After trailing 3-0 at the end of the first period, ASU freshman goaltender Samuel Urban did not let a single puck in the back of the net, helping the Sun Devils (3-5-1, 1-1-1 NCHC) snatch victory from Colorado College 4-3 in a shootout Friday night. 

The game technically is recorded as a tie for both teams; however, ASU gains the extra point in the conference because of the shootout victory. 

“(Urban) was unbelievable, especially in overtime,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “He made some big saves late in the third to keep it a one-goal game.”

The Sun Devils have one of the youngest defense groups in college hockey, with junior Anthony Dowd as the oldest defender. However, he was out tonight.

The Sun Devils blocked 26 shots in regulation and overtime, something that impressed both Powers and Urban.

“We’re more than just a good group — we’re brothers,” Urban said. “The guys blocked 26 shots tonight. That’s unbelievable. I think it’s never happened in front of me before.”

A group of underclassmen, including a freshman goaltender, held the Tigers scoreless after what Powers said was a disappointing first period.

“We were paralyzed in the first period — lifeless,” Powers said. “For them to snap out of it together says a lot about their character.”

For freshman winger Jack Beck, it was his first home game at Mullet Arena after debuting last week on the road at Miami (OH). He scored his first goal on home ice on the power play in the second period, sparking the comeback. 

The Sun Devils, who came into today drawing the most penalties out of anyone in college hockey, went 2-for-4 on the power play.

“We didn’t get off to the start we wanted, but once we saw the student section getting rowdy and Greg gave his speech between periods, it fired us up,” Beck said. “We wanted to give the crowd a show—and we did it in a pretty theatrical way.”

One could expect a lot of emotion, screaming, or yelling in a locker room after going down three goals in an opening period, but Beck said the feeling in the room was behind that.

“Greg just told us we weren’t living up to what ASU hockey is,” Beck said. “We have a brand, and we weren’t playing to it. Once we got back to that brand, I don’t think anyone in the country can play with us.” 

Despite not putting up numbers on the stat sheet, Beck gave credit to someone he believes is a force to be reckoned with: sophomore forward and 2025 NHL first-round draft pick Cullen Potter.

 “Pottsy might be the fastest kid in college hockey,” Beck said. “When he’s coming full speed, defensemen panic — it creates so much space for me to make plays.”

Beck definitely had space to work with in the victory, notching a goal and two assists. He was on the ice for every Sun Devil goal while also scoring in the shootout.

Senior winger Cruz Lucius wristed the second shootout goal right before Urban made the game-winning save. 

The Sun Devils gained two points in the conference and are up to four points from the last three games. They’ll expect to see some intensity right out the gate in Saturday’s game against Colorado College to counteract the lackluster start to game one. 

Mullet Arena, home of Sun Devil hockey, continued its success of its own tonight.

The student section at Mullett reached a milestone: 50th consecutive sellout.

Beck never got to experience a live game in Tempe last year when his brother, Noah, played on defense for Powers and the Sun Devils. 

“Seeing how much the student section embraces it — it’s huge for us,” Beck said. “You rub a guy out on the boards, and the place goes nuts. That energy brought us back tonight.”

Although the Sun Devils remain under a .500 winning percentage, Powers said every loss has been close as they have emptied the net in every game they didn’t win.

Tonight, however, they tied the game seven seconds after emptying the net courtesy of senior winger Bennett Schimek.

The Sun Devils believe they can carry this momentum not only into tomorrow but also into the rest of the season.

“Coach’s way works,” Beck said. “We want to prove we’re a team to reckon with.”