Garrett Peterson just wanted a chance to continue his hockey career. The Sun Devils were a perfect fit.
The forward moved south from Notre Dame to the desert and promptly became one of the first captains in program history. Much like ASU, Peterson was ready for a fresh start.
Far from any of it’s fellow Division I schools, Arizona State began competing as a D1 hockey program in the 2015-2016 season. To outsiders, ASU kicking off a hockey program might seem puzzling or even absurd.
Their ACHA hockey team had been dominant, however, and hockey was beginning to grow by leaps and bounds in the desert by the time 2015 rolled around.
Garrett Peterson takes a draw against Arizona in a game on October 3rd, 2015 at Gila River Arena.
Peterson skated in 28 games in Arizona State’s first “hybrid” season where the team played a mix of NCAA Division I programs, as well as ACHA teams.
He scored 2 goals and added 2 assists while serving as captain alongside Liam Norris and local standout Jordan Young.
The new team certainly had it’s growing pains, going 5-22-2 and being outscored by 60 goals.
Peterson’s inaugural season gamer has pretty solid wear.
The right sleeve has a nice smattering of stick marks and one small burn hole in the wrist area. The right sleeve #9 has a huge loose gold thread. The left sleeve also has marks, albeit less than the right. There are a few small marks near the left sleeve numbers, and another long loose thread on the #1 and more on the #9. There is red paint transfer on the left sleeve near the sleeve numbers.
The front of the shirt has a few faint slash marks and puck marks, along with some loose threading on the crest.
The left breast features the unique ASU captain’s “C”, which is the Arizona state outline in maroon bordered by gold and white embroidery. The captain’s “C” is embroidered in gold.
It looks absolutely amazing in photos and in person.
The back is pretty clean and the nameplate has been removed. The nameplate removal is very obvious and yellowed, and there is some faint outlining of the lettering. Just above the maroon/white/gold striping around the waist is a huge pulled thread that hangs down several inches long.
An example of the numbering on the 2015-2016 jerseys.
The number kits on these white jerseys were maroon twill with pitchforks inlaid into them and bordered by two bands of gold threading.
It also looks quite cool in person, though this style of twill noticeably deteriorates with use and wash wear and can become very hard to make out, like on my black Ed McGovern gamer from the 2016-2017 season.
Garrett Peterson takes a shot on goal on October 3rd, 2015 at Gila River Arena.
Peterson was one of the faces that helped usher in a new style of hockey in the desert.
There have been minor league and NHL organizations in the Valley for years, but never a top level collegiate program.
Now, with the new arena opening in late 2022 and bigger and bigger recruits signing on with the program each season, Sun Devils hockey is established and thriving.
Those first three seasons were lean years, but success ultimately arrived and is now being sustained.
Those early faces like Garrett Peterson are a big part of why things have flourished and grown in the desert.