Goaltending once again a strength for No. 11 ASU hockey with TJ Semptimphelter

Stop the next shot.

That’s the mentality that has shaped Arizona State hockey goaltender TJ Semptimphelter into a dominant yet collected presence in the net.

And it’s helped him get the 11th-ranked Sun Devils through some tight games this season. ASU (16-3-5) has gone to overtime 11 times in 24 games and has come out with five overtime victories and five shootout wins.

Semptimphelter has been in net for seven of those wins, including a 2-1 victory over Nebraska Omaha that secured the Desert Hockey Classic title and a 10th straight win.

“It’s unbelievable knowing that he’s back there. All season long, he’s made some unbelievable saves and he’s helped us out in close games,” ASU captain Tyler Gratton said. “Having him in net, even when we’re down by a goal and knowing the group that we have and the resiliency we have shown in the past, it’s been awesome to have that confidence in him that he will do his job.”

Semptimphelter’s first season at ASU last year was his introduction to being the No. 1 goalie, something he didn’t get the opportunity to do with his original team, Northeastern. In that introduction, he was the high point for a middling ASU team, finishing second in the NCAA in saves (1024) and minutes played (2050:35). He also accounted for five shutouts, fourth best in the country.

His debut season soon put him in the same conversation as former ASU goaltender Joey Daccord, currently playing for the Seattle Kraken. Daccord, who is considered one of the pillars of the Sun Devils program, could call himself one of the best recruiting resources that ASU can offer young goaltenders. The phone conversation with Semptimphelter was a tipping point in him choosing ASU as his transfer destination.

“He has been a great resource as I navigate my own path and journey at ASU. He's just an awesome guy to have in my corner and as a resource,” Semptimphelter said. “Not only that, but he’s been doing a tremendous job and he’s having a lot of success. He’s paved the way for many of us at ASU to follow suit and we’re fortunate to have someone like him who has done it before.”

Semptimphelter didn’t want to regress from last year’s developmental year and worked closely with Liane Blyn, director of Sports Performance, during the offseason to become a high-quality starter. That work has translated into Semptimphelter being able to deal better with a heavier workload.

The Sun Devils are considered at their best when Semptimphelter faces a high volume of shots, going 9-2-2 this season when he records 25 or more saves in a game. He’s gone 14-3-3 on the season overall.

In other situations, he’s gotten even better as well. ASU’s defense has come along over the last month, allowing Semptimphelter to not face sustained pressure in his zone.

“A lot of goalies, when you’re not seeing rubber, you get a little cold and lose focus. He’s stepped up in that regard and he’s dialed at all times,” head coach Greg Powers said. “He can go three minutes or four minutes without seeing a shot and see a 2-on-1 and make a great save or a breakaway.”

ASU is closing out its final season as an independent program before moving to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference next season. As an independent, the Sun Devils have often labored through the toughest opponents in college hockey with hopes of making a strong enough resume for the NCAA Tournament.

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For Semptimphelter and his teammates, facing an assortment of ranked programs this season from Denver to Cornell has helped as ASU has survived in tight situations.

“That’s the beauty of being an independent. It feels like every game is a Game 7. From a player standpoint, it’s great for my development and for our team’s development,” Semptimphelter said. “If you want to perform at the end of the year in the Frozen Four and the national championship, you must get used to playing in those high-pressure environments. For me and my teammates, it’s great and exciting for us. You can’t take any opponent lightly and it sort of seems like we get everyone’s best.”

With the bulk of the season completed and an important stretch coming up starting with No. 18 Cornell at Mullett Arena on Friday and Saturday, Semptimphelter is close to reaching ASU history. His eight career shutouts have tied Daccord’s program record, and he ranks second in all-time saves (1413) in 56 games played.

As he chases down program records set by Daccord, he prefers to not let the numbers get into his head. It’s all about stopping the next shot.

“I had a coach when I was really young, he told me after a bad game and said, 'Just worry about stopping the next one,” Semptimphelter said. “That’s really all you can focus on as a goalie. The accolades, the recognition, and breaking records, it kind of just comes with sticking to the process. What I’m more focused on is getting wins and making sure we get into the tournament. That’s my goal this year.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: No. 11 ASU hockey guided by goalie TJ Semptimphelter's performance