TEMPE – Sun Devil Hockey captain Ethan Szmagaj and three ASU upperclassmen have signed professional contracts in the American Hockey League (AHL), the affiliate league for the National Hockey League (NHL).
In the AHL, forward Ryan Kirwan signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate team, the Toronto Marlies, and Artem Shlaine signed with the Texas Stars, the affiliate of the Dallas Stars.
Goaltender Luke Pavicich signed a standard player contract with the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL alongside Szmagaj who signed with the Savannah Ghost Pirates.
THE SUN DEVIL RESUME
In Kirwan's senior year, his only with the Sun Devils, he recorded over a point per game and led the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) with an ASU program-record 26 goals. The new Toronto Marlies forward finished his collegiate career with three five-game point streaks, three NCHC Forward of the Week awards, Hockey Coaches' Association (HCA) January Player of the Month and Third-Team All-NCHC honors.
Shlaine played in 31 games in the 2024-25 season, scoring 17 goals and 21 assists. The Moskva, Russia native finished second in conference points and goals en route to winning the NCHC Three Stars Award. He was also named to the All-NCHC First-Team and Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team.
Pavicich boasted a .909 save percentage on 2.68 goals-against average in his 22-game campaign. The senior netminder finished with a 13-9-0 record including a 39-save performance in a win over 2025 NCAA Frozen Four opponent Western Michigan.
Szmagaj spent all four years of his collegiate career at Arizona State University. The Canton, Mich. native played in 130 games at ASU and was named the 13th captain in Sun Devil Hockey history in his senior year.
In the AHL, forward Ryan Kirwan signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate team, the Toronto Marlies, and Artem Shlaine signed with the Texas Stars, the affiliate of the Dallas Stars.
Goaltender Luke Pavicich signed a standard player contract with the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL alongside Szmagaj who signed with the Savannah Ghost Pirates.
THE SUN DEVIL RESUME
In Kirwan's senior year, his only with the Sun Devils, he recorded over a point per game and led the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) with an ASU program-record 26 goals. The new Toronto Marlies forward finished his collegiate career with three five-game point streaks, three NCHC Forward of the Week awards, Hockey Coaches' Association (HCA) January Player of the Month and Third-Team All-NCHC honors.
Shlaine played in 31 games in the 2024-25 season, scoring 17 goals and 21 assists. The Moskva, Russia native finished second in conference points and goals en route to winning the NCHC Three Stars Award. He was also named to the All-NCHC First-Team and Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team.
Pavicich boasted a .909 save percentage on 2.68 goals-against average in his 22-game campaign. The senior netminder finished with a 13-9-0 record including a 39-save performance in a win over 2025 NCAA Frozen Four opponent Western Michigan.
Szmagaj spent all four years of his collegiate career at Arizona State University. The Canton, Mich. native played in 130 games at ASU and was named the 13th captain in Sun Devil Hockey history in his senior year.