first since transferring from Miami (OH), where he last scored in December 2024. That’s a big moment for a veteran player finding his footing in Tempe.
Crandell, meanwhile, continues to emerge as a reliable offensive weapon. His power play goal was his fifth of the season and third in the last four games. He’s starting to look like a player who can make a real impact down the stretch.
And then there’s Ness - a senior who didn’t score in his first 67 career games but now has two goals in his last seven. That’s the kind of perseverance that coaches love to see.
Bennett Schimek also deserves a shoutout. His assist on Crandell’s goal was his 22nd of the season, tying him with Josh Doan for 10th most in a single season by a Sun Devil.
It also moved him into a tie for ninth in career assists (44) in program history. Quietly, he’s putting together a rock-solid campaign.
What Went Wrong? The Net-Front Battle
For all the offensive positives, ASU’s undoing came in the defensive zone - specifically, around their own crease. Head coach Greg Powers didn’t sugarcoat it postgame.
“We were really bad at our net front tonight,” Powers said. “Our defense just didn’t protect it and left (goaltender Connor) Hasley out to dry.”
That breakdown was evident on multiple goals. Whether it was missed assignments, puck-watching, or simply getting outmuscled, the Sun Devils gave up far too many high-danger chances in tight. Against a team like North Dakota - who will bury those chances more often than not - that’s a recipe for trouble.
Powers also pointed to avoidable stick penalties as another area that needs immediate cleanup. ASU took three in the first two periods and another just 30 seconds into the third - which led directly to a North Dakota power play goal.
“You can’t make those mistakes against North Dakota,” Powers said. “They’ll make you pay every time, and they made us pay every time.”
Still Fighting, Still Believing
Despite the defensive miscues, there was no quit in this group. Even down 6-3 late in the third, ASU kept pushing, kept grinding, and found another goal to make it interesting.
Senior forward Kyle Smolen summed it up well: “It’s mental preparation… the one thing you can’t do is let in a goal at that moment. We did it twice, and it killed us.”
There’s a learning curve in games like this - especially against top-5 opponents. And while the loss stings, there’s plenty for ASU to build on heading into Saturday’s rematch.
Looking Ahead
The Sun Devils (12-12-1, 5-7-1 NCHC) will get another crack at the Fighting Hawks (19-6-0, 11-4-0 NCHC) Saturday night, with puck drop set for 5 p.m. MST. Expect a hungry ASU squad that knows exactly what it needs to fix - and has the firepower to make things interesting once again.
With postseason positioning on the line and a chance to take down one of the nation’s best, Saturday’s game should be another can’t-miss battle at Mullett Arena.