(Photo: Reagan Smith/WCSN)
With an outstanding start to the season, the ASU Women’s Hockey team has already made history.
This time last season, the Sun Devils sat at a record of 3-5-1. A year later, the team currently has a record of 8-1-0 — the best start in program history.
Some of ASU’s returning players have already beat their own performances from the 2018-2019 season.
Center sophomore Danielle Dupont had a total of five goals last season. In the first nine games, Dupont has scored 10 goals. She gives the credit of her success to the people she plays alongside — sophomore Kat Jones and freshman Andi Main.
“My linemates are great,” Dupont said. “Always there, always supporting, always screening, always in the tough areas of the ice. It makes it a lot easier to do things.”
Senior defenseman Molly Potter has tied her one goal and three assists from last season, making her bound to break that record. Potter is finally seeing the growth of the program.
“I was delightfully surprised that we’re doing this well because we’ve never been 8-1 and we’ve never won seven games in a row,” Potter said. “I think that’s incredible. It’s really cool to see for my last year the program growing and everything.”
Jones believes that a big difference in this year’s team is the bond they’ve quickly created.
“The chemistry, love, and trust are unlike any team I’ve ever been on and I don’t take that for granted,” Jones said.
That team chemistry has been built through similarities in personalities.
“The sense of humor is very similar throughout the entire team,” Jones said. “I think that’s a huge part of it because everybody laughs at the same things and everybody feels comfortable making jokes. We all just have a really good time together and that is just the best part in why everybody has gotten so close so quickly.”
Sophomore forward Abby Steinman also discussed how the quickly built chemistry has impacted the result on the ice.
“Everyone just got along right away and we’ve all just been best friends since,” Steinman said. “Everyone kind of has an idea of where everyone is on the ice. I know if I pass it backward, I know that my wing is going to be behind me.”
With nine freshmen on the team, there was never any hesitation on what their impact would be on the ice.
“I had a really good feeling about it from the beginning because everyone seemed so determined and dedicated and in it this year,” Jones said.
Freshman defenseman Taylor Northcott (6G, 3A) and Main (3G, 6A) have both recorded nine points to start the season. The rest of the freshmen (Emily Kline, Karlie Chadwick, Claire Walter, Malak Rabuck, Morgan Benson, and Sara Zimmerman) have all contributed at least one point so far.
“When asked about the freshmen impact, I think you just gotta watch a few minutes of the game and you’ll know the answer,” Dupont said.
With such a hot start, the team is driven to continue its record-breaking season.
“The more we succeed and do well, the more I expect from everybody,” Jones said. “Holding McKendree to a really close game for a large part of that game made me feel as though we can take on anybody.”
The Sun Devils know they are capable to test some of the best teams in the league.
“I’m excited for Michigan, the harder teams and everything, and getting to see those really good teams in the country and what we can do against them,” Steinman said.
As the season goes on, ASU’s Women’s Hockey will continue to put in the work necessary to be the best they can be.
“I only see us getting better from here,” Potter said.
