ASU Hockey Positional Previews: Goalies

Between the pipes, the ASU men's ice hockey is going to have quite the choice. Three different options, two incoming recruits and one player returning from injury, will be battling to see who will get the bulk of the playing time in the net. Good goaltending is the key to success in any level of hockey, but especially for these Sun Devils as they transition into Division 1 play.

David Jacobson- One of the two recruits that have been brought in by Coach Greg Powers and his staff this year. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds, the 21-year-old has had some good numbers in the USHL and BCHL.

Last season, Jacobson spent time in both leagues, sporting a 3.07 goals against average in 19 games with the Bloomington Thunder of the USHL. He fared much better in the 16 games he played with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL with a 2.78 GAA regular season and then a 2.95 GAA in 12 playoff games for the Chiefs.

Robert Levin- Levin is the veteran of this crew, playing with the club version of Arizona State men's ice hockey since 2013-14. Levin lead the way for the Sun Devils when the won the ACHA Championship in 2013-2014 seson, playing in 19 games with a 1.12 GAA and a .960 save percentage.

He followed that impressive season up with an equally as impressive run, a 1.78 GAA and a .933 save percentage in 33 games before he tore his ACL in February. Levin is set to come off of that injury and compete for playing time in this rotation. He is also the only goaltender among this group that wears his glove on his right hand.

Ryland Pashovitz- The second of the two goaltending recruits competing for ice time this year hails from Canada. Pashovitz is from Saskatoon. During the 2013-14 season, while playing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), Pashovitz took home a number of honors and awards. He was named Rookie of Year, mainly due to his league bests in GAA (1.60) and save percentage (.948).

Pashovitz is the youngest of these three, at 20, but is sure to factor into the rotation this season.

Coach Powers has a difficult decision ahead of him, picking his starter for the season opener this Saturday. He can go with one of two incoming freshman or choose to stick with the veteran that won him the ACHA title.

Whatever Powers decides, the Sun Devils will have a great chance to win with one of this guys between the pipes.