Hockey in the desert has been a tough sell over the past few years, but the NCAA’s Arizona State Sun Devils are driving it in the right direction.

The Sun Devils made the leap to Division I hockey ahead of the 2015-16 season, and even through two losing seasons and a lack of star power, the school and NCAA have remained committed to the coach Greg Powers’ growing team.

Part of that commitment came when the Sun Devils were rewarded a spot in the inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational, set to take place at the Vegas Golden Knights’ newly renovated T-Mobile Arena on January 5 and 6.

Watch all four games of the Ice Vegas Invitational live — only on FloHockey!

“Being the only Division I program in the Southwest, it is important for us to try and gain as much exposure in this region as possible,” Powers said in an April press release. “Top that with being able to play two games against other great programs in the brand new T-Mobile Arena, this tournament will certainly be one of our season's highlights.”

The Sun Devils face established hockey teams at the tournament: Northern Michigan, Boston College, and Michigan Tech. Powers will look to put his team’s growth on display.

While it may be tempting to overlook ASU — which is 19-51-9 since entering DI play in 2015 — but the Sun Devils remain far more dangerous and confident than you may expect.

Last season, the Sun Devils displayed that potential by taking points in five of their final seven games — including ties with No. 10 Ohio State and No. 9 Western Michigan and a 4-2 victory over No. 17 Quinnipiac.

Proof of Sun Devil Hockey's Growth Evident in Camp Invites, NHL Initiative.

Feature via @craigsmorgan: https://t.co/PO1Sh7nMFM pic.twitter.com/FPTtGyXxyl

— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) June 29, 2017

But the team knew it was set up to develop against some of college hockey’s best, and it has started to bring out the best in the players.

“We want to be a championship team and it’s going to come at some point,” then-sophomore Anthony Croston said at the end of last season. “We want to be that team no one wants to play because we work so hard and we’re nitty and gritty.”

Junior Loui Rowe echoed his teammate.

“We want to be a top-five program for the rest of ASU’s history,” he told The State Press in September. “That’s lofty and that’s just how it going to be.”

Any and every coach will tell you they coach to win every game, and Powers is no different. But now, needing to string together consecutive wins for the Ice Vegas championship, the Sun Devils can’t fall on inevitability.

Instead, Croston, Rowe and the rest will need to harness the growth and development preached to them, along with their “nitty and gritty” mentality to put their rising team on display and make some noise in Vegas.

Last season, Powers said the team would “like to be the first domino that brings hockey to the Pac-12 and out West.” A strong showing in Nevada would certainly help.

Even if the Sun Devils find themselves swept out of the tournament, the young team will know it was still a step in the right direction as the independent university seems to be on the verge of a lot more face time in college hockey in Powers’ movement to begin the pac-12 Conference.

Rumor has it some good news is on the horizon for @SunDevilHockey (recruits, new arena, conference) and the program can thank @asucoachpowers Saw the team vs CC today and they’re building something special! Jump onboard now!

— Cameron Eickmeyer (@cameickmeyer) December 18, 2017

Moreover, just last week the program announced that the team’s January 26 game against powerhouse Boston University would be relocated to Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

“I think it's our responsibility to allow as many local fans as possible the chance to see such great hockey, and with the demand of our fans wanting to see us play such a historic program like BU, we felt this was the right thing to do,” coach Powers said in the release.

Catch the Sun Devils live at the upcoming inaugural Ice Vegas Invitational, streamed right here on FloHockey January 5 and 6.

By Jacob Messing

Have a question or a comment for Jacob? You can find him on Twitter @JMessing23.