Arizona State head coach Greg Powers joins hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger) to talk Sun Devils hockey, joining the NCHC, eligibility and recruiting for CHL players, roster sizes, and the upcoming home opener series with Michigan.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Usccho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to USCCHO Spotlight for Wednesday, October ninth, twenty twenty four,
I met Trevsker along with Jim Connolly. One of the
great stories in college hockey has been the progress of
Arizona State from club team to the NCCHC.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
And joining us now on us CHO Spotlight is the
head coach of Arizona State University.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
That's great power, is great. Welcome in.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
It's another year of college hockey. But for your program,
a new conference, a lot of other things going on,
probably feels a little different for you this year.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
It feels different in a good way.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Right.
Speaker 6 (00:50):
We are kind of referring to our current state as
chapter two of our program. Right, Chapter one was a
great run and great ride. I think we accomplished everything
we needed to made. You know, an NCAA tournament would
have been two if if COVID didn't hit. Got a
building built and and and and.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Made it our new home. And now we're in a league.
Speaker 6 (01:09):
So it's time to turn the page and and move
forward and do even bigger things.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
That league, the NC the new home for Arizona State.
Can you take us through a little bit of the
process to find that home?
Speaker 4 (01:23):
In the NCCHC.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
And why that was a conference that you felt was
the right fit for your program.
Speaker 6 (01:27):
Yeah, you know, I just think that it made the
most sense. Obviously from a geographic standpoint. We do believe
it's it's the best league in college hockey. It's won
six of a national championships, and you know, preseason in
your ear poll, obviously eight of nine teams ranked. It's
it's an incredibly deep league that you can recruit really
high end players too that we liked, and we can
(01:49):
develop regional rivalries with with programs like Denver and CC
and Omaha. Who's going to be our travel partner when
when Saint Thomas jumps in? And it just made the
most set you know, we we applied for membership in
this league that before we ever played a game, and
obviously it didn't work out, And that's the best thing
that ever happened to us because it allowed us to
(02:10):
get our We weren't ready. We didn't have a building,
we didn't have any of our house in order. It
would have been way premature for us to go into
this league, specifically with how good it is, you know,
you know, nine years ago. So now we think we're
ready we're ready to be competitive, and then we can't.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Wait to start the start for your season already taken place.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
You played two games last weekend out at air Force.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Take us through what you thought of your team those
first two nights.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
Well, I think I think we showed we have a
tremendous amount of upside. We're obviously, uh very skilled and deep.
We have three really high end kids out right now
that aren't even in our lineup that will be probably
top six guys.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
And we won the first night eight to one.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
You know, we're dangerous, and I like our depth on
the back end, like our goaltending depths.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
We really like our team.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Saturday was disappointed and we had the game kind of
one and up in the last minute with the ozone jaw,
and air Force found a way to tie it up
and then and then win it in overtime.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
So it's a tough one to swallow.
Speaker 6 (03:10):
But those things that are gonna happen, and it's good
that they happened early so we can learn from them
and move forward.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Greg you mentioned getting ready for the NCC and of
course Mullaarino is one thing you mentioned. You're no longer
having to share the facility with the NHL team. What
does that mean facility wise for you you know, for us,
really it doesn't mean too much.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
You know, like it ended up being kind of a
cool thing to have the NHL here, you know, having
you know, the likes of Toronto mayp Leice and Detroit
Red Wings and during the week practicing after us and
being able to watch them or talk to their coaches.
So it was it was a good experience that we
sure wish probably still had. Now we are sharing it
with the G League team. You know, they have you know, concerts.
(03:52):
We have Michigan in here this weekend. There's a concert
in here on Thursday night. So there's other there's other
entities that that are using it as tenants. Obviously we
are the main tenant, and we have obviously a practice
sheet fifty feet away to use whenever there's something on
mullet Ice.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
But we're going to miss the NHL.
Speaker 6 (04:12):
I think it was a tough night last night for
our hockey market to see Utah open and how incredible
of an environment it was up there, and that was
our team, the Coyotes, And we're going to miss the
NHL and hopefully one day it comes back really soon.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Last time we talked, one of the things that we
mentioned was how much work it was scheduling as an independent.
Now that you have the NCCHC banner, what is scheduling well,
like what is recruiting like? How have those changed for you?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Man, it just from a scheduling standpoint, I'm pretty much
the last year has been has been hectic, right because
I had twenty four games this year that I needed
to displace because we had twenty four league games. So
getting moving those games into future years and juggling that
was was was a tall task and trying to keep
people happy and obviously most of them understood and we're
(05:05):
very understanding and cordial about rescheduling. But that's pretty much
behind us, which is exciting. You can see our schedule
this year. We have, you know, six to the first
eight actually eight of the first ten if you include
the first league games around the road. So it hurt
us a little bit there to keep those games and
those agreements that we had, but moving forward, it's gonna
(05:28):
be a lot easier. I have to schedule ten games,
you know, not not thirty four to thirty six or
some years it was thirty eight with going to Alaska twice,
So that's gonna that's gonna be a great blessing. And
just to have a consistent schedule and develop those rivalries
within our league is really exciting for us and we
could be couldn't be more thrilled to get going.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Something that's been in the headlines the last week or
so is eligibility for HL players to play in the NCAA.
And I know there was a big point of discussion
back leading up to the Frozen Four, and I know
there was a lot talked about in May at the
coaches Convention. We're looking at the possibility of a decision
(06:10):
on that this week. Where do you stand on the
recruiting CHL players? And I know that there's been a
report that there is a CHL player coming to Arizona State,
But where do you see that in general? What's what
is the impact for NCAA Hockey with opening that up.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Yeah, you know, we're obviously fully supportive of those those
players becoming eligible, and I think, you know, with someone
making a verbal commitment to our program, which which obviously
occurred over the past couple of months, it'll look we
we certainly weren't a program I know that there are
(06:47):
programs that have spent recruiting dollars and have gone to
showcases and are going up to CHL games that have
been for a little bit of time. Now we were
presented with an opportunity and handing cap the situation. I
think pretty well with our compliance department that that this
is probably inevidently going to happen for a lot of
(07:08):
different reasons.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
And you know, it's just.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
We've operated here, you know, with a with a mindset
of of you have to adapt or you're going to die.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
And and this is this is our reality.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
It's not absolutely official yet, but we believe it will
be and and I think it's it's inevitable that it
will be.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
And and it's adapter die.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
There's some really good players up there that that obviously
would love to come extend their development runway and play
college hockey and experience college hockey. And I'm all for it.
I think it makes college hockey better. Some people don't,
and they're entitled to their opinion, but you know, in
my opinion, I think.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
It makes college hockey better.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
You know, even the smaller programs that can't keep up
in the n i L Arms race that you know,
are going to be a part of revenue sharing, all
those things that gives them another player pool, you know,
for players they lose in the portal to to to
replenish their rosters with. And I think it brings the
basement up. And I think the more competitive college hockey is,
and the more successful every program is, the better off
(08:11):
we're going to be. And and and it may lead
to more potential growth of our game, which is what
we all want to see. So I think there's a
lot of benefits to it. We're fully supportive of it.
And uh and and whether we were were not.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
It was going to happen.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
So we just made the decision that hey, this is
this is going to happen, we think in our eyes,
and we're going to get out ahead of it, and
we did.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
In the longer term, will it have less of an
effect as maybe players that might have gone to the
U s h L or BHL might not for one
of the Canadian major junior leagues.
Speaker 6 (08:45):
I mean I think that that obviously that they're going
to have access to players they've never had access to before.
I don't I don't know why it would hurt the
us HL. I think that's a great league. It's been
incredibly competitive with the HL. Maybe there's a there's a
there's a pathway to have them compete with each other
in some way. And we're already losing a lot of
American kids to.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
BHL, you know.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
So I just think that that, you know, for college hockey,
it's going to make it more competitive, it's going to
make it better. And at the end of the day,
we're a part of college hockey. That's that's our focus
and and and we're going to support what makes our
level better more with Greg Powers.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
In a moment you're listening to us e h O Spotlight,
we're back now with Arizona State head coach Greg Powers.
One more thing that may drop soon And and I
(09:49):
guess things are on hold a bit with the judges,
the whole house v n c A a legislation or
the lawsuit settlement that that really affects all of college sports.
But for college hockey, the word is you'd be looking
at twenty six roster spots, all getting full scholarships if
you offer or if you opt for the twenty six,
(10:10):
and a little bit more flexibility if you don't. What
do you see there? And is twenty six really the
right number?
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You know?
Speaker 6 (10:18):
For US, twenty six has always been the sweet spot.
You know, I think three extra four or is two
extra D and one? You know, a third goalie is
the right number. We're a little bit inflated right now
because of the fifth year, obviously, I think everybody is.
But I've always looked at twenty six as a good number.
I think that that obviously it would be ideal if
(10:39):
you had the flexibility to fluctuate from year to year
a little bit. But that number, to me, isn't going
to be a dramatic effect on our program. And I
think that you want to develop kids in twenty six.
You're getting if you're fully healthy, you get all the
reps you need practice, and you're not kind of overblown
on the ice with too many bodies, and manage egos better,
(11:01):
and it's just it's just a better situation. So we're
fine with the twenty six, Greg R.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I want to touch on Michigan, which is your opponent
this week. But one question that I want to go
back to on the the CHL eligibility if that were
to go into effector it seems almost one hundred percent
inevitable how much of a coach do you feel you're
going to have to change how you recruit. Obviously there's
more destinations. You're going to have to find ways to
(11:28):
see players. How does that impact the team?
Speaker 6 (11:30):
I mean, we'll find out right, it's it's all it's
all brand new.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
We are starting to very much and heavily look into
the chl now over the past you know, ten days,
you know, the one player obviously I can't say his
name because he's not he's not signed yet, but but
that was pretty much thrown on our lap, you know,
where there wasn't much proactive stuff that went into that
(11:55):
or you know, dollars spent. But now that that it
seems like it's ineviably going to happen, We're gonna we're
gonna actively go into those leagues and and and look
and see. You know, I think first and foremost what
people need to understand is a lot of these kids
probably aren't going to be eligible from an academic standpoint
because they did not prepare academically to get through clearinghouse.
So there's a big portion of that league that that
(12:17):
may not even be eligible. So you got to find
the guys that that that have the core courses, have
the GPAs, have the academic standing to get through clearinghouse,
and and that's going to eliminate a lot of kids.
You know, I think moving forward, they can prepare accordingly.
But that's that's first and foremost, finding those kids that
can play college hockey, that want to play college hockey.
(12:38):
And I think a lot of those kids up there
right now really aren't educated fully on the benefits of
college hockey because they never they've never been exposed to it.
So it's going to be a lot of work for
everybody that embraces it, but I think it will pay
off and and again, I think it's gonna make everybody better.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Lastly, this weekend they mentioned Michigan coming into town. This
is a program that if you look at the last
three years, there's probably not a lot of college hockey
teams that have been as successful as Michigan over the
last three years, three straight frozen four appearances in twenty three,
twenty six, thirty one wins over that time period. Just
(13:15):
the thoughts on this Michigan team. Obviously, it's a it's
a big program to bring in to a really great
Mullets arena.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
Yeah, It's going to be a great weekend for our program.
And to have a blue blood come in here is
really special, you know it with a Big Ten all
they all owe us a trip from our crazy all
road season in the Big Ten, and this is Michigan's trip,
and we're excited to have them in.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
They're a hell of a team and like.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
You said, Brandon's done an unbelievable job with with with
that program since he's taken it over. And they're they're
they're you know, and this is the message here. They're
the last kind of blue blood left that we don't
have a win against. We've we've beaten pretty much all
of them at one point or another, whether it's BC
or b U, or Minnesota or in North Dakota, you know,
or Wisconsin, you know, Denver. We have wins against those programs.
(14:06):
We do not have one against Michigan. We have a tie.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
We don't win.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
So we want to get that this weekend and and
and check that box off.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
And it's gonna be tough. They are a really good team.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
And I think that they're coming in here one in
one obviously you know, expecting to come in here too.
And oh so they're going to be hungry to get
that that loss back that they had last weekend, and
it's gonna be a handful for us, but we're gonna
embrace it. We're excited for it.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
A couple of matinee games for your team, if I
have it right, three thirty on Friday, five o'clock on
Saturday game times, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Gonna be It's gonna be interesting Friday and playing at
three thirty double header with football, but we expect to
sell out. It is sold out already, but we just
hoped that that I got in a little hot water
yesterday because I tongue in cheeks said you're allowed to
miss class to come to the game.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
But but.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
It's gonna be a great day for Sunday Athletics. We
got Michigan over here at Mullet and then in a
couple hundred feet away after that, we got our football
team playing Utah.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
So it's gonna be an awesome.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Day and it should be an awesome season for Arizona State.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
The home opener this weekend.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Greg Powers, we always appreciate your time, good luck the
rest of this season, and hopefully we'll get to catch
up with you again as maybe you have some success
in your first year in the ncch STATION.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Absolutely, I'd love that. Guys, Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
That's Arizona State head coach Greg Powers, Jim. It really
is an interesting story. I remember when the program was
announced and that Greg Powers, who had coached them at
the club level, was announced as the head coach, and
people were wondering can he pull it off? Is that
the right move? But now, as he describes it, as
(15:51):
they enter into chapter two, you've got to say, it's
really a huge success.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
It is.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
This is year number ten of Division one for that program,
and you look at it, as he mentioned an NCAA
tournament appearance, they would have had a second one if
the twenty twenty tournament doesn't get canceled. Three times they've
been a twenty win or better team in this stretch.
But now with a conference, it will feel different. As
(16:18):
he said, the stress he has gone through trying to
put together an all independent schedule for the last nine years,
and he had one in place for this year too,
but it gets turned upside down on its head a
little bit with the move to the NCCHC.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
But that's off, that's something that's off his plate now.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
He can now worry about getting ten opponents, not thirty
six thirty eight as he did a couple of times
with some exemptions that they used to use. So I
think that's a big win obviously, the arena there and
the fact that they are I feel like great Powers
himself has done a really good job of growing as
(16:58):
a coach in this role and converting himself from really
a division below Division three.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Quote it was a club coach. Is what he was.
Is exactly what it was now. That was a very
good club hockey team.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
But that's a big move to go to Division one,
and they did it almost seamlessly, but only took four
seasons of at the Division one level to qualify for
an NCAA tournament.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
That's phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
We're entering a time when there's probably going to be
a lot of upheaval in college hockey, and we talked
about the CHL eligibility and House v NCAA both having impacts.
It was interesting to hear his approach to twenty six
players in the roster and a lot of schools, a
lot of coaches will tell you that others say they'd
like to have a couple three extra in there. Just
(17:47):
in case for injuries. We remarked in this week's TMQ
column that on one hand, you're trying to open up
the opportunities, which the CHL will, but then on the
other hand, if you put a cap at twenty six players,
you're limiting roster spots. It's going to be interesting to
see how that all shakes out.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
It really will be, and I don't really know where
this is going to go.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
It does feel counterintuitive to have these two potential legislations
moving at the same time. One that would increase the
player pool if the HL players are eligible, but they're
the one that could take away roster spots because there
are coaches out there that carry thirty plus players. I
know I have talked to some coaches in recent years
who don't think it's a bad idea to limit the rosters,
(18:34):
and the reason being in today's day and age, where
the transfer portal is almost like a chip for the
players who use to have unlimited free agency. If a
player is not happy with their playing time, they're just
going to leave. So if you're carrying thirty two players
and you can only dress twenty to twenty one a night,
what good does that do for the players, so it
(18:57):
sometimes it could end up a say, situation where if
you do captain roshers and I do not support that.
I don't think that capping at twenty six is the
right idea, but I will say that it could make
maybe some happier players in the locker room because the
ice time won't be as difficult to dole out. That
is an issue that coaches very often mentioned that ice
(19:19):
time right now is sometimes always an issue.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
It's going to be fun to watch Arizona State in
its first year in the ENDCCHC. They get going at
home this weekend against Michigan, and we do appreciate Greg
Powers taking time today for Jim Connolly. I'm Ed Fresschert
and this has been USCHO spotlight
Usccho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to USCCHO Spotlight for Wednesday, October ninth, twenty twenty four,
I met Trevsker along with Jim Connolly. One of the
great stories in college hockey has been the progress of
Arizona State from club team to the NCCHC.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
And joining us now on us CHO Spotlight is the
head coach of Arizona State University.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
That's great power, is great. Welcome in.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
It's another year of college hockey. But for your program,
a new conference, a lot of other things going on,
probably feels a little different for you this year.
Speaker 5 (00:47):
It feels different in a good way.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Right.
Speaker 6 (00:50):
We are kind of referring to our current state as
chapter two of our program. Right, Chapter one was a
great run and great ride. I think we accomplished everything
we needed to made. You know, an NCAA tournament would
have been two if if COVID didn't hit. Got a
building built and and and and.
Speaker 5 (01:07):
Made it our new home. And now we're in a league.
Speaker 6 (01:09):
So it's time to turn the page and and move
forward and do even bigger things.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
That league, the NC the new home for Arizona State.
Can you take us through a little bit of the
process to find that home?
Speaker 4 (01:23):
In the NCCHC.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
And why that was a conference that you felt was
the right fit for your program.
Speaker 6 (01:27):
Yeah, you know, I just think that it made the
most sense. Obviously from a geographic standpoint. We do believe
it's it's the best league in college hockey. It's won
six of a national championships, and you know, preseason in
your ear poll, obviously eight of nine teams ranked. It's
it's an incredibly deep league that you can recruit really
high end players too that we liked, and we can
(01:49):
develop regional rivalries with with programs like Denver and CC
and Omaha. Who's going to be our travel partner when
when Saint Thomas jumps in? And it just made the
most set you know, we we applied for membership in
this league that before we ever played a game, and
obviously it didn't work out, And that's the best thing
that ever happened to us because it allowed us to
(02:10):
get our We weren't ready. We didn't have a building,
we didn't have any of our house in order. It
would have been way premature for us to go into
this league, specifically with how good it is, you know,
you know, nine years ago. So now we think we're
ready we're ready to be competitive, and then we can't.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Wait to start the start for your season already taken place.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
You played two games last weekend out at air Force.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Take us through what you thought of your team those
first two nights.
Speaker 6 (02:36):
Well, I think I think we showed we have a
tremendous amount of upside. We're obviously, uh very skilled and deep.
We have three really high end kids out right now
that aren't even in our lineup that will be probably
top six guys.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
And we won the first night eight to one.
Speaker 6 (02:52):
You know, we're dangerous, and I like our depth on
the back end, like our goaltending depths.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
We really like our team.
Speaker 6 (03:00):
Saturday was disappointed and we had the game kind of
one and up in the last minute with the ozone jaw,
and air Force found a way to tie it up
and then and then win it in overtime.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
So it's a tough one to swallow.
Speaker 6 (03:10):
But those things that are gonna happen, and it's good
that they happened early so we can learn from them
and move forward.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Greg you mentioned getting ready for the NCC and of
course Mullaarino is one thing you mentioned. You're no longer
having to share the facility with the NHL team. What
does that mean facility wise for you you know, for us,
really it doesn't mean too much.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
You know, like it ended up being kind of a
cool thing to have the NHL here, you know, having
you know, the likes of Toronto mayp Leice and Detroit
Red Wings and during the week practicing after us and
being able to watch them or talk to their coaches.
So it was it was a good experience that we
sure wish probably still had. Now we are sharing it
with the G League team. You know, they have you know, concerts.
(03:52):
We have Michigan in here this weekend. There's a concert
in here on Thursday night. So there's other there's other
entities that that are using it as tenants. Obviously we
are the main tenant, and we have obviously a practice
sheet fifty feet away to use whenever there's something on
mullet Ice.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
But we're going to miss the NHL.
Speaker 6 (04:12):
I think it was a tough night last night for
our hockey market to see Utah open and how incredible
of an environment it was up there, and that was
our team, the Coyotes, And we're going to miss the
NHL and hopefully one day it comes back really soon.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Last time we talked, one of the things that we
mentioned was how much work it was scheduling as an independent.
Now that you have the NCCHC banner, what is scheduling well,
like what is recruiting like? How have those changed for you?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Oh?
Speaker 6 (04:42):
Man, it just from a scheduling standpoint, I'm pretty much
the last year has been has been hectic, right because
I had twenty four games this year that I needed
to displace because we had twenty four league games. So
getting moving those games into future years and juggling that
was was was a tall task and trying to keep
people happy and obviously most of them understood and we're
(05:05):
very understanding and cordial about rescheduling. But that's pretty much
behind us, which is exciting. You can see our schedule
this year. We have, you know, six to the first
eight actually eight of the first ten if you include
the first league games around the road. So it hurt
us a little bit there to keep those games and
those agreements that we had, but moving forward, it's gonna
(05:28):
be a lot easier. I have to schedule ten games,
you know, not not thirty four to thirty six or
some years it was thirty eight with going to Alaska twice,
So that's gonna that's gonna be a great blessing. And
just to have a consistent schedule and develop those rivalries
within our league is really exciting for us and we
could be couldn't be more thrilled to get going.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Something that's been in the headlines the last week or
so is eligibility for HL players to play in the NCAA.
And I know there was a big point of discussion
back leading up to the Frozen Four, and I know
there was a lot talked about in May at the
coaches Convention. We're looking at the possibility of a decision
(06:10):
on that this week. Where do you stand on the
recruiting CHL players? And I know that there's been a
report that there is a CHL player coming to Arizona State,
But where do you see that in general? What's what
is the impact for NCAA Hockey with opening that up.
Speaker 6 (06:27):
Yeah, you know, we're obviously fully supportive of those those
players becoming eligible, and I think, you know, with someone
making a verbal commitment to our program, which which obviously
occurred over the past couple of months, it'll look we
we certainly weren't a program I know that there are
(06:47):
programs that have spent recruiting dollars and have gone to
showcases and are going up to CHL games that have
been for a little bit of time. Now we were
presented with an opportunity and handing cap the situation. I
think pretty well with our compliance department that that this
is probably inevidently going to happen for a lot of
(07:08):
different reasons.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
And you know, it's just.
Speaker 6 (07:11):
We've operated here, you know, with a with a mindset
of of you have to adapt or you're going to die.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
And and this is this is our reality.
Speaker 6 (07:20):
It's not absolutely official yet, but we believe it will
be and and I think it's it's inevitable that it
will be.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
And and it's adapter die.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
There's some really good players up there that that obviously
would love to come extend their development runway and play
college hockey and experience college hockey. And I'm all for it.
I think it makes college hockey better. Some people don't,
and they're entitled to their opinion, but you know, in
my opinion, I think.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
It makes college hockey better.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
You know, even the smaller programs that can't keep up
in the n i L Arms race that you know,
are going to be a part of revenue sharing, all
those things that gives them another player pool, you know,
for players they lose in the portal to to to
replenish their rosters with. And I think it brings the
basement up. And I think the more competitive college hockey is,
and the more successful every program is, the better off
(08:11):
we're going to be. And and and it may lead
to more potential growth of our game, which is what
we all want to see. So I think there's a
lot of benefits to it. We're fully supportive of it.
And uh and and whether we were were not.
Speaker 5 (08:26):
It was going to happen.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
So we just made the decision that hey, this is
this is going to happen, we think in our eyes,
and we're going to get out ahead of it, and
we did.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
In the longer term, will it have less of an
effect as maybe players that might have gone to the
U s h L or BHL might not for one
of the Canadian major junior leagues.
Speaker 6 (08:45):
I mean I think that that obviously that they're going
to have access to players they've never had access to before.
I don't I don't know why it would hurt the
us HL. I think that's a great league. It's been
incredibly competitive with the HL. Maybe there's a there's a
there's a pathway to have them compete with each other
in some way. And we're already losing a lot of
American kids to.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
BHL, you know.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
So I just think that that, you know, for college hockey,
it's going to make it more competitive, it's going to
make it better. And at the end of the day,
we're a part of college hockey. That's that's our focus
and and and we're going to support what makes our
level better more with Greg Powers.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
In a moment you're listening to us e h O Spotlight,
we're back now with Arizona State head coach Greg Powers.
One more thing that may drop soon And and I
(09:49):
guess things are on hold a bit with the judges,
the whole house v n c A a legislation or
the lawsuit settlement that that really affects all of college sports.
But for college hockey, the word is you'd be looking
at twenty six roster spots, all getting full scholarships if
you offer or if you opt for the twenty six,
(10:10):
and a little bit more flexibility if you don't. What
do you see there? And is twenty six really the
right number?
Speaker 1 (10:16):
You know?
Speaker 6 (10:18):
For US, twenty six has always been the sweet spot.
You know, I think three extra four or is two
extra D and one? You know, a third goalie is
the right number. We're a little bit inflated right now
because of the fifth year, obviously, I think everybody is.
But I've always looked at twenty six as a good number.
I think that that obviously it would be ideal if
(10:39):
you had the flexibility to fluctuate from year to year
a little bit. But that number, to me, isn't going
to be a dramatic effect on our program. And I
think that you want to develop kids in twenty six.
You're getting if you're fully healthy, you get all the
reps you need practice, and you're not kind of overblown
on the ice with too many bodies, and manage egos better,
(11:01):
and it's just it's just a better situation. So we're
fine with the twenty six, Greg R.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I want to touch on Michigan, which is your opponent
this week. But one question that I want to go
back to on the the CHL eligibility if that were
to go into effector it seems almost one hundred percent
inevitable how much of a coach do you feel you're
going to have to change how you recruit. Obviously there's
more destinations. You're going to have to find ways to
(11:28):
see players. How does that impact the team?
Speaker 6 (11:30):
I mean, we'll find out right, it's it's all it's
all brand new.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
You know.
Speaker 6 (11:34):
We are starting to very much and heavily look into
the chl now over the past you know, ten days,
you know, the one player obviously I can't say his
name because he's not he's not signed yet, but but
that was pretty much thrown on our lap, you know,
where there wasn't much proactive stuff that went into that
(11:55):
or you know, dollars spent. But now that that it
seems like it's ineviably going to happen, We're gonna we're
gonna actively go into those leagues and and and look
and see. You know, I think first and foremost what
people need to understand is a lot of these kids
probably aren't going to be eligible from an academic standpoint
because they did not prepare academically to get through clearinghouse.
So there's a big portion of that league that that
(12:17):
may not even be eligible. So you got to find
the guys that that that have the core courses, have
the GPAs, have the academic standing to get through clearinghouse,
and and that's going to eliminate a lot of kids.
You know, I think moving forward, they can prepare accordingly.
But that's that's first and foremost, finding those kids that
can play college hockey, that want to play college hockey.
(12:38):
And I think a lot of those kids up there
right now really aren't educated fully on the benefits of
college hockey because they never they've never been exposed to it.
So it's going to be a lot of work for
everybody that embraces it, but I think it will pay
off and and again, I think it's gonna make everybody better.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Lastly, this weekend they mentioned Michigan coming into town. This
is a program that if you look at the last
three years, there's probably not a lot of college hockey
teams that have been as successful as Michigan over the
last three years, three straight frozen four appearances in twenty three,
twenty six, thirty one wins over that time period. Just
(13:15):
the thoughts on this Michigan team. Obviously, it's a it's
a big program to bring in to a really great
Mullets arena.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
Yeah, It's going to be a great weekend for our program.
And to have a blue blood come in here is
really special, you know it with a Big Ten all
they all owe us a trip from our crazy all
road season in the Big Ten, and this is Michigan's trip,
and we're excited to have them in.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
They're a hell of a team and like.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
You said, Brandon's done an unbelievable job with with with
that program since he's taken it over. And they're they're
they're you know, and this is the message here. They're
the last kind of blue blood left that we don't
have a win against. We've we've beaten pretty much all
of them at one point or another, whether it's BC
or b U, or Minnesota or in North Dakota, you know,
or Wisconsin, you know, Denver. We have wins against those programs.
(14:06):
We do not have one against Michigan. We have a tie.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
We don't win.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
So we want to get that this weekend and and
and check that box off.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
And it's gonna be tough. They are a really good team.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
And I think that they're coming in here one in
one obviously you know, expecting to come in here too.
And oh so they're going to be hungry to get
that that loss back that they had last weekend, and
it's gonna be a handful for us, but we're gonna
embrace it. We're excited for it.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
A couple of matinee games for your team, if I
have it right, three thirty on Friday, five o'clock on
Saturday game times, Yeah, it's.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Gonna be It's gonna be interesting Friday and playing at
three thirty double header with football, but we expect to
sell out. It is sold out already, but we just
hoped that that I got in a little hot water
yesterday because I tongue in cheeks said you're allowed to
miss class to come to the game.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
But but.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
It's gonna be a great day for Sunday Athletics. We
got Michigan over here at Mullet and then in a
couple hundred feet away after that, we got our football
team playing Utah.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
So it's gonna be an awesome.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Day and it should be an awesome season for Arizona State.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
The home opener this weekend.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Greg Powers, we always appreciate your time, good luck the
rest of this season, and hopefully we'll get to catch
up with you again as maybe you have some success
in your first year in the ncch STATION.
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Absolutely, I'd love that. Guys, Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
That's Arizona State head coach Greg Powers, Jim. It really
is an interesting story. I remember when the program was
announced and that Greg Powers, who had coached them at
the club level, was announced as the head coach, and
people were wondering can he pull it off? Is that
the right move? But now, as he describes it, as
(15:51):
they enter into chapter two, you've got to say, it's
really a huge success.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
It is.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
This is year number ten of Division one for that program,
and you look at it, as he mentioned an NCAA
tournament appearance, they would have had a second one if
the twenty twenty tournament doesn't get canceled. Three times they've
been a twenty win or better team in this stretch.
But now with a conference, it will feel different. As
(16:18):
he said, the stress he has gone through trying to
put together an all independent schedule for the last nine years,
and he had one in place for this year too,
but it gets turned upside down on its head a
little bit with the move to the NCCHC.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
But that's off, that's something that's off his plate now.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
He can now worry about getting ten opponents, not thirty
six thirty eight as he did a couple of times
with some exemptions that they used to use. So I
think that's a big win obviously, the arena there and
the fact that they are I feel like great Powers
himself has done a really good job of growing as
(16:58):
a coach in this role and converting himself from really
a division below Division three.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
Quote it was a club coach. Is what he was.
Is exactly what it was now. That was a very
good club hockey team.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
But that's a big move to go to Division one,
and they did it almost seamlessly, but only took four
seasons of at the Division one level to qualify for
an NCAA tournament.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
That's phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
We're entering a time when there's probably going to be
a lot of upheaval in college hockey, and we talked
about the CHL eligibility and House v NCAA both having impacts.
It was interesting to hear his approach to twenty six
players in the roster and a lot of schools, a
lot of coaches will tell you that others say they'd
like to have a couple three extra in there. Just
(17:47):
in case for injuries. We remarked in this week's TMQ
column that on one hand, you're trying to open up
the opportunities, which the CHL will, but then on the
other hand, if you put a cap at twenty six players,
you're limiting roster spots. It's going to be interesting to
see how that all shakes out.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
It really will be, and I don't really know where
this is going to go.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
It does feel counterintuitive to have these two potential legislations
moving at the same time. One that would increase the
player pool if the HL players are eligible, but they're
the one that could take away roster spots because there
are coaches out there that carry thirty plus players. I
know I have talked to some coaches in recent years
who don't think it's a bad idea to limit the rosters,
(18:34):
and the reason being in today's day and age, where
the transfer portal is almost like a chip for the
players who use to have unlimited free agency. If a
player is not happy with their playing time, they're just
going to leave. So if you're carrying thirty two players
and you can only dress twenty to twenty one a night,
what good does that do for the players, so it
(18:57):
sometimes it could end up a say, situation where if
you do captain roshers and I do not support that.
I don't think that capping at twenty six is the
right idea, but I will say that it could make
maybe some happier players in the locker room because the
ice time won't be as difficult to dole out. That
is an issue that coaches very often mentioned that ice
(19:19):
time right now is sometimes always an issue.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
It's going to be fun to watch Arizona State in
its first year in the ENDCCHC. They get going at
home this weekend against Michigan, and we do appreciate Greg
Powers taking time today for Jim Connolly. I'm Ed Fresschert
and this has been USCHO spotlight
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