Future NCAA Champions
2015 was the year Arizona State became more than a D1 team, it became a school where hockey mattered. The fact that we went D1 was everything. Any weekend that included a home game was a good weekend. There was something electric about Sun Devil Hockey…this was clearly a sign of what was to come.
It didn’t matter what venue you were in. As soon as you walked in and felt the cold from the ice, it was comfort. It was home. I never noticed how small Oceanside was, I was packed on a small set of bleachers where students were behind the team the whole game. One of my favorite memories was after someone got checked against the boards from Harvard. It was only a matter of seconds before the whole team was involved. The student section was still very much behind the team and definitely not helping the refs. Like Coach Powers and the boys highlight in our conversation, that’s Arizona State. You’re never alone, the team has you. One team and no excuses. Gila wasn’t overwhelming, it was power and watching the arena light up after the siren went off was something I will always remember. The infamous chill in the air and drive to only play elite was energy. Energy that became fast-driven success in four short years and still has more to do. This is only the beginning for Arizona State. I couldn’t wait to sit down with Coach Powers and some special guests to hear their thoughts on the program they built, how the team continues to elevate, and what Arizona State is going after next.
Straight from the Bench with Head Coach Powers
Liz: I know this past season didn’t end the way any of us were expecting. The team might of been heading back to the NCAA tournament. Looking forward, are there any particular match-ups that you’re excited to see the team prove themselves? Maybe last minute loss or an organization that you haven’t had the chance to compete against?
Head Coach Powers: We haven’t released our schedule just yet for the upcoming season but one team we are excited to continue to play is Denver. Denver is a program that has set the bar in college hockey and to continue to develop a relationship that one day could turn into a regional rivalry would be awesome. We have to earn the “rivalry” part by continuing to prove we can compete at the highest level.
Liz: Completely agree, to build an iconic rivalry would prove you are a program that is here to win. Finished the season and evaluations. What are you looking to work on come 2020-2021 season?
Head Coach Powers: Just to get back in the rink every day with the players and staff. I think everything that has gone on in the world has made us all realize how fortunate we are to do what we do in the game of hockey and how blessed we are to be in it everyday.
LG: Hard to believe how many simple things we took for granted like being able to play sports, watch them in person, and be around people you enjoy every day. 2015 was a major year for Arizona State. You didn’t just transform the program, you elevated it. Truly came in with the mentality [like Styled Stripes] that there’s always more to do, to learn, to experience. What were specific goals coming into D1? How do you feel they are measuring up?
Powers: The goal was to compete at the highest level as quickly as possible by building a sustainable culture inside our program. We have definitely done that to date.
LG: Your program didn’t have a blueprint to follow and kind of just hit the ground running. Still independent, may have a smaller rink, but those are just minor details that really don’t scratch the surface. Biggest challenge evolving from club or D1, but also to a major competitor/threat within the NCAA?
Powers: Initially, it was our facility. We are beyond that now knowing that the new one is being built and having such a great group of players embracing where we do play [and] using it to our advantage.
LG: The term home ice advantage has a whole different meaning for Arizona State, but new ice is well deserved to say the least. Do you believe one of the core reasons your team continues to go after what they want [with little failure] is due to you training them to be both mentally and physically fit?
Powers: Our success is all culture based. We don’t allow or accept excuses in our program. We have everything we need to be successful and we have truly taken on that mantra in every way both on and off the ice.
LG: You can definitely see that within the program. Rather than being intimidated by what needs to be done, your program uses it to drive their performance and overall dedication to hockey. If [2 NCAA appearances, players going on to play after college, transforming Arizona State into a hockey school and program…] was done in 4 years, what are you looking to go after in the next 4?
Powers: Win some National Championships!
Top Line Talk with Demetrios Koumontzis
Liz: Leaving high school, there had to be programs that you looked at. Put up against other schools, especially ones that were legendary and you could have walked right into, why did you choose Arizona State?
Demetrios Koumontzis: When making my decision for what college I was going to attend, there were so many clear reasons why ASU was the place to be. Most people will say the sun and the atmosphere of the school which are unreal qualities, but for me it was really the special feeling of being a part of a new program. Not many people can say they truly helped build a program into what it is today and when my teammates and I leave, we can. I believe I will be on the team to win their first national championship and that day will be special until the day I die. Being the tradition is our motto and it is very special to be a part of that.
Liz: I love that. I can hear how much it meant for you to be right on the edge of a new program. It shows how much you truly love and respect the game. It runs deeper than the “status” of a program. You still want the championships, but you want the whole experience whatever that encompasses. As an individual player and looking at the team, where are you wanting to focus for this upcoming season first? Power plays, shots on goal?
Demetrios Koumontzis: Looking forward into next season, I really believe we want to just take everything from last year into this next year. We had a very strong year where every player on the team contributed and that is what we need to happen again. Special teams is such an important part of the game, especially in college and if we can get even better with those, I believe our team will be unstoppable and hard to play against.
LG: That’s fair. Wish there could have been a run for the championship, but I think we can both agree this will only make the team move even harder. If you have solid special teams and every player going beyond what they need to do, I see the boys going pretty far towards that championship. This past season ended differently than you expected, any moment that stands out?
Koumontzis: This past season ending early was maybe one of the hardest things. Sitting next to two seniors in the locker room and having to see all of their faces on the day we found out we were done was so tough. Guys who have truly, truly built this program will never get another chance to put on that jersey again. With all the special moments we had as a team throughout the year, I would still say that moment was the most powerful. It really makes you realize how special it is to be a part of the Sun Devil Program, what we are building, and to never take it for granted.
LG: I couldn’t even imagine how that feels. As soon as things shut down, I immediately thought of the seniors. It’s hard enough to graduate and watch the chapter you’ve been a part of for four years close. To say it’s not fair that no one could say proper goodbyes to their time on this campus and the ice is a major understatement. OK, we discussed the team, your plays, we have to look at Coach Powers. No other coach in the NCAA comes close to what he does for Arizona State. What does he do differently within the program and team that continues to make you successful?
Koumontzis: On regards to our coach, I think the best way to describe why we have success is his determination on building a winning culture before anything else. Our culture is something so special to be a part of and he is the reason for that. He treats you like an adult and puts together a team who mixes so well that success is bound to happen. To be successful, you truly have to go all out for your goals and Coach Powers does exactly that.
LG: So well said. The hockey pause has been felt much more than the normal off season, looking forward to watching the team get back. I may be back in Chicago now, but I’m still waiting for that championship to hit Tempe. I know you boys won’t disappoint!
Post Grad & Professional Play: Alumni Conversation with Brett Gruber & David Norris
Liz: First things first, congrats! So sorry your class didn’t get a proper walk, not to mention cutting your senior season short. Speaking of your senior season, it didn’t exactly come to a proper close. Anything you wanted to accomplish before you left?
Brett Gruber: I wanted a chance to win the national tournament and felt we put ourselves in a great position prior to the pandemic. I felt though that we have accomplished a lot as a team and have a lot to be proud of.
Liz: 100 percent agree. I have a feeling the team would have made the playoffs and went for a serious run. I like that perspective, good way to leave the program. OK, let’s take it back a bit. You basically came in at the beginning. What was it like not merely building, but defining the hockey program for future players with Coach Powers?
Brett Gruber: It was something special. The main reason why I wanted to come to ASU in the first place was because I wanted to be a part of something from the ground up. I wanted to be uncomfortable and learn how to respond to adversity. I felt that this whole process made me grow as a person obviously on the ice but off the ice as well.
LG: I completely get that. You gained so much more than if you would have joined an established program. You were able to be fully immersed in every aspect. As a student, it was crazy to watch the team build the program over the years, you could feel it was something different. I can only imagine what that was like as a player. You mentioned learning to run after adversity and how you evolved throughout college, Coach Powers had to be a major component of that. Hard to argue the quality of coach and person he is. Is there anything you took from him?
Gruber: I took a lot from Coach Powers and feel grateful to have had him as my coach. He is a great leader, knows how to motivate people, and has a great judge of character. It wasn’t easy to motivate sometimes, especially in the early going. He made us believe in the process, the system, and ultimately made us successful.
LG: Makes sense. He went beyond the rink and deeper than what lines were playing. He wanted to make sure you were being the best you could as a player, student, and person at the end of the day. So, everything is done. Leaving the program and classroom, what are your plans? Excited for post-grad life?
Gruber: I plan on either playing hockey professionally or going into getting a job. There is a lot of uncertainty right now, so it isn’t easy to make decisions. I feel my time at ASU has prepared me for adversity and I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life.
LG: Wow, that’s hard to choose between. One of the best things post grad is being able to design your next chapter. Good luck with your plans! If this interview is any indication, only bigger things are ahead.
Liz: To give everyone a little history, you graduated in 2018. You not only were there from the beginning of the D1 run (including being on the top club team right before), you watched it unfold and evolve in front of you. You must have taken extra value from that. I know it’s a hard question to answer, but favorite thing about the program? A memory, venue, a game that stands out?
David Norris: This is a hard question, I made so many great memories at ASU. From the lifelong friends to getting to get to play in some great places. Hockey specific, my best memory at ASU would be winning the Desert Classic in Las Vegas. ASU also treats their players very professionally and give their student athletes top tier treatment, which I definitely enjoyed.
Liz: OK, definitely see why it was too hard to pick just one. Crazy how much can happen in four years. You finished your last season in the new D1 program, but what was it like cultivating that alongside Coach Powers from the start?
David Norris: It was very special. Especially seeing what Powers and the team has become since leaving the program. Powers has made them a top program in a short amount of time, which is incredible. I like to feel like I played some sort of a role in helping the program become what it is today.
LG: I think so and you appreciated every minute of being part of the NCAA status. You never took any of it for granted and went beyond “earning it”. After graduation, you went pro. Not everyone gets to experience that. What was it like moving from college to professional hockey? Do you feel extra pressure to continually build on your performance every practice, every game?
Norris: I’ve enjoyed the jump to professional hockey. Everyone I have met in the professional hockey world has been helpful and made my game better. I have had some amazing experiences and been able to visit a ton of places I would never of had the chance to visit. I feel like you always want to get better whenever you can get on the ice or in the gym. So I wouldn’t say I feel any added pressure, just part of the game. Professional hockey is definitely different than college hockey I will say that.
LG: You’re surrounded by even more talent and it ends up both motivating you and inspiring your game. Leaving college, I’m sure it was hard to move on from Coach Powers and what he brought to the rink everyday. Is there anything from him that you still use and bring to your playing now?
Norris: I learned a lot from Powers and the coaching staff here. I think probably work ethic would be the big one. Powers taught me how to be a professional and what type of work ethic you need to be successful. I will forever be grateful for everything he taught me. Same goes with all the staff. I still use a bunch of drills Hicks taught me my red shirt year. Everything he taught me on the power play has helped me professionally. The things he taught me in the corners and around the net have helped as well.