TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State Sun Devils took the ice for their home opener against Holy Cross at Mullet Arena on Friday night, losing to the Crusaders 2-1 following a comeback late in the third period.

 

Tributes to Mayich throughout Mullet

​However, Friday’s game in Tempe went beyond hockey, as Matthew Mayich remains in the hospital 51 days after his collapse.

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Signs of Mayich were all over Mullet Arena. In the locker room, his Mayich No. 27 jersey hung in his stall alongside the team’s jerseys. In the stands, fans wore a yellow ribbon with “MM #27” inscribed in black.

 

“It added motivation to everything we do from here on out for him,” senior forward Kyle Smollen said. “Every time you see that jersey, it’s just a reminder.”

On the ice, the Sun Devils wear a sticker on their helmets with a yellow ribbon and the number 27, honoring him this season.

 

As a team, the Sun Devils support each other and help one another get through it.

 

“There’s no playbook for what’s going on, but we are just happy playing hockey again,” Sean McGurn said.

 

From puck drop, Arizona State created net-front opportunities, as 17 different players recorded shot attempts.

 

Holy Cross’s defense bent but didn’t break all night, recording 24 blocked shots to help their goaltender, who made 39 saves on 40 shots.

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Arizona State had three power-play chances to break open the scoring in the first and second periods. The Sun Devils’ power kill helped shut down 3 power-play opportunities from the Crusaders.

 

ASU did well in the faceoff circle, winning 28, giving ASU more opportunities to keep the puck on their sticks.

 

Late third period surge

The Sun Devils scored their first goal with five minutes left in the third period, with sophomore forward Daniel Shlaine putting it in on an assist from senior center Sean McGurn.

The crowd erupted after ASU pressured the Crusaders, registering eight shots from the eight-minute mark to the sixth-minute mark.

Despite the noise, Holy Cross fought back with under two minutes left in the third period, when Sophomore defenseman Quinn McCall tied up the game.

Just 11 seconds later, the Crusaders found the net again; sophomore forward Ben Riche scored from in front of the net with just over a minute remaining.

“It’s tough you can’t take a minute off in college hockey, and it showed tonight,” McGurn said.

Arizona State outshot Holy Cross 27 to 11 in the third period, but a big-night goalie stopped them. The Sun Devils will keep building chemistry with a team that has 17 new faces, led by veterans.

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“It hurts that we are going to have to win one-score games the rest of the year. There is no better opportunity to learn than now.” Smollen said.

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The Sun Devils return to Mullett Arena Saturday at 3 p.m. MST, looking to split the series with Holy Cross.