[Colorado]

SUN DEVILS CRACK RANKINGS POLL TO BOOST ASU POSTSEASON HOPES
BY SCOTTY S. KEISER

TEMPE, AZ., February 29, 2024 — It’s better late than never for ASU hockey as the Sun Devils finally cracked the latest College Hockey Poll for the first time this season.

ASU completed a four-game series going 3-1 against the Alaska Nanooks to finally force their way into the NCAA top-20 rankings.

The announcement of today's latest rankings saw the Sun Devils (18-11-5) listed at #18 as a result of their improved form in the second half of the season.

Heading into the final month of the regular season, the question now is can ASU maintain that top-20 spot throughout their final four games and reach the postseason for the first time since 2019?

Fellow independents Long Island (15-17-1) are the final visitors of the regular season to Mullett Arena this weekend.

ASU will then wrap things up with a long trip to Anchorage, Alaska, to face the Seawolves (16-11-3).

“We’ve worked our way into this position, now it’s about staying there across these next two weekends and seeing what happens,” said GM/Coach Benjamin Ayala.

“It’s a credit to the players and their hard work for being recognised in the NCAA rankings, now it’s time for focus and for our senior players to graduate from ASU in the best way possible.”

College Hockey Poll (Feb 26th)
#1 Wisconsin
#2 American International
#3 Boston College
#4 St. Cloud State
#5 UMass
#6 Clarkson
#7 Sacred Heart
#8 Air Force
#9 Minnesota
#10 Colorado College
#11 Denver
#12 Boston University
#13 Cornell
#14 Merrimack
#15 Ferris State
#16 Western Michigan
#17 Lake Superior
#18 Arizona State
#19 Northern Michigan
#20 RPI