Arizona Wildcats Hockey sweeps ASU and wins the Cactus Cup

Arizona Athletics is on the upswing, with not only the basketball team winning in overtime but the hockey team sweeping the ASU Devils and winning the Cactus Cup.

Sweep! That’s what the Arizona Wildcats Hockey team did this past weekend. They beat the ASU  Devils both Friday and Saturday, 4-1 and 6-1 and won the Cactus Cup. The ASU football team may have won the Territorial Cup in football, but that did not stop Arizona’s hockey team from stomping all over those sc**devils. The Wildcats outscored ASU 10-2. Two goals, that’s all you guys can score ASU? How sad.

There were fights, goals, goals, goals and more goals. There were many chants of “He shoots, he scores,” “Hey goalie you suck,” “It’s all your fault, it’s all your fault!” It never gets old. There was the support of the Wildcats fans, and there was the raising of the Cactus Cup.

More from Arizona Wildcats

• How Wildcats Fans Can Claim $200 INSTANT Bonus at BetMGM Betting $10 Right Now
• Last-Minute Game Information Arizona Football vs Mississippi State
• Arizona Football dominates NAU in their Season Opener
• Former Wildcat Nick Foles named an Honorary Captain
• Caesars Arizona Promo Code: 5 Weeks of $50 Bonus Bets Backing Wildcats!

Heading into this matchup, the Wildcats were ranked No.15 in the Top 25 ACHA rankings, and the Sun Devils were ranked No.24. Many fans and even the players were looking for revenge for their University as they had just lost to the team up north in football. This game couldn’t have come at a better time.

Game one

In game one of this doubleheader, the Wildcats didn’t waste any time in getting on the scoreboard. It only took 16 seconds before the first goal of the game was scored by forward Josh Larson. Then it began to rain goals! The Wildcats would score three more goals in the first period to make it a 3-0 game.

The Devils scored their only goal of the game in the second period. There were a couple of penalties called on each team, but neither team could reach get much else going during the second period. During the third period, the Wildcats put one more goal in the back of the net by forward Chris Westland.

As the game was coming to a close, things got a little scrappy on the ice. The Sun Devils were beginning to get a little frustrated with how things were going, so this happened:

At least one cheap shot by the Sun Devils goalie, what else is new? The Wildcats held their own, not backing down from anyone. Game one went to the Wildcats 4-1.

Game Two

The Wildcats took command early again as forward Ethan Stahlhuth scored this sweet looking power play goal to give them team a 1-0 lead:

Shortly after, they scored again this time by senior Griffin Dyne. What a great looking slap shot! After one period, the Wildcats lead was 2-0. During the first intermission of the game, the ACHA Division One All time scoring leader Kelly Walker, who played for the Wildcats from 1989-1992, had his jersey retired. He held many records at Arizona, including being the only player to score a total of 100+ plus in two seasons!

In the second period, the Wildcats would score back to back goals to take a 4-0 lead. The Sun Devils would answer with their only goal of the game (again, how sad). Later on in the period, both teams started to mix it up:

The last period of the game, the Wildcats would score two more goals. One on a 4 v 4 and one during a power play.  As the clock ticked down to zero, fans stayed after to show their support and cheered loud as their team swept the Devils and won the Cactus Cup!

To say this win doesn’t mean much is understatement to those who truly don’t understand what this rivalry really mean. This photo says it all!

Must Read: Arizona Football: Territorial Cup views and Insight from the Sidelines

Sweeping those guys from up north, not a better feeling in the world! At Zona Zealots, we are extremely proud of the Arizona Wildcat hockey team for their dominant performance over the Devils. Bear Down!