Sun Devils Set to Duel in the Desert Against Arizona

November 7, 2024 – Parker Beh

TEMPE, Ariz. – Coming off a 6-0 win over the University of Denver, the Arizona State women’s hockey team has several storylines to follow heading into its first matchup against the newly created University of Arizona women’s hockey team. The Sun Devils have added two alternate captains, an impactful defenseman is eligible to play, and they anticipate a sellout crowd for Friday’s battle with the Wildcats.

At the team’s Thursday morning skate, head coach Lindsey Ellis announced that senior forwards Sam Murphy and Sydney Paulsen were named alternate captains. The two join junior goalie Quinn Eatinger as alternate captains while senior defenseman Elle McKenna is captain. 

“I think both of them lead in very different ways, but the ways that are beneficial for the team,” Ellis said of Murphy and Paulsen. “So we’re excited to have them both and kind of step up a little bit more as leaders.”

The Sun Devils can unleash one of their best-kept secrets: freshman defenseman Gracie Bagnall-Dubras.
“She has a very high hockey IQ and she’s a big body too,” Ellis said of the 5-foot-9, left-handed shot. “She’ll be able to impact our team the second she turns 18, so we’re excited that now she’s an option for our D-core.”

Bagnall-Dubras, who turns 18 years old on Friday, was ineligible to play in ASU’s first seven games due to the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s (ACHA) policy requiring participants to be 18 years or older.

“It’s definitely been hard. It’s never happened to me where an age has been a restriction,” Bagnall-Dubras said. “But I’ve just been supporting the girls and cheering them on and kind of hyping them up before games, giving them advice on how they’re playing.”  

The Vancouver, British Columbia, native has had to balance a lot of factors in her first season as a Sun Devil.

“It was definitely tough for the first month or so,” Bagnall-Dubras said and alluded to the fact that it’s her first year at college and being away from home. “But I just worked really hard in practice and kind of made that like my game, and just tried really hard to show what I can do.”

Arizona State will relive its rivalry against Arizona this Friday, Nov. 7, 2024, with a puck drop scheduled for 7:35 p.m. MST at the Mountain America Community Iceplex in Tempe. According to Ellis, it’s both teams’ first meeting since 2006-07. 

“They’re a hungry new team and they want to be the best, and obviously they want to beat us too. This isn’t just a one-sided rivalry,” Ellis said. “At the end of the day, they’re not going to play easy.” 

Currently, Murphy’s 10 points are ASU’s team best. The two newly named alternate captains, Murphy and Paulsen, are tied for the team best in goals, with five. Murphy and sophomore forward Paige Ring are knotted at five assists each. Eatinger has gotten the nod in between the pipes in every game this season. She has posted a 3.11 GAA (goals against average) and a .894 SV% (save percentage) in her early 2024-25 campaign. 

As for the Wildcats, freshman forward Brynn O’Neill (team’s best in goals, with five) and freshman defenseman Savannah Allen are linked for their side’s lead in points, with six. Chatham University transfer forward Teila Saarinen has four assists to lead Arizona. In the crease, Stonehill College transfer goalie Lauryn Hanafin and freshman goalie Olivia Sorlie have split time this season.  

“I’m excited to see what Arizona hockey looks like and what the rivalry can do for the fans and our team,” Bagnall-Dubras said.

Ellis expects a sellout crowd for the game. Arizona is holding a girls’ youth hockey tournament, and she expects them to show up. Friday’s game also marks the return of former Sun Devils junior forward Britney Bridel and junior defenseman Rylee Armstrong, now playing for the Wildcats. While Ellis had nothing but positive comments about the two, her message was clear.

“They’re great kids, and they have great attitudes,” Ellis said. “It’ll be fun to have them back in the barn, but I want them to lose.”

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