On the ice of Mullett Arena, ASU’s players showed they will do whatever it takes to win, even if the games are just for exhibition. 

The Horton Cup is a 3v3 intersquad competition, with the Sun Devils being divided into three teams: Maroon, Black and White. Team Maroon took charge and won the competition 2-1. 

The round-robin tournament began with the Black and Maroon teams facing off against each other. Team Black took control of the puck immediately and was able to control the game’s entirety. 

Senior goalkeeper Quinn Eatinger held a strong defense against Maroon, blocking every shot made against her. With a 0.924 save percentage in the 2024-’25 season, the Horton Cup showed that Eatinger isn’t slowing down for anyone. 

Sophomore defense player Kate Streek shot the round-winning score. Streek was 13th on the roster for points scored last season, and seventh amongst her fellow rookies. 

The following matchup of teams, Maroon and White, proved to be far more aggressive than the previous match. With the most goals scored within the tournament, game number two was not just another move in the bracket.

Freshman forward/defenseman Kelzi Olson scored the first of Maroon’s three goals, and the first of her career with ASU. Olson set a good precedent for what stats fans can expect from her in ACHA play.   

Junior defenseman Mia Gervais provided Team White’s only score of the game. Gervais was towards the bottom of the pack last season in terms of points scored, but if the Horton Cup is any indication of the incoming season, then she is not a name to be slept on. 

Sophomore defenseman Madeline Christoff brought a roar across the crowd with her score against White. Christoff brought her fire to the ice and left White trailing 1-3 to end the match.

The final match before the championship was between teams Black and White. ASU’s passion for the sport manifested in the form of two penalty shots, which were both missed. 

Team Black demonstrated incredible defensive skills in their first match of the night, courtesy of Eatinger, which was enough to secure a 2-1 win and advance to the final. 

The match for the Horton Cup pitted teams Maroon and Black, giving fans a chance to see how the players evolved between the first and final matches of the night.

Maroon’s first goal came no less than 20 seconds into the match, thanks to graduate forward Sam Murphy, who led the team in points last season and had the best points per game average out of the entire roster.

Junior forward Paige Ring sealed the deal for team Maroon, scoring the final goal of the tournament. 

The game played within the team was very telling about the squad their opponents will face this season. Swift footwork, tackles and pucks shot at high speeds were only some of the skills put on display by the Sun Devils tonight. The team proved that they are capable of focusing their energy where it mattered most, and that after an hour of competing against each other, they can reunite as one team to celebrate the kickoff to their season. 

ASU’s D1 ACHA play starts Sunday, Oct. 12, against the University of Arizona Wildcats. The Sun Devils face the Wildcats four different times this season, with the upcoming game being the only one played in Mullett Arena.