St. Cloud State hosts Arizona State on Friday and Saturday to open NCHC play, with both teams looking to build on recent wins after extensive roster and coaching changes. Arizona State arrives after sweeping UMass Lowell in Dave Hakstol’s coaching debut; the Huskies split with Boston College, closing with a 5-3 upset. Strong goaltending and disciplined play could decide an early-season series between two teams still finding their footing.

By the Numbers
  • Arizona State: 4-2-0; St. Cloud State: 2-3-0.
  • All-time series: St. Cloud State leads 5-2-0; the Huskies swept the teams’ February 2026 meetings, 4-1 and 4-3.
  • Arizona State averages 4.33 goals scored and 3.50 allowed per game; St. Cloud State averages 2.80 scored and 3.20 allowed.
  • Game times: Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. CDT and Saturday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. CDT.
Yes, But

Arizona State’s 4.33 goals per game rank among the nation’s best, but that figure comes from just six games—and the Sun Devils have also allowed 3.50 per game. Both teams have overhauled their rosters, making early-season results difficult to read. The series also unfolds amid the ongoing hospitalization of Arizona State sophomore Mathew Mayich, a deeply difficult situation for the program.

State of Play
  • Arizona State is adjusting to a new coach, a heavily changed roster and the loss of much of last season’s scoring.
  • St. Cloud State is in its first season under Nick Oliver and has added 17 players, while returning goaltenders Yan Shostak and Patriks Berzins have shown promise.
  • Both teams enter after a weekend off and will open conference play at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.
What's Next

The weekend should offer an early test of whether Arizona State’s scoring can hold up against St. Cloud State’s goaltending—and whether the Huskies’ rebuilt lineup can sustain its progress. Results may remain hard to interpret this early, but the series will set the tone for both teams’ NCHC starts.

Bottom Line

This is a matchup of two rebuilding teams with encouraging recent performances and plenty still to prove. The team that limits mistakes and gets the steadier goaltending may leave St. Cloud with the stronger start to conference play.