TEMPE - Fresh off a convincing season-opening victory last Friday night, the San Diego State Hockey Club (1-0) heads to Tempe, Arizona this weekend for a formidable two-game series against Arizona State's ACHA Division I team. Game 1 of the consecutive-night slate is set to begin tonight at 7:30 p.m. PT.
The Aztecs will face an uphill climb against a team that is projected to have a significant matchup advantage. Not only do the Sun Devils compete in a division above SDSU. they are also the proud owners of a rink that recently received numerous upgrades, including the addition of a weight room, lounge and an overhauled locker room. As if the Sun Devils weren't eager enough to show off the effects of having their new luxuries, Friday night's game is also ASU's season-opening contest.
"We knew what the challenge would be when we scheduled them," senior forward Eric Stelnick said. "We have great goalies that we're confident in front of and we're going to be in the game if we play our system."
Junior goalie Filip Curkovic will be tasked with making good on Stelnick's praise and shutting down an ASU offense that has scored at will against SDSU in years past. Last year's trip to the desert resulted in the Aztecs being outscored by a combined two-game total of 22-3, the largest two-game goal deficit in the 2012-13 season.
"We need to stick together for all 60 minutes and be really focused in our defensive zone," Curkovic said in preparation for tonight's contest. "Staying out of the penalty box is going to be crucial because ASU will know how to punish us for our mistakes."
Senior defenseman Thomas Lapp played against ASU's DI squad last season and shared the sentiment of his teammates that the challenge is welcomed. "They were a great team last year," Lapp said. "It's going to be an uphill battle for us but it's a great opportunity to play against one of the top Division I teams in the nation."
Lapp's older brother Kevin, now in his first year as an assistant coach, played for the Aztecs during the 2009-10 season when SDSU faced ASU's DI team for the first time. Similar to last season, the trip to Tempe resulted in a pair of losses, but the elder Lapp doesn't see any link between this team and the ones from seasons past.
"This team has a different feel, different players and different coaches," Lapp said. "I'm the only one remaining from that 2009-10 season, so there isn't much comparison to draw on."
Lapp scored a power-play goal in the second game of the 2009-10 series and spoke to the players this week during practice on the importance of taking advantage of ASU mistakes.
"We had an impressive power play against Long Beach that moved the puck well and really put the game away," Lapp said. "If ASU's emotions are high for their season opener then we need to really take advantage by keeping our legs moving, drawing penalties and capitalizing if an opportunity presents itself."
Friday and Saturday's games, which both start at 7:30 p.m. PT, will be streamed online on ASU's Cronkite Sports Network: http://www.cronkitesports.com/live-broadcasts. Pregame show coverage begins at 7 p.m. PT.
For more updates from Tempe, follow SDSU's Twitter feed: @SDSUHockey.
"We knew what the challenge would be when we scheduled them," senior forward Eric Stelnick said. "We have great goalies that we're confident in front of and we're going to be in the game if we play our system."
Junior goalie Filip Curkovic will be tasked with making good on Stelnick's praise and shutting down an ASU offense that has scored at will against SDSU in years past. Last year's trip to the desert resulted in the Aztecs being outscored by a combined two-game total of 22-3, the largest two-game goal deficit in the 2012-13 season.
"We need to stick together for all 60 minutes and be really focused in our defensive zone," Curkovic said in preparation for tonight's contest. "Staying out of the penalty box is going to be crucial because ASU will know how to punish us for our mistakes."
Senior defenseman Thomas Lapp played against ASU's DI squad last season and shared the sentiment of his teammates that the challenge is welcomed. "They were a great team last year," Lapp said. "It's going to be an uphill battle for us but it's a great opportunity to play against one of the top Division I teams in the nation."
Lapp's older brother Kevin, now in his first year as an assistant coach, played for the Aztecs during the 2009-10 season when SDSU faced ASU's DI team for the first time. Similar to last season, the trip to Tempe resulted in a pair of losses, but the elder Lapp doesn't see any link between this team and the ones from seasons past.
"This team has a different feel, different players and different coaches," Lapp said. "I'm the only one remaining from that 2009-10 season, so there isn't much comparison to draw on."
Lapp scored a power-play goal in the second game of the 2009-10 series and spoke to the players this week during practice on the importance of taking advantage of ASU mistakes.
"We had an impressive power play against Long Beach that moved the puck well and really put the game away," Lapp said. "If ASU's emotions are high for their season opener then we need to really take advantage by keeping our legs moving, drawing penalties and capitalizing if an opportunity presents itself."
Friday and Saturday's games, which both start at 7:30 p.m. PT, will be streamed online on ASU's Cronkite Sports Network: http://www.cronkitesports.com/live-broadcasts. Pregame show coverage begins at 7 p.m. PT.
For more updates from Tempe, follow SDSU's Twitter feed: @SDSUHockey.