Arizona State hockey is unquestionably more talented, especially on offense, going into its second varsity season but also playing against an upgraded schedule that will make it challenging to appreciably improve on a 5-22-2 record against NCAA opposition.
With 14 additions, coach Greg Powers said he has a completely different team than 2015-16 when the Sun Devils transitioned from ACHA club status to NCAA Division I, finishing 10-23-5 overall playing a hybrid schedule against various levels of competition. "They gave it everything they had but ran out of gas with all the travel and half our guys not used to the grind of NCAA competition," Powers said.