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Arizona State is getting an addition to its defense core in the form of defenseman Tanner Hickey, who committed to the program yesterday.
Hickey played the past season with Alabama-Huntsville, but due to unfortunate circumstances and financial issues amid the Coronavirus pandemic, the UAH athletic department was forced to drop the hockey program.
Thanks to Coach Corbett, the staff and my teammates at @uahhockey for an unforgettable year, hard to see it end this way. Nevertheless, I’m excited and grateful to announce my commitment to continue my education and hockey career at @SunDevilHockey #forksup
— Tanner Hickey (@Hicks_8) May 26, 2020
It was the first time since 2008 that an NCAA Division I hockey school has gone under. Thus, the move for Hickey comes as a result of looking for his next chapter. In 2019-20, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound, right shot d-man registered 10 points in 30 games (3 G, 7 A) as a freshman.
Those point totals were enough to give him the lead among defensemen on the roster, though, the Chargers struggled mightily in 2019-20, going 2-26-6.
Nevertheless, Hickey will look to bring his talents to ASU, a program with back-to-back winning seasons.
Since Alabama-Huntsville’s program was taken away, he should most likely be eligible immediately, meaning he can pick up right away as a sophomore and not miss any time on the ice. However, those details are still being finalized.
A Leduc, Alberta native, Hickey joins a program that is familiar with Western Canadians, as ASU has jokingly been referred to as, “Alberta State University” in years past with players like Brinson and Steen Pasichnuk, Tyler Busch, PJ Marrocco, and Jarrod Gourley.
Hickey played junior hockey for the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s (AJHL) Spruce Grove Saints - the same team that produced Busch - and he was teammates with Gourley for two seasons.
ASU’s deep list of defenseman vouching for six spots now includes Hickey, Gourley, Connor Stuart (can also play F), Gvido Jansons, Jacob Wilson, Jacob Semik, Jack Judson, Max Balinson, Carson Kosobud, and Josh Maniscalco.
The only departure on the d-core is Brinson Pasichnuk.
*Editor’s note: Story originally stated Hickey played in the British Columbia Hockey League. Has been fixed and changed to the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL)