ASU elevates men's ice hockey to NCAA level

Ray Anderson, Arizona State vice president of university athletics, has announced the elevation of the ASU Men’s Ice Hockey program to NCAA Division I status.

The announcement makes men's ice hockey Sun Devil Athletics’ 23rd NCAA-sponsored sport. The Sun Devil hockey team currently plays in and was the 2014 national champion of  the American Hockey Coaches Association. The move to the NCAA was made possible by hockey supporters, including Don Mullett, the father of former Sun Devil hockey student-athlete Chris Mullett, who came together to donate $32 million to elevate the program.

“Head coach Greg Powers has built a powerhouse ice hockey program here in Tempe, and because of his work it was probably a matter not of ‘if’ but ‘when’ Sun Devil Hockey would be ready to compete at the highest level,” Anderson said.

Arizona State is the first power-five conference school to add men's ice hockey since the Big Ten’s Penn State added the sport in 2012. Sun Devil Athletics has also identified potential NCAA women’s sports to add, with a formal announcement coming at a later date.

Read the full article at thesundevils.com.