Defying the desert heat, ice hockey won’t be melting away anytime soon — especially with ASU women’s hockey announcing an additional team for next school year.
Since 2016, the women’s club has built a strong reputation that has attracted athletes both inside and outside the United States.
Coming from Calgary, Alberta, junior defender Hannah Kunz chose ASU for its team environment.
“To know that there was a team that prides itself on the culture … stood out to me,” Kunz said. “They were super committed to the growth of the sport.”
Lindsey Ellis, the head coach and director of hockey operations, has been with the program since its establishment in the fall of 2016. She has been named the WWCHL Coach of the Year three times.
As an Arizona native and former ACHA Division I player for Miami University (Ohio), Ellis is passionate about providing young women with the opportunity to play hockey in the desert.
Junior defender Sophie Fausel strives to be a role model for girls within the Arizona Kachinas community. Fausel has previously coached for the organization, during which she aimed to inspire girls to continue playing hockey through college.
“I would talk to them a lot about (ASU hockey),” Fausel said. “They seemed to really look up to me for it, and they would come and support our games.”
Kunz has seen the relationship between the Sun Devils and the Kachinas bring people together.
“There’s not that many teams in the desert, especially for women’s hockey, for younger girls to look up to,” Kunz said. “So I think it’s really amazing that we get to be that foundation for them.”
In recent years, the Sun Devils have grown their fanbase through their connection to the Arizona Kachinas; with an expansion team on the way, they benefit from the attention of these younger athletes.
Junior goalie Brooke Kimel thinks the ACHA Division II team will bring more girls from around the state to join ASU’s program.
“Usually we only have two or three people from Arizona on our team,” Kimel said. “The more Arizona people we have on the team, the more it can help spread local awareness.”
Beyond raising local awareness in the community, the Sun Devils have also gained popularity in the digital world through their strong social media presence.
“I can’t remember what our Instagram is at now, but it is probably one of the most followed teams in the ACHA for women’s sports,” Kunz said. “The coverage has been amazing. It really showed people the high level and competitiveness that women’s hockey has, especially our team, and competing with everybody else in our league.”
This competitive atmosphere exists for both men’s and women’s hockey at ASU, drawing the attention of fellow Sun Devils. Within her community, Kimel has seen hockey gain momentum and believes the men’s and women’s programs benefit from each other’s success.
“It honestly benefits us that the men’s team is doing so well right now,’” Kimel said. “We sold out a couple of our games this year at the Mountainside of the Mullet Arena, which has never happened since I’ve been going to ASU.”
Kunz said she believes the biggest contributor to the recent growth of the women’s program was moving from the off-campus Oceanside Ice Arena to the on-campus Mullet Arena.
“When we came into the on-campus rink … that was huge for the game, because now students can walk to it and we’re right there,” Kunz said. “That was definitely one of the biggest things that increased, specifically, our team’s support.”
Behind this growing program is the idea of “pushing the girl next to you,” Fausel said.
Fausel said the team often finds motivation in the idea of holding themselves accountable on the ice for their teammates.
“If you’re not having a good practice or a good skate, don’t think about yourself. Someone else probably wants to get some goals or some points and win the game,” Fausel said. “We have a mentality of: If you are feeling crappy one day at practice, then do it for the player next to you who’s not. Make them better if you can’t do it for yourself.”
Kunz believes the Division II program will be an “amazing addition” that will offer a place for players to develop.
“They can still grow, they can still learn, and they can develop in a way that we haven’t had a place for yet,” Kunz said. “It’s amazing, and it’s a great way to build that community that I love so much.”
Edited by Jack McCarthy, Leah Mesquita and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at cjoneil6@asu.edu and follow @cjojournalism on X.
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Char O’Neil is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in special events management. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also reported for AZPreps365, Blaze Radio and Phoenix College Basketball.
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