[Colorado]

An FHM 10 game from the perspective of fictional sports journalist Scotty S. Keiser of the fictional Arizona Telegraph newspaper, who will be covering the Arizona State Sun Devils for a sixth consecutive year. The team are taking a new direction after a disappointing 2022/23 season...

SUN DEVILS APPOINT BENJAMIN AYALA AS NEW GM/HEAD COACH
BY SCOTTY S. KEISER

TEMPE, AZ., September 17, 2023 — ASU Athletic Director Rory Huntly is hoping inexperienced coach Benjamin Ayala can turnaround the Sun Devils’ NCAA hockey fortunes after appointing the 42-year-old in a dual general manager-head coach role.

Huntly has identified California-born Ayala to rebuild ASU’s hockey programme as the Sun Devils prepare for their ninth season in the NCAA programme. Ayala is tasked with overseeing a major period of redevelopment with 12 senior players aiming to graduate at the end of the coming season, whilst 12 newly-recruited freshmen have recently been added to their NCAA Division 1 roster.

ASU will once again compete as an independent after finishing last season with an 18-21-0 record. Despite finishing below .500, the Sun Devils posted their best average attendance on record, selling out the 4,600 capacity Mullett Arena for the entirety of last season. With that in mind, the Sun Devils are targeting a winning season for the first time in four years.

Since debuting in 2015, ASU have achieved winning records on just two occasions, reaching the NCAA Division 1 Play Offs for the only time in 2019. If the Sun Devils are to deliver a winning season this time around, Ayala must figure out how to replace last season’s leading points scorers Robert Mastrosimone and Josh Doan from last season following their graduation from ASU.

Mastrosimone (11+31=42 points) recently announced his decision to turn semi-pro, whilst Arizona Coyotes draftee Doan (16+22=38) is expected to continue his professional career with a full season with Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. Doan leaves the Sun Devils as the team’s all-time point and assist leader (75 points, 47 assists).

ASU will play four pre-season games beginning next Friday in Minnesota against the Bemidji State Beavers, before returning to Tempe to face RMU Colonials on home ice the following Monday. The Sun Devils will start the regular season with a four-game homestand, facing against the Merrimack Warriors on opening night on October 13.