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According to reports, Arizona State appears to be scheduling the Denver Pioneers for four games next season.
The news was first reported by USCHO Executive Editor Todd Milewski. ASU will take on the Pioneers four times, with series dates set for Oct. 9-10 in Tempe, and Dec. 4-5 at Magness Arena in Denver.
Denver, for the record, has added a trip to Arizona State for the weekend that it was originally scheduled to visit the #Badgers.
— Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski) July 3, 2020
This past season, the Sun Devils went 1-0-1 against the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) foe, upsetting Denver in a 4-1 victory on Dec. 6, 2019 before sustaining a 2-2 tie the following night in game two at Gila River Arena.
Denver will now play Arizona State four times in 2020-21 (Oct. 9-10 in Tempe, Dec. 4-5 in Denver).
— Greg Cameron (@gregdcam) July 3, 2020
The Sun Devils were originally going to play at St. Cloud State on Oct. 10-11. https://t.co/VU5q60x30v
ASU’s two-game series at Magness will be the second time the program ventures out to the Rocky Mountains. The Sun Devils are 0-2 in their only two visits at Denver, as they dropped two games in 2017.
Aside from the schedule, there was also a move on the Sun Devil roster earlier this week.
Balinson Transferring
Former Arizona State defenseman Max Balinson transferred out of the program earlier this week. He will be joining Long Island University, which is the newest NCAA Division I college hockey program that joined the field on Apr. 30.
In 41 games over two seasons, Balinson had three goals and 10 assists. He did not play in a game during the 2019-20 campaign.
Adding some more experience with our next Shark in another exciting transfer: Max Balinson! Welcome to the Shark Tank Max! #finsup pic.twitter.com/lQdJ6MmvMf
— LIU Hockey (@LIUMHockey) June 30, 2020
Balinson exits the program with a deep defense core coming in next season as well, as ASU’s returning d-men include Josh Maniscalco, Jacob Wilson, Jack Judson, Jacob Semik, Gvido Jansons, Jarrod Gourley, and Connor Stuart (can also play forward).
Furthermore, rounding out the blue liners are Carson Kosobud and Tanner Hickey. Kosobud is an incoming freshman defenseman from Moorhead, MN, while Hickey transferred this offseason from Alabama-Huntsville. All nine players will be battling for six spots on gamedays.