It's been suspected for some time, but finally made official Wednesday night: ASU hockey will go the ACHA national tournament as the No. 1 seed for the second year in a row. It finished the recorded portion of the regular season with a 31-3-1 record.

"Being No. 1 only matters after the tournament, not before," coach Greg Powers said. "We're focused on going to Cleveland and not taking it even game by game. You have to take it shift by shift if you want to be successful in single elimination tournament play."

ASU will open its title defense Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. Arizona time against the winner of the Buffalo and Colorado play-in game. If the Sun Devils continue to win, they will play in the quarterfinals Sunday, March 8 and in the semifinals Monday.

The national title game is set for Tuesday, March 10.

ASU went into the 2014 national tournament in Newark, Del. as the No. 1 seed, mowing down Rhode Island and Minot State in the first two rounds. ASU come from behind in the semifinals against Stony Brook and beat Robert Morris 3-1 in the national title game.

ASU went into the tournament as the No. 2 seed in 2013 before falling to No. 9 Lindenwood in the semifinals.

"We have have also learned that anyone can win any game in this format," Powers said. "All it takes are some bounces and hot goaltending and you're going home."