Pair of incoming Sun Devils freshmen, including Scottsdale’s Doan, chosen in 2021 NHL Draft
Incoming Arizona State University freshmen Josh Doan and Ty Murchison were drafted in the 2021 NHL Draft on Saturday.
Doan, a Scottsdale native and Jr. Coyotes graduate, was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round (37th overall), the highest draft pick in Sun Devil hockey program history.
Murchison, a defenseman, was chosen in the fifth round (158th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Doan (pictured top) entered the draft ranked No. 87 while Murchison entered ranked No. 72 among North American skaters.
“We are very happy for Josh and Ty,” said ASU head coach Greg Powers. “This is a day they have worked very hard for their entire lives. We will do everything in our power to continue develop both of them so they can one day wear the jerseys of the two great franchises who drafted them.”
In his first season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel in 2019-20, Doan notched five goals and nine assists in 45 games. His breakout season came this past year as the talented forward finished third in the league in scoring with 70 points (31 goals, 39 assists) and was named to the USHL Second Team. He also added an Anderson Cup and Clark Cup championship to his trophy case after the Steel won the USHL regular-season and postseason titles this season.
The son of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, the younger Doan played for the Jr. Coyotes during his entire youth hockey career. He helped lead the organization to three consecutive USA Hockey National Championship tournaments (16U, 15U, 14U). In 2019 during his last season with the Jr. Coyotes, he scored 41 goals in 54 games.
Most recently, Doan was invited to the USA Hockey’s 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase, which started Saturday.
Murchison has been playing for USA Hockey’s NTDP for the last two years and is the second full-time player from the NTDP to commit to Arizona State.
This past season, Murchison scored 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 72 games.
A native of Corona, Calif., Murchison spent his youth career with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings. He is the first California native to commit to Arizona State in the NCAA era.
Doan photo/Sun Devil Athletics; Murchison photo/Rena Laverty/USA Hockey’s NTDP
(July 24, 2021)