Sun Devils Outlast Colorado College in OT Thriller, Powered by Schimek’s Four-Point Night
In a game that had just about everything-goals, grit, and a wild finish-Arizona State hockey pulled off a dramatic 6-5 overtime win over Colorado College on Friday night at Ed Robson Arena. It was the kind of back-and-forth battle that reminds you why college hockey in late January hits different.
The hero? Sophomore defenseman Joel Kjellberg, who buried the game-winner in overtime after a slick setup from team captain Bennett Schimek. That OT strike snapped a two-game skid and pushed the Sun Devils back to .500 on the season at 13-13-1 (6-8-1 NCHC).
But make no mistake-this was Schimek’s night. The senior forward put on a clinic with a four-point performance (1G, 3A), factoring into two-thirds of ASU’s goals. His 11th goal of the season opened the scoring, and by the end of the night, he was sitting at 37 points on the year-good for fourth in the NCAA.
Special Teams, Special Night
ASU’s power play was lethal, going a perfect 3-for-3. That’s now 7-for-12 (.583) over the last three games.
Freshman forward Sam Alfano continued to find his groove, netting two goals-including a power-play tally-and adding an assist for his first multi-goal and three-point game in college. He wasn’t alone in the offensive explosion.
Sophomore Logan Morrell (1G, 2A) and senior Cruz Lucius (3A) also racked up three-point nights. It’s the first time this season four different Sun Devils notched three or more points in a single game.
And Lucius? He’s now tied for the NCAA lead with 26 assists, sharing the top spot with Schimek and Michigan Tech’s Stiven Sardarian.
When the Sun Devils score four or more, they’re tough to beat-and Friday’s win pushed them to 10-1-0 in those games.
How It Unfolded
The game didn’t wait long to get interesting. After killing off an early penalty, ASU flipped the ice.
At 13:11 in the first, Lucius sprang Schimek on a breakaway, and the captain slid a backhand through the five-hole to open the scoring. Just three minutes later, ASU went on the power play, and Morrell wasted no time, sniping one home just eight seconds in.
Schimek added the assist-his second point of the period.
The second period opened with a jolt from Colorado College, who tied it up 2-2 with a quick pair of goals just 48 seconds apart. But ASU didn’t blink.
Alfano answered less than two minutes later, restoring the lead with his fifth of the season. Then came another power-play opportunity, and again, ASU cashed in.
Schimek’s shot from the point took a friendly bounce off the boards and landed on Alfano’s stick-he didn’t miss.
Ty Nash joined the special teams party midway through the second, scoring ASU’s third power-play goal of the night to stretch the lead to 5-2. The Sun Devils looked in control heading into the third.
Tigers Roar Back
Colorado College had other plans. They chipped away with a goal early in the third, then took full advantage of a 5-on-3 power play midway through the period.
Two quick goals tied it up at 5-5, and suddenly, ASU found itself on its heels. The Sun Devils managed just two shots in the entire third period-a season low-and had to lean on senior goaltender Connor Hasley to keep things level.
Hasley came up big in overtime, turning away a pair of high-danger chances to keep the game alive. That set the stage for Schimek to work his magic one more time.
He sliced through the Colorado College defense and found Kjellberg wide open. The sophomore didn’t hesitate, ripping a wrist shot top shelf for his second goal of the season-and the win.
Notable Numbers and Milestones
- This was ASU’s first overtime road win since October 2021, and their first road win at Colorado College since December 2023.
- Schimek and Lucius are now two of just five players in the country with 110+ career points-and the only teammates to hit that mark together.
- Alfano became the first ASU freshman since Kyle Smolen (Jan. 2024) to post a three-point game. He’s now riding a four-game point streak.
- Morrell’s three points marked a new single-game high for the season and matched his career best from last year at Michigan Tech. He’s now scored in back-to-back games for the first time as a Sun Devil.
- ASU is 10-2-1 when Lucius records two or more points.
- Kjellberg’s overtime winner was his 20th career point, the most among active ASU defensemen.
- Five different Sun Devils recorded multi-point nights: Schimek (1G, 3A), Alfano (2G, 1A), Morrell (1G, 2A), Lucius (3A), and Nash (1G, 1A).
What’s Next
The Sun Devils will try to complete the road sweep on Saturday night, with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. MST. You can catch the action on NCHC.TV or tune into the radio call with Tyler Paley and Alex Coil on FOX 910 Phoenix.
If Friday night’s game was any indication, buckle up-this series still has plenty of drama left in it.