(Tempe, AZ) Four Sun Devil seniors announced a return to the Arizona State ice hockey roster for their fifth and final year of college eligibility in 2024-25. Team leading point scorer and Hobey Baker Award nominee Lukas Sillinger, dynamic offensive minds Ty and Dylan Jackson, and hard-nose forward Benji Eckerle will play for ASU in the program’s first season as a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
Sillinger, Dylan, and Ty skated together as the first line for the Sun Devils in the early months of the 2023-24 season before the brothers suffered injuries at Colorado College. In the 12 games together, the trio tallied 34 points, including in games against then-No. 9 Providence and then-No. 2 Denver. Dylan scored ASU’s first hat trick of the season in ASU’s 4-3 win over DU.
“Bringing back a line that when intact was absolutely electric is huge as we head into the NCHC,” said head coach Greg Powers. “While Dylan and Ty had tough years from an injury standpoint, when they were healthy they were by far two of our best offensive players. Returning a 48-point player in Lukas speaks for itself. I genuinely believe they will be one of the most dynamic lines in college hockey. Benji Eckerle is the glue to our lineup and his speed and tenacity will be invaluable in conference play. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have them all back for their fifth years of college hockey.”
THE GLUE
Eckerle brought consistent toughness and speed to the lineup, skating in 35 games on the way to his best collegiate season by a long-shot. Before his senior year, Eckerle’s single season high for points was set at nine from his rookie season (2020-21). He more than doubled that mark in Year 4 with five goals and 15 assists to finish with 20 total points – fifth-highest on the ASU squad. His +8 was ranked fourth on the team and his 22 blocks was third among forwards (Gratton – 24, Chambers – 23).
RED-HOT SILLINGER
Sillinger put up his best year of collegiate hockey in 2023-24 with 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 total points in 38 games played. Sillinger set new single season program records in points (48) and assists (37). At the end of the regular season, Sillinger’s 37 apples ranked second in the NCAA and his 48 points was tied at No. 9 in the country. In the final series of the season, he finished with a six-point weekend in Anchorage, including his first career hat trick and an assist for a four-point Saturday night. The hat trick is the first-ever natural hat trick in ASU program history (three goals scored consecutively by the same player with no player on either team scoring in-between). He recorded the first five-point game by a Sun Devil since 2016 with one goal and four assists at Robert Morris on Dec. 17.
TERRIFIC TWINS
After missing over 70 days, Ty Jackson returned to the lineup on Feb. 9 versus Alaska Fairbanks and went on to record six points in his first four games back (3G, 3A). It’s easy to ponder if the twins hadn’t suffered injuries in the first game of the series at Colorado College in December, what could have been for the Sun Devil season. Ty finished as a top-10 point scorer, despite missing 15 games complete with six goals and 12 assists. Dylan was on track for one of his best seasons before his season ended in The Springs. The winger finished his year with seven goals and four assists.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Paige Shacklett
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